Not content to let Activision dominate the skateboarding world with its Tony Hawk franchise, Electronic Arts introduced Skate, a more realistic take on the popular extreme sport. Available this year for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the game, developed by EA Black Box, plans to give wannabe skaters unprecedented control and flashy visuals.

Instead of copying Activision's formula, EA mixes things up by radically altering their control scheme. Whereas the Tony Hawk games force people to press buttons to pull off tricks, in Skate, they manipulate the analog sticks. Players maneuver their character with the left stick while executing tricks with the right. Furthermore, they must actually push off with their feet to gain momentum. Pressing and holding A causes their skater to receive a big push, while quickly tapping it gives them a speed burst. To perform an ollie, for example, they push off with A, pull back on the right analog stick and then push it forward. In addition, they grab their boards with either their left or right hand by respectively pressing the left and right analog sticks. Combine that with pushing and tilting the right analog stick in various directions, and players will bust out some crazy tricks.

All of this ties into the skater's momentum. As skateboarders go through the motions, players will see their bodies pitch forward and lean backwards in order to successfully pull off the tricks. This differs from the more simple Tony Hawk games, where momentum doesn't matter nearly as much, and although Skate is nowhere near complete, it already shows signs of greatness, as the developers seemingly nailed this control scheme.

It remains to be seen, however, if EA truly captured the essence of the sport. Although the game contains 19 pros -- such names as Danny Way, P.J. Ladd, Jerry Hsu, and Mark Gonzalez -- and takes place in the large, fictitious San Vanelona, the developers neglected to discuss a story mode, soundtrack and multiplayer options. Skate may trump Tony Hawk when it comes to realism, but it may lack the off the wall shenanigans and extreme culture found in Activision's games.

This issue notwithstanding, Skate does include various challenges. Video tasks gamers with completing a variety of tricks while filmed, and Photo lets them take snapshots of their skateboarders. Furthermore, a nifty replay mode (accessed by pausing the game) allows for rewinding and editing, thus giving players the option to save and show off their best work or most painful crashes.

Considering the game is currently in development and EA has yet to announce a release date, Skate could prove a tour de force against the great Tony Hawk gaming empire. Look for additional coverage in the near future.

Related Links

Skate Game Guide

Electronic Arts