TGS 2024 | "Skate Story"
First off, color me surprised to see Devolver Digital at the Tokyo Game Show! Then again, they have broken ground here thanks to the popularity of Fall Guys and Cult of the Lamb. But within the halls of Makuhari Messe was a mysterious game called Skate Story. Created by Sam Eng (Zarvot), this take on the popular sports sub-genre is no Tony Hawk Pro Skater. Quite the contrary, it’s on the search for something more meaningful than attempting to spell “S-K-A-T-E” before the time runs out.
The first level was on display at the Devolver booth, as you take on the role of a glass man with a mission. He wants to get to the moon and swallow it, but only a demonic skateboard will be your key to getting there. Once signing a deal from Hell, you grab your board and begin your journey to the sky. But as you reach higher and higher, many annoyances will come to keep you from achieving that goal.
Like in those classic Tony Hawk games, you’ll have to learn how to be a great skater in order to achieve greatness. The deeper you go on this adventure, the more moves you must master to get to the top. In the demo, there were three skating techniques you had to learn: sharp turns, ollies, and kick flips. For ollies, those were necessary for taking on higher ground or avoid hazardous areas. With your character being made of glass, getting hit with one too many hazards will cause you to shatter, forcing you back to your previous checkpoint.
But it’s when you learn the kick flip when a boss battle begins to form. You reach the moon, with the goal to destroy it. The more kick flips you do, the more damage you inflict on the lunar orb. Once that happens, you watch at the moon snaps in two, as deep thoughts trickle through the air. It’s a visual that’s both humorous and stunning, a perfect combo for a title that aims to be a lot more different than those other skating titles.
Skate Story is a weird title, but no one does weird better than Devolver. The first level showcased a lot of potential for this to be a big indie darling, with its writing and tongue-in-cheek style offering a unique style to the skateboard game genre. It probably won’t inspire millions to one day go for Olympic skateboarding gold, but Sam Eng’s latest will surely make you ponder more deeply about one’s goals with the board. Skate Story will arrive later this year on PC, so be sure to make a night call and get some practice in before you have to seek out that massive lunar snack!