This time, five years ago, the skateboarding game was in trouble. The last major skateboarding game was Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, which really sucked, and EA’s Skate series has been dormant since 2010 despite die-hard fan demand for the new entry. Around that time, Montreal-based developer Creā-ture Studios unveiled for the first time his Project Session that seemed to stir up skating woes. Five years later, things are starting to turn around, with Tony Hawk making a triumphant comeback with his Pro Skater 1+2 and his new Skate. Nevertheless, Session: Skate Sim manages to carve out its own unique take on the skateboarding genre.
Realism is the name of the game for sessions. The Skate series was decidedly more realistic than Pro Skater, but still had a fun pick-and-play nature.Frankly speaking, the session difficult: It may not be fun for the first few hours after picking it up (as the developer himself admits). The game is controlled by left and right sticks that correspond to each leg, and tricks are performed just like in real life (like popping up for a kickflip and kicking your front leg sideways). However, once you get the hang of it, it’s very satisfying. The game also offers a selection of modifiers such as pop height and gravity to make things easier or harder as you like.
The mission structure of the game evolves into going to places and performing tricks or routes along the lines of forgettable story dialogue. Missions tend to be poorly explained, aided by the inability to re-read the text boxes explaining what needs to be done. Also, the input required for a particular move is rarely shown during these prompts. For better or worse, Session is a game for hardcore skaters. The dedication to realism is impressive, but the frustration in the early hours can turn off the most.
