The PSVR2 skateboarding game VR Skater is challenging. The unique controls produce some really cool first-person action, but we found it hard to enjoy. Skateboarding can be a super satisfying experience if you practice and have patience.
You skate with your arms rather than your legs. You swing your back arm to move forward and your front arm to perform certain tricks. It’s easy to prepare an ollie or nollie using the PSVR2 Sense Controllers, and you can choose which trick you’ll perform by moving your arms. It’s important to catch the board with your face button before landing a flip. There were no issues with comfort, but you will need a lot of space for playing. You’ll be swinging your arms a lot, and playing seated isn’t really an option.
It gets quite complex; you can also perform grabs, grinds, and manuals, with more convoluted inputs resulting in more advanced moves. The tutorials are pretty good, and you’ll need them. Even though it can be tricky to line up grinds, mastering the controls is rewarding. The game plays well and is reliable due to accurate hand tracking. Your own skill determines your results, and it’s great to see improvements.
There are seven levels to play neat lines, including a street, a school, a shipyard and so on. As you progress, you’ll unlock later stages and more customisation options for your skateboard, as well as spot challenges and other simple score attack modes. There are multiple paths, but they can feel quite empty, especially with the so-so visuals. Ultimately, when you’re in the zone, pulling off sick combos while the THPS-inspired soundtrack blares, it feels great. A few more maps and modes would’ve been nice, but there are plans for post-launch updates. Having mastered the gameplay, it works very well.
Pros:
- Playing tough but satisfying.
- Challenges you can’t resist.
- A good soundtrack.
Cons:
- Learning curve.
- Lack of content.
- Feels empty on levels.
This game gets a 7 out of 10.
