Challenging without being unfair, accessible
without being patronising. It might be the VR
skating experience you’ve dreamed of (if you
dreamed of using your hands). [Issue#32, p.80]
A blistering challenge and a steep learning curve await but if you persevere through the difficulties there is a great feeling VR game and an impressive skating game too. Deficit Games have done an exceptional job to feel authentic whilst remaining arcadey and fun. Outside of the great gameplay and entertaining levels is a flawed sense of progression but it’s a great first attempt.
Ever wanted to be Tony Hawk or Rodney Mullen without the sprained ankles and grazed knees?
VR Skater has a great feel for a pick up and play simulator, easy to learn, feel the success of mastering a trick, and building your own combo streams.
Great visuals, unique levels and a brilliant soundtrack.
This is a great take on the pushin’ wood genre that needed a revive.
Become your own street, vert, flat or ramp legend.
This is the game every Skater has been waiting for.
There is nothing quite like this in VR. It's more sim than arcade and really hard to master. But the feeling of accomplishment when you start to pull of the tricks is worth the time you invest.Graphics are cool as well, but this is a game all about the physics and the gameplay.
Overall, VR Skater offers a unique skateboard experience, despite not taking full advantage of the power of the PSVR 2 and the PS5. If you are a big fan of Tony Hawk Skateboard videogames, VR Skater is definitely worth checking out.
The probably most realistic skateboard simulation convinces in terms of handling and gameplay, but leaves a lot to be desired in terms of scope. Due to the relatively expensive price, it is not an unqualified purchase recommendation for the time being.
In the canon of skateboarding games, I consider the gold standard to be held by Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, which remains a dazzling treat on the latest-gen consoles and PC. But for those seeking to break free from the familiar button-mashing choreography of the past twenty-five years and venture into a realm of deep immersion and virtual reality thrills, VR Skater shows the ambition to be a serious contender. While it might not boast perfection, and its gameplay might be somewhat limited, VR Skater on PSVR2 is your ticket to a brief yet absolutely exhilarating escape. If you're hungry for a skateboarding experience that feels like the future while cherishing the sport's essence, give VR Skater a whirl. You won't be disappointed.
VR Skater is not a bad game, but it could have been better and more varied. More maps, more modes, more songs in the soundtrack, and perhaps more attention to detail in the design of the game itself. All of this would have added to the game and made for a more enjoyable experience.
Seven levels provide ample opportunities for neat lines. These include a street, school, shipyard, and so on, each more challenging than the last. Each map features spot challenges and other simple score attack modes, and you'll slowly level up as you progress, unlocking later stages and more customisation options for your skateboard. While they're nicely designed with multiple paths, they can feel quite empty, not helped by the so-so visuals. We could've also gone for a few more maps and modes, but there are plans for post-launch updates. Ultimately, when you're in the zone, pulling off sick combos while the THPS-inspired soundtrack blares, it feels great. Once you wrap your head around the gameplay and it all clicks, it works very well indeed.
VR Skater is an enjoyable skateboarding sim that may frustrate anyone seeking quick gratification. Memorizing new tricks is tough, making it challenging to master and a steep learning curve means basic controls only go so far. If you're willing to invest time into learning advanced moves, earning gold medals across maps feels rewarding but rough edges make it difficult to outright recommend.
Well I gotta say- VR Skater has been a pleasant surprise! I'm usually not that into sports games, spending most of my time playing more narrative-focused games, but the last few days I've been playing VR Skater exclusively. As someone who spent his teenage years very dedicated to skating, this game has been a real pleasure to play and improve at. I keep seeing people mention the difficulty, but I feel like I've been steadily improving and am pulling some pretty cool combos/runs after only a few sessions. Sure, you won't be doing 30X combos, but that's because it's more of a sim than say, a tony hawk PS. And honestly, pulling off simple tricks in this feels way better and more rewarding than mastering a tony hawk game.
My only negative is that the game feels a little empty in terms of levels and modes... hopefully the devs are gonna keep adding new maps and challenges, cause with the price tag being what it is, I do feel like this could quickly get boring and feel overpriced. That said, for now I'm all in and loving it, even while I'm still trying to get good.