Bi-polar: The Duality of Skate 3 as a Rage-Inducing Delight

01/09/24 - This has *only* been grammar-checked by AI.

Skate 3 — a game that’s as much about nailing the perfect trick as it is about testing your patience. It’s a classic in the world of skateboarding games, beloved by many for its open-world freedom and the sheer thrill of pulling off insane tricks by shifting your thumb sticks in random directions. But let’s be real, it’s also a game that can make you want to chuck your controller across the room in frustration over some tasks. How does a game manage to be both ridiculously fun and infuriating at the same time? As much as we might love to worship Skate 3, it’s important to recognise that the game isn’t perfectly happy and fun. In fact, it might not be as great as we remember. It might be hell instead.

The “Flickit” controls are often touted as one of Skate 3’s biggest innovations, allowing players to perform tricks with a flick of the thumbsticks. On paper, this sounds like the perfect way to bring the complexity of skateboarding to a video game, but in practice, it can be a source of endless frustration. The learning curve for mastering these controls is steep, and for many players, the precision required to pull off even basic tricks can be a barrier to entry. Unlike more accessible skateboarding games, Skate 3 demands a level of dexterity and patience that not everyone has the time or willingness to develop, especially not for me. A chill open-world skating game? Yeah please! Randomly having to mash the skateboard controls to score points to fulfil a boundary? No.

Controlling this thing on the screen - how?

The controls also have a tendency to be inconsistent. One moment you’re nailing a trick flawlessly, and the next, the same input seems to result in a completely different move — or worse, a faceplant. This lack of reliability can turn what should be a fun, fluid experience into an exercise in frustration. Even then, Port Carverton, the open-world city of Skate 3, is often praised for its variety of skate spots and the freedom it offers players. But while the open-world design is one of the game’s strengths, it’s also one of its weaknesses. The world of Skate 3 can feel empty and lifeless at times. The AI pedestrians and other skaters lack personality, often behaving in ways that are more annoying than engaging.

Skate 3 is infamous for its glitches, and while some players (like me) embrace these as part of the game’s charm, others find them to be a major source of frustration. From bizarre physics bugs to camera issues, the game is riddled with technical problems that can disrupt gameplay. While it’s true that some of these glitches can lead to hilarious moments for sure, they can also ruin carefully planned tricks, reset progress, or simply make the game feel unpolished. Ruining save progress at times.

So, is Skate 3 really the masterpiece it’s often made out to be? The answer depends on what you’re looking for in a game. If you’re after a fun, laid-back experience with plenty of room for creativity, Skate 3 might just hit the mark. But if you’re looking for something more polished, consistent, and engaging in the long term, you might find yourself wondering what all the fuss is about. I'd still play it though, it is well good. Just play on Easy and you'll be happy. Especially when you tell me when you beat "Sign of the Grinds" with no issue. Thank god. I hate that challenge so much and is part of the reason why I am writing this. Fuck that challenge.

Thank you so much for reading this! Shoutout to Xbox One for not making me pay for Skate 3 and just allowing me to play the game using my Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Thank god, I love this game but not THAT much to pay for it! Brilliant game though, I really recommend it to anyone looking for a time-waster! Why not! Have a great day, cya soon!