

At first, this is amusing with your field feathered friend rolling helplessly on the ground, before you hit a button to reset them.īut sporadically you’ll encounter an environmental object that brings the action to a literal halt, ruining the momentum of a combo. All too often, this results in a disheartening wipeout. But attempt to perform a basic stunt, and occasionally, your bird will put themselves in an awkward angle.

The game employs a familiar control scheme, with face buttons and triggers corresponding to different skating commands. While opinions may vary, I found the lesson about heeding nature’s warnings quite poignant.īut this where many of SkateBIRD’s enjoyments end. The feathered companion recognizes that work is increasingly determinantal to its human’s mental health and sets out on a succession of small-scale sabotage missions. But what’s especially charming is a plotline which centers on the relation between the skating bird and their Big Friend. But occasionally, the linger after the completion of an event, which can cause a bit of confusion.įilled with plenty of puns, internet slang like “birbs” and “screm”, the dialog is playful. They’ll offer challenges which provide a bit of structure as well as a storyline. Here, you can skate around freely or move the game’s plot long by stopping for a quick chirp with the NPCs that dot the playfield.
Skatebird switch review pro#
Much like Pro Skater 4, SkateBIRD abandons the taut two-minute play sessions of the first three Tony Hawk games. It’s hard not to smile at seeing little creatures adapt flights of fancy into spirited ollies and twists. Seeing your beaked buddy ride through environments made from real-world objects, where bowed magazines become quarter-pipes and straws function as grind rails, sells the game’s sense of diminutive scale. Sporting different species, from woodsy Kookaburras to tropical Sun Conures and even a Burrowing Owl, there’s a nice variety of plumages found within the character creation component.Īccessories like headphones, scarves, capes, and fanny packs provide a bit of additional personality. Developer Glass Bottom Games indisputably harnesses the adorability of the concept. This reality-snubbing approach is evident in SkateBIRD, which sees a flock of feather riders atop of Tech Decks.

While each stage had a set of goals to complete, the ability to build preposterous combos by skating, stunting, and grinding truly captured the spirit and freedom of street skating. Ironically, Neversoft’s titles truly captured the essence of the sport by forsaking realism. But they weren’t nearly as enjoyable as the over-the-top antics found in the early Tony Hawk franchise. Titles like Skater XL and Session were undoubtedly entertaining. Price: $19.99 via Steam, and the Nintendo eShop, discounts for Steam launchĮver since 2007’s Skate, skateboarding games have favored simulation.
