There was once a time when skateboarding video games were inescapable, and fifteen years ago today,Skate 3signaled the end of this era. As gamers look back on older console generations, it’s worth considering justhow impactful the likes ofSkatewere, and hopefully will continue to be moving forward.
Introduced as a more realistic, simulation-style alternative to the legion of arcade-influencedTony Hawkskating games, theSkatefranchise left an indelible mark on the gaming landscape during the heyday of the Xbox 360 and PS3. Those invested in the games industry at this time know that comparisons betweenSkateandTony Hawkwere rampant, and the tension between the two distinct franchises was palpable. It was interesting, then, to see howSkatewould develop as a series across releases, becoming increasingly less tethered to reality, but no less commanded by a robust in-game physics system. Now, when skateboarding games have mostly migrated to the indie space, or are otherwise defined by their emulative or derivative nature, it’s important to celebrateSkate 3, which marked the end of EA Black Box’s seminal sports franchise—for the time being, at least.
Skate 3 Was a Swansong for AAA Skateboarding Games Back in 2010
For Many, Skate 3 Represents the Pinnacle of Its Genre
WhileSkate 2is the Goldilocks of the franchise, striking the perfect balance between grounded simulation and outlandish implausibility,Skate 3is the series at its most ambitious; getting massive air and pulling off absurd, physics-defying tricks is a relative rarity inSkate 2, and almost never happens in the firstSkate, but such maneuvers are commonplace inSkate 3. Indeed, whileSkate 3has the same well-wrought physics systems as its predecessors, its emphasis is on pulling off crazy, creative stunts, rather than cool-but-realistic tricks and lines.
In hindsight, this makesSkate 3an appropriately explosive finale for the franchise, although few knew that it was a finale at the time. It was an open-world skating paradise, designed to feel more like a playground than a believable city, which is something that evenSkate-inspired modern games likeSession: Skate Simwon’t commit to, for better or worse. With the addition of series’ staples like Hall of Meat,Skate 3was solidified as a landmark release for the genre, and remains a venue for skating fans to experiment with new techniques, tricks, and layouts thanks to the custom parks feature. Indeed,Skate 3will always be a special game, though its legacy might shift a bit with the nascent release ofSkate 4, also known asskate.
Unfortunately,Skate 3has never been re-released, nor has it been released on PC. The only known way to play the game on modern hardware is throughbackwards compatibility on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|Sor via emulation.
Skate 4 Might Do Well To Borrow Heavily from Skate 3
With theSkatefranchise officiallygetting another entry in the form ofskate., it will certainly be interesting to see how EA’s newly minted studio Full Circle incorporates the series’ earlier mechanics and design philosophies. While many, especially those with a fondness for real-world skateboarding, come to theSkateseries for its simulation-style gameplay, many others appreciate the more outlandish and unrealistic aspects seen inSkate 3. In light of this, perhaps it would be smart for Full Circle to lean intoSkate 3’s design principles, focusing on the ridiculous rather than the grounded.
Skate 3is definitely a crowd-pleaser, as its potential for gravity-bucking antics doesn’t necessarily detract from the more realistic gameplay the series is known for. It was afitting end for theSkateseries back in 2010, and one can only hope that some of its spirit has been bottled for the next entry in theSkateseries.
