indie title Session: Skate Sim is the purest representation of skateboarding in the form of a video game. It is blissful high art for practitioners of the sport. But even for those who have yet to pop an ollie or grind their first rail, the game still has a lot going for it.
After being in early access for the past three years, Session: Skate Sim 1.0 has finally fallen. It is now available on PC, Xbox and Playstation. With a wide audience and a lot of hype surrounding it, the game is about to break out. Those hoping for a Tony Hawk Pro Skater knockoff will be very disappointed as this is a hardcore simulator that requires patience and practice. For anyone willing to put in the time – skateboarder or not – this could be the most satisfying video game of 2022.
The learning curve is exceptionally steep and can be measured by the amount of flesh peeled off by the pavement or by the number of teeth lost at the bottom of a staircase. New players are guaranteed to struggle and drop out a lot in the first few hours of the game. Skateboarding is a very difficult sport and Session: Skate Sim unashamedly drives this point home. The gameplay is so realistic that the controls feel strange at first. It feels very much like the player is learning something that is new to him. This sensation will be very familiar to anyone who has ever ridden a skateboard for the first time.
Each analog stick on the controller represents the left and right foot respectively, and every subtle movement is expressed on the screen. Holding down the back foot and sweeping the front foot up performs an ollie, and sweeping it to the left performs a kickflip. When the player returns from a normal stance to a crazy stance, the view of the back and front foot of each double stick changes. Face buttons perform actions such as acceleration and braking, while the triggers are the directional controls. Success in the game requires laser focus, attention to detail and precise timing. Eventually, muscle memory develops and less attention is required for each input. Movement, distance and tricks become natural and effortless, and the game begins to flow for the player.
Missions are scattered throughout the game to help players learn the systems and mechanics. NPCs provide helpful tips, tricks, and insight into skateboarding culture and terminology, while providing players with an overview of the title’s intimidating plethora of moves. The amount to learn is overwhelming and the missions are a great way for players to relax through the game’s many tricky challenges.
Once players get the hang of the game, it’s entirely up to them where they go and what they do next. When they gain some confidence and the controls start to make sense, they have complete freedom of choice. This is Session: Skate Sim at its best. Like skateboarding, it offers the player unbridled freedom on a scale rarely seen in video games. There is no points or scoring system, but there are a plethora of locations to explore. Players can customize their skater and board to their heart’s content, adjust the controls and difficulty, and sing along to chill beats through the selection of radio stations. They can also spend hours in the video editor feature, where players can revisit their sickest achievements, edit them to their liking, and share them with their friends.
Session: Skate Sim respects skateboarding and its ethos as a way of life. It’s a love letter to the culture and history of the sport in the form of a hard-hitting simulator that will have players raging and celebrating in equal measure. As with real life skateboarding, the challenge is great, but the result is one of the most satisfying experiences the medium of video games has to offer. It is art that imitates life.
It is a good idea to recommend this game to skateboarders. For those who are interested in skateboarding or have only been able to appreciate it from afar, Session: Skate Sim is an unapologetic and lavish introduction, but a rewarding one.
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