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While Activision wasn't actually at Penny Arcade Expo 09, they did however host a private party at the Grand Hyatt on the 3rd for press to get a good look at the early development of three of it's new games, Tony Hawk: Ride, Blur, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. As it turns out, our very own staff writer Dairuka was lucky enough to be invited for a first hand look. Make sure to check it out!
For more information on Tony Hawk: RIDE, please be sure to visit the official website found here.
While Activision wasn't actually at Penny Arcade Expo 09, they did however host a private party at the Grand Hyatt on the 3rd for press to get a good look at the early development of three of it's new games, Tony Hawk: Ride, Blur, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. As it turns out, our very own staff writer Dairuka was lucky enough to be invited for a first hand look. Make sure to check it out!
People know me as a jaded and cynical person, so it should come as no surprise that I'm rarely awe stricken by the baby-steps in innovation taken by the gaming industry professionals. Activision however has finally done something once thought impossible by allowing me a Hands-on demo of their latest masterpiece, Tony Hawk: RIDE, a skateboarding game using an innovative Wii-fit stylized skateboard.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/001.1252492123.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_001.1252492123.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />
<i>Pushing up on the real life board causes you to nollie and to grind on the nose.</i></center>
Granted, at first look, it seems like a child's toy. A plastic and flimsy piece of hardware easily broken by anybody over 150lbs, or too rough with their attempts at performing real life ollies, kickflips and heelflips. However, once taking those first steps onto the board, one immediately gets a sense of just how heavy and balanced this piece of hardware really is. Take it from a guy weighing almost 195lbs, this board can take punishment. Without the help of wheels, and using only sheer force and brute strength, I managed to ollie and nollie to my heart's content, without once feeling as if the board was about to crack, wane or bend. This isn't your girlfriend's Wii-fit... This is a man's board, meant to be used by men.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/002.1252492124.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_002.1252492124.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />
<i>The in game skater moves according to how you twist and turn on your board.</I></center>
After having gotten the chance to play about a quarter dozen different game modes and stages, I can honestly say this game retains the variety of it's predecessors, including a nostalgic downhill run stage once used by the original Tony Hawk game that made Skateboarding games famous back on the Playstation 1. Beyond that, one can expect to take do some vert skating in a half-pipe for the sake of performing insane yet realistic tricks, and even a couple of free-form stages that should be almost expected from a modern skateboarding game.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/003.1252492126.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_003.1252492126.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />
<i>Tricks depend entirely on your foot position when performing an ollie or nollie.</I></center>
Fear not skateboarding aficionados, while this game does have a dumbed down rail-like feel with it's casual mode, deciding to remove the training wheels associated with this setting leaves you with a life-like feeling where you will be forced to direct and maneuver your board without the help of the game's auto-assist. This ramps up the difficulty significantly, something which will take an insane amount of practice, or a wealth of previous real-life skateboarding experience to really excel at.
The only real downsides can be found in the high price tag [i]($129.99 USD) of the game, and the lack of any actual controller use beyond stage selection. Still, this is a game that nobody should miss, whether they're a casual gamer, or a hardcore skateboarding fan.
~~ Dairuka Sutain
Tony Hawk: RIDE is expected to ship out for the X-box 360, PS3 and Wii on October 13, 2009.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/001.1252492123.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_001.1252492123.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />
<i>Pushing up on the real life board causes you to nollie and to grind on the nose.</i></center>
Granted, at first look, it seems like a child's toy. A plastic and flimsy piece of hardware easily broken by anybody over 150lbs, or too rough with their attempts at performing real life ollies, kickflips and heelflips. However, once taking those first steps onto the board, one immediately gets a sense of just how heavy and balanced this piece of hardware really is. Take it from a guy weighing almost 195lbs, this board can take punishment. Without the help of wheels, and using only sheer force and brute strength, I managed to ollie and nollie to my heart's content, without once feeling as if the board was about to crack, wane or bend. This isn't your girlfriend's Wii-fit... This is a man's board, meant to be used by men.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/002.1252492124.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_002.1252492124.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />
<i>The in game skater moves according to how you twist and turn on your board.</I></center>
After having gotten the chance to play about a quarter dozen different game modes and stages, I can honestly say this game retains the variety of it's predecessors, including a nostalgic downhill run stage once used by the original Tony Hawk game that made Skateboarding games famous back on the Playstation 1. Beyond that, one can expect to take do some vert skating in a half-pipe for the sake of performing insane yet realistic tricks, and even a couple of free-form stages that should be almost expected from a modern skateboarding game.
<center><a href="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/003.1252492126.jpg"><img src="http://images.totalgamingnetwork.com/images/thumb_003.1252492126.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />
<i>Tricks depend entirely on your foot position when performing an ollie or nollie.</I></center>
Fear not skateboarding aficionados, while this game does have a dumbed down rail-like feel with it's casual mode, deciding to remove the training wheels associated with this setting leaves you with a life-like feeling where you will be forced to direct and maneuver your board without the help of the game's auto-assist. This ramps up the difficulty significantly, something which will take an insane amount of practice, or a wealth of previous real-life skateboarding experience to really excel at.
The only real downsides can be found in the high price tag [i]($129.99 USD) of the game, and the lack of any actual controller use beyond stage selection. Still, this is a game that nobody should miss, whether they're a casual gamer, or a hardcore skateboarding fan.
~~ Dairuka Sutain
Tony Hawk: RIDE is expected to ship out for the X-box 360, PS3 and Wii on October 13, 2009.
For more information on Tony Hawk: RIDE, please be sure to visit the official website found here.
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