The lights are on
Activision flew out to the Game Informer offices recently and let us get our feet on the reimagined version of the Tony Hawk franchise with Ride. We had about an hour to play the game, check out the board and talk with Robomodo’s Patrick Dwyer, Lead Designer on the game. Both Matthew Kato and myself had time to play and we share our impressions below. We’ve also got a short video interview with Dwyer along with footage of us playing the game.Nick: When Tony Hawk: Ride was announced, I was a skeptic. I’ve been skateboarding almost as long as I’ve been playing video games. So when I heard that they were making a board to stand on, my mind went into curiosity and caution mode. Ride is definitely a huge departure from the series.The 1:1 riding focus takes over the hyper combo gameplay that the series was known for. Players will put their balance to the test with this game. Staying on the board is not as easy as you probably imagine. I found myself falling off here and there on the longer balance sequences like long rails or manuals. Like real skating, bending your knees is critical for survival. Lowering your center of gravity will just make life easier.I tried almost the entire gamut of difficulty settings. Unlike other games like a shooter where the AI just gets harder to kill, upping the difficulty in Ride changes the way you play. On the easiest setting, you just kind of goof off and ride the line. But take it to the hardest level and you need to push, trick and turn in real time or you will find yourself a citizen of Faceplant City.Kato: One of the things that surprised me about playing Tony Hawk: Ride with its board peripheral is the way it affects your balance. It wouldn't seem like it's that hard to balance on a plank that's just sitting on the floor, but the angled edges on the underside of the board mean that the part of it that is actually touching the floor is only about six or seven inches wide. While this allows you to rock from side to side to carve, for example, I also found myself stepping off the board more than I thought I would as I performed tricks. I've skated for years in real-life, and in some ways a real skateboard is sturdier. Similarly, the minimal distance from the tail or nose to the floor means that holding a manual can be tricky because your balance has to be fairly precise.The Tony Hawk series has been criticized since its inception because of its fantastic take on skating. While I've always enjoyed the franchise's button-crazy combos, it's also fun to have what you do on TH: Ride's board peripheral translate realistically onscreen. Of course, it doesn't always do this accurately, but you simply can't replicate the sensation of actually pulling off tricks with your feet with a standard controller. Some dangerous stunts you should try at home.
I haven't really been reading up on this game too much, but the impression I initially got was that they were trying to make it more realistic like Skate. But looking at the video, it seems like it hasn't departed from the series' traditional over the top look. Not a bad thing by any means.
Obviously, there's a bit of a learning curve, but was the game actually fun and playable after you got used to the new control scheme? Initial reports I read stated that it's difficult to perform tricks and you often do the wrong thing. Was that how it was when you played?
@Ps3Altair
Simply starting a comment with "no insult" doesn't make it alright to say. It's people like you that make your average gamer look bad before he/she even gets a chance to give a first impression. Way to go.
Wow, the game looks better than I expected.
I thought at first that it would kind of require you to play on carpet, so you weren't scratching the board around. I guess not.
If you intend to play it on hardwood, the game comes with pads that you can put on the bottom.
Andrew Reiner wrote:
"If you intend to play it on hardwood, the game comes with pads that you can put on the bottom."
Oh, that makes much more sense. I was thinking of what a nightmare it would be n hardwood floors.
It's funny that "Activision flew into Game Informer offices" when GI recently posted an article within the last few months, saying, "Maybe
Tony Hawk needs to die."
*admin snip*
Reason: Advertiser
[i] read bout th[i]s game
[i] wouldnt choose th[i]s over skate 2
[I] kinda of find it strange that you guys seem to be almost bashing the game in your past few issues, with the aforementioned "needs to die" editorial and the cautious yet apparently pessimistic preview (at least, from how i read it) in the last issue. And what are your views on it now? From what i understand, it's actually alright. I don't know, but it seems like Activision just broke your bias against this game. Shame, too, I'd probably buy it if not for the price point.
TO: DeadByDagger
What I've learned from previews is that if they give little to no information on whether or not it is fun that usually means it isn't great. So I figure it isn't that good.
Break a leg Tony Hawk! No, seriously. Break one.
I don't know, the game seems like a lot of fun. I might pick it up when it's a little cheaper in the future.
Cool video, Nick. Now I know what all that banging around in the conference room was about a few days ago.
I just think Tony hawk has had his run in video games. the ones he made were great for their time, but ever since Skate hit the scene. It's going to take a lot to take the crown from them. And I just don't think Tony has the ability to do that.
So both you guys are skateboarders, which gives you a connection to the game. What about those people that don't Skateboard? There is limited appeal to looking foolish while attempting to do an intense trick. Will the game be playable for those without the prior background? How will the game help them along?
looks pretty cool. What difficulty were you guys playing it on?
Commander Bob:
We played it on all three. While it might be good to start on the lowest setting just to get your bearings, I found that going to the harder difficulties made things easier.
Now that I have seen gameplay footage of the game, it look kinda promising. Thanks for the footage.
P.S: SEND ME YOUR TEKKEN 6 ARCADE!!!! I WANT IT SO BADLY!!!!