 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Skate 2
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Sports
Common Sense Media says
Fun skateboarding game -- but brutal falls are rewarded.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the game is rated "Teen" for mild violence (graphic spills on skateboards), sexual comments including one toward's women ("I got to tie my shoes while I look up this girl's dress"), interaction which characters who talk about getting drunk, and includes some potentially offensive language. Song lyrics contain dialogue that can be risque (but no F-word). While one mode rewards brutal falls, no blood is shown (unlike decade-old skateboarding games, such as the Tony Hawk series.) Skaters can mow down pedestrians and cars.
What's it about?
A good video game sequel doesn't mess with the original formula much yet introduces a number of new features and improvements over its predecessor. This is precisely what Electronic Arts has done with SKATE 2, a follow-up to 2007's stellar skateboarding game. Available now for the Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3, Skate 2 begins with an entertaining video introduction (with real actors) that shows your character just being released from prison. Continuing where the first game left off, the authorities of San Vanelona (a fictitious city that borrows from San Francisco, Vancouver, and Barcelona) make skateboarding a crime after many skaters -- including you -- turned their once-beautiful metropolis into an urban playground. Things are quite different five years later in New San Vanelona, but you're ready to get back on the board and hit the streets.
The single-player games boil down to the objective-based Career mode and the open-ended Freeskate option, with the latter dispensing with the story altogether. In the Career mode, players must first change their appearance with plastic surgery, then adopt new hair styles and tattoos (to remain undetected), and then select from real skate brands for clothing and boards. Similar to the first Skate, after you get acquainted with the controls and your environment, it's time to impress the photographers working for Thrasher Magazine and The Skateboard Mag with your skateboarding moves, to build up your name and notoriety.
Is it any good?
While the controls aren't as easy to pick up as, say, the old Tony Hawk games, once you get over the learning curve you'll find this game gives you a lot more control and options. Plus, gamers who played the original Skate won't have any issues with this sequel -- in fact, the controls feel less stiff and more natural. On a related note, Skate 2 boasts more than twice the number of moves offered in the first game and also lets players rack up points by pulling off Ollies, Nollies, handplants, kickflips, grabs, and grinds, and then stringing them together for bonus points. For the first time in the series, gamers can move in-world objects around, to make room for stunts or to create a cooler one with well-placed ramps, benches, and rails. You can even grab hold of a car's bumper and hang on for a ride.
Other additions to this sequel include a revamped editor to record your performance (and upload it for others to see), the questionable Thrasher Hall of Meat mode (that compensates you for brutal wipeouts), and more online skating options including the ability to seamlessly switch between single player and multiplayer skate sessions (co-op or competitive). But as with its predecessor, gamers can accept various challenges strewn throughout New San Vanelona, earn sponsorship and contest money, and meet up with other pros in the game world. Quite simply, if you liked Skate you'll love Skate 2.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the game's edginess. Does it help the gameplay and add to the overall urban experience or could it be taken out? Perhaps this attitude is part of the skateboarding culture and therefore makes sense in the game and with this storyline (about skateboarders thrown in jail for disrupting the city).
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Kids need to get active these days why prevent it?
I don't really see any language. Never heard any except for one song with the B word in it. But that only came on after over 12 hours of gameplay. Hall of meat is not bad but not good either. Extemely frustrating though.
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AGE
A Skaters Dream Game
This is just a good game. There are some problems though. The language isnt constant but it is noticeable. The falls can be brutal and they are awarded with points. This game is great though. You can get off your board and explore the surronding areas which is extremely fun! The challenges are difficult but rewarding. Multiplayer is party-play which actually works well in this game. I would highly reccommend getting this game. Now that Skate 3 is out though you probably wont. haha. I enjoy this game even though I am in no way a skater!
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AGE
best skate boarding game ever made but the falls are burtal
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AGE
Skate 2 a must have!
Skate 2 is a game with unending replay value. This game has many great features such as campaign and party play. The campaign is great for single player when you are by yourself. In the party play, hall of meat is the best way to one up your friends in an open fight to see who can fall the gnarliest. Any way you go there is always a way to touch up your tricks and learn to die better so there is no way to stop playing. You'll never want to put this game down!
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Kid, 12 years old
January 6, 2011
AGE
Great game!
I just got this game, and I think it's great! There's nothing really bad, but a bit of cursing, and hall of meat is pretty rough, even though there's no blood. and the main character is an ex con. With that said, You won't find anything really bad here.
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AGE
Not really for younger kids but fine for tweens
It is the best game ever but it can be a little rough abit but that's notmuch of a problem. The thing that I noticed with my sister is that, she wakes up at 5 am just to play it so it will be adictive for people with passion over skating.
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Kid, 12 years old
October 17, 2011
AGE
Skate 2 gets the darkslide
This game is one of my guiltily favorite skating games. Younger kids and parents may not successfully appeal to the "Hall of Meat" mode, where rewards await at the bottom of throwing yourself off a building or at a car, but the entire enchilada is loads of tasty fun. The game has decent voice acting, decent visuals, and it even shows you where you got racked, how hard, and how much it's worth. One thing I hate about this game is that its store items actually have PRICES. One good thing about Skate 3 is that everything is always free, but it's annoying wasting your time choosing between a sucky but free deck, and an awesome but expensive one. I suggest that people buy this game, whether they're into skating much or not.
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| Topics: | sports and martial arts |
| Platforms: | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | Sports |
| Developer: | Electronic Arts |
| Release date: | January 21, 2009 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | T for Alcohol Reference, Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes |
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