NIDZUMI+

Let’s waste little time in saying that Stoked is trying to be an indie developed version of Skate, not that there is any shame in that. If you are going to ‘be inspired’ by any game currently out, let it be the one the more revolutionary extreme sports games of the last decade. The problem is that Stoked gets let down by it’s indie roots with the occasional impractical design choice.

Stoked will make the worst first impression you’re likely to endure this year. Embarrassingly lazy voice-overs will give you an overbearing number of techniques to learn within a short space. If you were to persist past the incredibly tough learning curve that greets you like a brick wall, you’ll have roughly three hours of mundane and repetitive challenges.

The incredibly tough learning curve greets you like a brick wall

I know I’m not painting the prettiest picture here but it’s the truth and another distressing truth is that I almost threw in the towel. While the feeling of accomplishment from finishing a challenge was justifiably worthwhile, I found myself asking ‘is this it?’

Then when you achieve the rating of 66, I don’t know why that specific number, I started getting photo opportunities and media challenges. Suddenly the game offered so much variation; suddenly the game came to life. It might take the slowest three hours of your life to go ‘pro’ but the variation and payoff is undoubtedly worth it, almost justifying the first three hours.

If you don’t mind grinding (a totally intentional pun) seemingly forever until you get to this stage, you should also be aware that Stoked is also incredibly challenging. Using the Skate style of controls you’ll flick the right analog stick for ollies and squeeze the triggers for grabs. If you’ve played Skate then you’ll probably feel a bit more welcomed, but Stoked treats you like you have played Skate before which obviously won’t always be the case. Right out of the bat, you’ll be given specific challenges involving specific tricks, meaning you’ll spend more time in your ‘grab bible’ than within the levels themselves.

The massively broad levels feel like barren wastelands that, possibly intentionally, create a feeling of loneliness. However it soon proves frustrating without an instant navigational system or a warp to challenge option. Be thankful that the excellent draw distance gives you plenty of scope on these deserted snow laden locales.

The dynamic weather system only effects the game’s visuals but pleasingly so

These environments are often transformed with help from the dynamic weather system that is at the forefront of the game’s marketing and while it doesn’t impact the game too much, it does pleasingly shift the colour palette.

You can continue to change your rider’s colour palette within the blue tomato customiser, that let’s you deck out your budding superstar with the biggest brands in snowboarding. You are however given no access to these brands from the start meaning you’ll have to don the generic before you wear the intensely vibrant.

To all of this you’ll be introduced to the most eclectic collection of artists from the thought-provoking hip-hop of Atmosphere to Japanese video game inspired sessions that are sure to entertain.

Stoked is a game that needed a lot more QA testing, the learning curve and challenge will hit you straight way while you’ll have to wait for the more enjoyable moments, something that most people would probably never experience. If you’ve got patience, time and skills then Stoked will be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, anyone else should seek some required reading with EA’s Skate.