@Manuel Calavera, Reaper Supreme: Penny Arcade brought this up today too, and I have to ask the same question. Are you serious, Kotaku? I can put up with your constant spelling errors and all around unprofessional-ism. But stop acting like you are owed a copy. Journalism my ass.
@Manuel Calavera, Reaper Supreme: That's meant literally, as in the game is in the mail heading to us. Doesn't make a lot of sense to spend our miniscule budget on buying a game so we can start reviewing it a day early.
I realize the PA comment lept giant chasms of assumption, which spurred your obvious question. But now you know... and knowing is half the battle.
@Brian Crecente: So, I'm guilty of being one of the people who popped into this article via PA. But now I'm confused; did you buy the game? Or didn't you? When you say "the game is in the mail" does that mean you ordered it? I'm not going to judge either way, I just wanted clarification. By the way, greetings from Gizmodo. :)
I was always worried about this title and this video does little to quell those fears. In fact, it made them worse.
No thanks.
The Skate series took a pretty big risk and it ended up paying off quite well (if you ask me), however I have a feeling this risk will not. TIME WILL TELL, I SUPPOSE.
@willz0rz: I don't want the series to cease to exist.
I would, however, love to see a return to form. Tony Hawk 1 and 2 were two of the best games that the PS1/N64/Dreamcast generation saw, and the 3rd and 4th incarnations weren't bad either.
After that, though, there was a rapid dropoff and now we have...this.
If Activision gave us a solid arcade skateboarding game, one without unnecessary fake skateboards or story modes that incorporate the cast of Jackass, I'd be interested.
@willz0rz: Remember that you're watching a giant candied apple playing the game on "casual" mode for most of the video and still not really seeming to grasp the concept of a Pro Skater game when he bumped it up to "confident" late. I wanted to see him attempt trick lines... you know, the reason people play the games in the first place.
The board looked more responsive than I figured it to be, but I'm still suspect that it can allow players to pull off THPS2 level infinite trick combos. I tend to think that while Ride is basically guaranteed to fail, it just might be failing more due to a steep learning curve rather than any real problems with the game or board itself. I expect it to be playable, but not the same as past "regular" games, and too many will be quick to cite that as an admittedly unwelcomed fault instead of trying it out for the new experience Ride wants to provide.
I find the reviews for this game to be amazing. The 3 launch day reviews all rated it in the 9's... yet why did two publications that came out a day or 2 later give it a 5/10?
I don't want to say or imply money was involved, because I can't remember an incident where Activision did that. It wouldn't be the first time a publisher bought review scores, though...
This actually looks like fun. I grew up on a skateboard, now I'm old fat and lazy and will play this while reliving my glory days like I'm sure many of you play Madden to relive yours.
Edited by Sobersean: aka Doctor Aquafresh at 11/19/09 4:56 PM
Sobersean: aka Doctor Aquafresh was starred
Sobersean: aka Doctor Aquafresh was unstarred
@Jaems: Is it hard being as awesome as you? Do you sometimes just stare for ours into the mirror at your fantastic mug? Do you wish you could clone and marry yourself?
@Kitsune Sniper: I don't know about anyone else, but I can't stand him. I think he's totally out of touch with what makes a game great. I think he just tries to sound like he knows what he's talking about. He reminds me of the annoying GameStop employee who refuses to shut up about games you don't care about. His reviews are actually exhausting for me to read. I remember being thrilled when he got fired from Gamespot, and now I'm upset that he not only has a job reviewing games again, but that he's making his way back into threads I read at GAF and now blogs I read here.
@XenoRaven: I wouldn't say I hate him, but he is definitely an elitest when it comes to certain things. For example, his constant shit talking on Demon's Souls despite never (to my knowledge) having tried it. It pains me to hear Vinny try and defend that game to the rest of them on the Bombcast. Poor guy.
@CaptLtrl: Yeah, he does sometimes come off like that. I figure he knows what he likes and knows what he doesn't and given his experience (like 10 years now?), I think he knows he doesn't like Demon's Souls. I think its pretty ok. Not a fan of difficulty done the way DS does it, but it's kind of addictive in a masochistic way.
I have no problem with him not liking it, I have a problem with it not being a truly informed opinion. I would never say a game sucks that I haven't played yet, and I'm not even a games journalist, someone who people listen to when they are trying to decide what game to buy. Demon's Souls deserves more than that.
Have they yet to make a game that was consistent in character creation(not somehow magically missing half the stuff from previous games), well built(not with clunky horrendous animations, more smooth movement, and better level design), and fun to play in story mode(not obnoxious goals that you spend so much time pressing start and retrying that the noise starts to melt your brain and you accidentally start and retry upon completion)?
<_< Basically "Has the game progressed beyond just getting prettier but mostly staying the same as the first one"?
But mostly character design. I have bought at least one tony hawk game just for it. It frustrates me that one game has a messenger bag and then the next doesnt, or one has a cool hat which is destroyed next time around, or one has the best absolute perfect hairstyle and the next one doesn't have anything close? ;-;
I am quite partial to the bombcast myself. One of the first ones i listen to when i get down to listening to all the podacst i download weekly. Always a good listen, but it can be quite lengthy though. Looking forward to listening to this one then. next on the list.
11/20/09
Can't you... Go out and buy it? I mean, it's out.
11/20/09
11/20/09
I realize the PA comment lept giant chasms of assumption, which spurred your obvious question. But now you know... and knowing is half the battle.
:)
11/21/09
11/21/09
11/20/09
This is also funny when it comes to the whole Tony Hawk Ride bit. Seriously though this game's been getting odd reviews there's 1 9, a 1/5 and 5.75/10
11/19/09
No thanks.
The Skate series took a pretty big risk and it ended up paying off quite well (if you ask me), however I have a feeling this risk will not. TIME WILL TELL, I SUPPOSE.
11/19/09
i wish people would stop buying these games, so the series would go ahead and cease to exist.
11/19/09
I would, however, love to see a return to form. Tony Hawk 1 and 2 were two of the best games that the PS1/N64/Dreamcast generation saw, and the 3rd and 4th incarnations weren't bad either.
After that, though, there was a rapid dropoff and now we have...this.
If Activision gave us a solid arcade skateboarding game, one without unnecessary fake skateboards or story modes that incorporate the cast of Jackass, I'd be interested.
11/19/09
The board looked more responsive than I figured it to be, but I'm still suspect that it can allow players to pull off THPS2 level infinite trick combos. I tend to think that while Ride is basically guaranteed to fail, it just might be failing more due to a steep learning curve rather than any real problems with the game or board itself. I expect it to be playable, but not the same as past "regular" games, and too many will be quick to cite that as an admittedly unwelcomed fault instead of trying it out for the new experience Ride wants to provide.
Yes, I'm trying to remain optimistic here. :p
11/19/09
jeffgerstmann
Just watched a Tony Hawk 1 video on YouTube and got depressed. Tony Hawk: Ride is awful so far. Hoping to have a review ready tomorrow.
11/19/09
[www.metacritic.com]
11/19/09
I don't want to say or imply money was involved, because I can't remember an incident where Activision did that. It wouldn't be the first time a publisher bought review scores, though...
11/19/09
[kotaku.com]
11/19/09
#speakup
11/19/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
You're cool.
11/19/09
Chill out guys, it was a joke, geez.
11/19/09
@Jaems: I'm pretty sure when he gave Zelda a score below a 9, you're tears of anger blinded you.
Actually, it might just be his haircut.
11/19/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
11/19/09
They don't know what they're missing.
11/19/09
11/19/09
I have no problem with him not liking it, I have a problem with it not being a truly informed opinion. I would never say a game sucks that I haven't played yet, and I'm not even a games journalist, someone who people listen to when they are trying to decide what game to buy. Demon's Souls deserves more than that.
11/19/09
Anyway, I'm sure the whole team will get around to it just for the game of the year awards.
11/19/09
11/19/09
Have they yet to make a game that was consistent in character creation(not somehow magically missing half the stuff from previous games), well built(not with clunky horrendous animations, more smooth movement, and better level design), and fun to play in story mode(not obnoxious goals that you spend so much time pressing start and retrying that the noise starts to melt your brain and you accidentally start and retry upon completion)?
<_< Basically "Has the game progressed beyond just getting prettier but mostly staying the same as the first one"?
But mostly character design. I have bought at least one tony hawk game just for it. It frustrates me that one game has a messenger bag and then the next doesnt, or one has a cool hat which is destroyed next time around, or one has the best absolute perfect hairstyle and the next one doesn't have anything close? ;-;
09/06/09