"This is who I am, and this is what I like …
"I don’t want to be told to grow up …"
In the realm of skating titles, one name is usually associated
with excellence, and the name belongs to Tony Hawk. The line of pro-skating
titles has long been a stalwart in the genre, and few can match the feel and
look of the game. Well, that is about to change.
Activision, Disney Interactive and Toys for Bob have partnered
for Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure, an Xbox release modeled with the Tony Hawk
engine and featuring some of Disney’s top animation stars. The in-game music is
wonderful and the characters play off it very well.
Simba, on a purple Zulu Lion Shield board, is having a field day
at Pride Rock. Grinds and inverts are all a simple part of this outing, with a
solid rock song punching up the mood of the event. The song ends and Simba
chuckles and says "I walk on the wild side."
This is just an example of the joyful fun found in this game.
There are a variety of ways to play the game. You can enter
single-player mode and have a free skate, or enter the adventure mode. The
latter will task players to accomplish a number of goals as they move through
the game levels. There are rewards in unlocking skaters and levels as you move
through the game. You can also unlock cheats and some of these are mini-movies.
In the two-player mode, you can play H-O-R-S-E to challenge a fellow player to
perform the best tricks, or you can go to split screen and play a score
challenge. There is also a King of the Hill feature where players are tasked to
find a hidden crown, and then hold onto it for a certain amount of time. The
other player must skate into the one holding the crown to steal it away.
Game worlds begin with three levels each taken from Disney/Pixar’s
Toy Story 2, Disney’s The Lion King, Disney’s Tarzan and Olliewood (a real world
level where you can create a character, or use one of the Extreme Skate Crew
members). In the Toy Story 2 setting, you can skate as either Woody or Buzz
Lightyear around Andy’s Room, Pizza Planet or Zurg’s World, Xrghtung! The Lion
King features Pride Rock, Elephant Graveyard and Scar’s Canyon.
Twelve Disney and Pixar characters help you start. In addition
to Buzz, Woody and young Simba, there is also Jessie (the Toy Story cowgirl),
Zurg, Young Tarzan, Young Jane, Young Terk, Young Tantor, Rafiki, Pumbaa and
Timon, and Young Nala.
The control elements have been simplified and as such it is easy
to see that this game is intended for younger players. There are not as many
tricks or amazingly high-flying feats as one would find in a Tony Hawk title.
After all, this is a title aimed for a younger crowd.
The sound features voices apparently taken from films and
television, and the musical score is well done. The bumps and grinds don’t
really jive with the environments but that is understandable. What sound would a
board make grinding a rough log?
The graphical elements are well done and this is a solid
three-dimensional world. Occasionally there are glimpses of a two-dimensional
look, but the worlds have depth and a nice interplay of lighting and shadows.
Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure is cute, and certainly
entertaining, but it is apparent that this title has a targeted audience and
that it younger game players. In that regard, with the under 12 crowd, this is a
sure-fired winner. While older players may enjoy the cute factor of skating
around animated movie venues, this game may be a bit too simplistic for them in
terms of tricks and the shuddering, grimacing crashes a Tony Hawk title holds.
This game is a terrific ride for younger players, and will entertain them for a
long time. Older players, unless avid Disney/Pixar fans, may wish to pass.
This game is rated for Everyone.
Gameplay: 8
From the free skate to the adventure challenges, this game moves seamlessly
through the levels of play. The camera will rotate 360-degrees to afford players
the opportunity to view all their favorite characters from a variety of angles.
The game may be a little too simplistic though in terms of goals.
Graphics: 8.5
Some of the environmental effects are a little too simple and it is a apparent
that the game leans more to the cartoon (yes, these are animation movies this
game is based one, but a green waterfall?). The animation is wonderful, but if
you rotate the camera, and the character skates into it because of static
placement against a wall, the characters will go from three-dimensional form to
two-dimensional flat cartoon style.
Sound: 8.5
The musical score is very good, and the voice animations are also excellent.
Difficulty: Easy
This is a game that does have some challenge but with the scaled-down trickset
and limited controls, this game does not have nearly the challenge of a Tony
Hawk title.
Concept: 7.5
This was a great idea coming out of the gate, and is likely still a great idea
in terms of providing children with a good skate title. But the game, aside from
the cute factor, hardly will hold much for older, more experienced players.
Multiplayer: 8.2
The games are simplistic and really offer little that is new. But then, the age
group is what is important here.
Overall: 8.2
It is hard to quibble with a game that has a certain target audience and meets
that goal. However, this is a title that could have had much broader appeal.
When you take the skate engine from Tony Hawk, the potential is there for a huge
title. However, this game was geared more for younger players. When it comes to
a great program for younger gamers, Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure is a
bonafide success. Older, more experienced players may get a chuckle or two from
the animation, but will not find it much of a challenge.
