Skate Story Review – The Moon Haunts You

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There’s definitely something more to Skate Story than meets the eye, though I haven’t quite figured it all out yet. The game’s premise is simple: driven by pain, exhaustion, and a deep craving, you’re determined to reach the moon. It’s not made of cheese, of course, but that won’t deter you. And how do you get there? By sacrificing your soul, transforming into a fragile, glass-like being, and skateboarding across the universe to force the moon into submission.

This understandably upsets the head philosopher and attracts unwanted attention – even just a pair of wandering eyes can’t stand the noise you’re making. But don’t worry, a fleeting vision of a rabbit will lead you to two important insights, and if you prove yourself worthy, you’ll finally be able to enjoy the rewards. However, that’s just the start of a much bigger journey.

I swear I’m not crazy.

This is a detailed look at the first 20 minutes of Sam Eng’s Skate Story. After a long development and several delays, the game is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. It’s a skateboarding game, but don’t get hung up on the quirky details – like the bee at the flower shop, the fluffy creature giving out milk, or the skeleton running with scissors. The core of the game isn’t those distractions; it’s the skateboarding itself and the connections you make while doing it.

Even though the game can feel overwhelming at times, its visual style is fantastic, striking a perfect balance between beauty and fitting the game’s mood. Compared to the very first trailer released years ago, it’s amazing to see how much Skate Story has improved.

It’s not the decaying remains that recall the warmth of summer, nor the creature trying to feel complete by clinging to a lamppost. It wasn’t even the strange train with its many legs, requiring a special card to ride towards the crimson moon – a journey made easier by a simple glass of milk. Instead, it was the twin moons themselves that appeared, casting shimmering blue scorpions that seemed perfectly happy dancing around me.

If the game feels a bit strange, the visuals and music will only add to that feeling. Skate Story uses a color bleed effect (which you can disable), along with motion blur and reflections, to create dreamlike environments. The unusual objects scattered around – like stop signs, hurdles, and glass needles – also contribute to this effect. While it can feel disorienting at times, the art style is beautiful, striking a perfect balance between pleasing and unsettling. Compared to its original trailer, the game’s visual evolution is incredible. Just be aware that there are a lot of flashing lights, and the busy backgrounds can sometimes make it hard to see where you’re going.

Honestly, the music in this is amazing! Blood Cultures really nailed the vibe, and the extra tracks from John Flo are fantastic too. It’s so easy to get lost in the flow of the skateboarding because the soundtrack is just perfect – sometimes really chill, other times a cool mix of psychedelic and chillwave. I’m already hoping it gets nominated for soundtrack of the year, though I know that might be tough with when it came out.

The game’s sound design is excellent. The realistic sounds of your skateboard hitting the ground, like the satisfying thud and even breaking glass, really pull you in. Different surfaces even have their own unique sounds – skating on brick feels different than concrete. While some areas, like the laundromat, lack sound effects, it actually adds to the game’s quirky and unusual atmosphere.

To damage enemies, you need to create and then use a combo while close to them. It would have been great if building up a long combo offered a high-risk, high-reward opportunity to quickly defeat bosses, particularly since there’s a time limit in those fights.

Playing Skate Story is a truly unique experience, but how does it actually play? Surprisingly, the skateboarding mechanics are solid. You begin with simple tricks like Ollies and Kickflips, but quickly unlock more advanced moves like Heelflips. You can perform a wide range of tricks almost instantly, from Manuals and Reverts to Frontside 180s and grinds. When you attempt a trick, a small timing meter appears, letting you land perfectly and gain extra height – for example, nailing the timing on an Ollie will make you jump even higher.

This game isn’t quite like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. Instead of open levels with lots to discover, it’s more of a fast-paced platformer where you race along a set path. You’ll jump through portals and dodge obstacles like fire and prickly bushes. The controls are excellent and feel very smooth, although mastering grinds takes practice. There are a few collision issues, though – sometimes you’ll pass through objects you should be hitting.

As you play through these areas, you’ll feel like you’re finding the most effective ways to earn big points. The game rewards trying new things, because repeating the same moves will quickly end your combo streak. Think of these sections as practice for the main areas between levels, where you’ll need to pull off a variety of tricks and complete challenges to collect Moonspots and achieve everything the game has to offer.

Combos are mostly useful when fighting bosses. You need to build them up and then strike near enemies to do damage. It would have been great if there was more of a risk-reward system – like being able to instantly defeat a boss with a long, difficult combo, especially since boss fights are timed. However, I didn’t notice any real difference in damage whether I struck after a small combo or a very large one, which was a letdown.

It seems unlikely a simple trash bag could hide a complicated, ever-burning maze, or that getting to Bagelworld would be so difficult. But if you’re brave enough to try, amazing things will happen.

The game has a rewarding system to learn, but it’s less about chasing high scores and more about collecting Souls to unlock new skate gear. What really matters is the experience itself, and while the story can feel scattered, it consistently celebrates the culture of skateboarding. The game even includes surprisingly fitting philosophical questions – like whether a trick counts if nobody witnesses it – that somehow enhance the overall vibe of Skate Story.

The side quests and activities are fairly basic, often just asking you to find and deliver something. The main story missions, which involve leveling up and progressing, are actually more enjoyable. However, the game sometimes simplifies things too much, making it hard to fully explore and appreciate the different areas.

If you’re looking for a skateboarding game with great tricks and controls, and you’re open to a really unusual story and setting, Skate Story is worth playing. It’s surprisingly creative – you’ll encounter bizarre things like a trash bag that’s actually a fiery maze, and a difficult journey to reach a place called Bagelworld. If you’re willing to dive in, you’ll find a lot of wonderfully strange sights.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2025-12-11 16:12