1-Feb-2003 Pity the poor game developers trying to come up with a fresh and innovative skateboarding game beneath the looming shadow of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series.
With THPS4 looking like the best instalment yet, it will take something quite spectacular to end the Hawkster's rightful dominance. That doesn't mean they don't try, it's just so far no one's come anywhere near.
Evolution Skateboarding attempts to out-skate Tony on his own turf, but still looks like it might end up bailing face down in the gravel, baggy shorts flapping in the breeze.
There are several different gameplay options, including a Trial mode where you get to compete against rival skaters in Vert Park events, and a Challenge Mode where you face a series of challenges such as grinding rails to collect tokens or finding a hidden object.
In Arcade Mode many of the locations look a bit drab, although there are the notable exceptions of the sparkling Aegean Sea setting and the unusual Ruins location.
Skateboarding: The Rivals Most worrying, though, is the way the game plays. Grinds, Ollies, Grab tricks and Flips are set up similarly to how they are in THPS, but the controls are infuriatingly sluggish. Somehow, the promise of battling giant spider bosses at the end of such tortuous button-bashing palls in comparison to the thrill of spending a few hours with the Hawkmeister and friends.
Who cares if you get to battle giant end-of-level bosses if the controls handle so poorly? Unlikely to trouble Tony's lofty skate-king position.
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