Skate 2 (Xbox 360, 2009)

If your a fan of of the original Skate, then your in for a treat. Skate 2 tweaked some of the tricks, added foot plants, hand plants, finger flips, hippie hops, and yes you can even get off your board! San Van has had major reconstruction since the original, but it still holds a few of the places you know and love (They just modernized them some). You can even move objects around to your liking!
As far as difficulty, they stepped it up like an 540 Nollie Kickflip. The chalenges arn't neccesarily harder, but this time they actulally make you use all the tricks up your sleeve. (You can't make your way to the X-games on kickflips and pop-shuvits.)
For those of you who haven't played either game, you don't have to play the first one before the second. Infact, playing 2 before the original, can even make it more fun. Now, what seperates Skate from everyother skating game is that instead of pressing X and left to do a trick, you have to actully use the right thumb stick to mimic a skateboard. It sound difficult, but its what makes these games addictive and fun.
They even "tweaked" the replays. (Get it? Its Skate lingo) You can't change the camera angles DURING the replay, but you can follow the skater or put the camera in a single fixed spot for the whole replay. Almost any spot. You can slow down individual sections of a clip, and did i mention you can put the camera right beside your guy with a closeup for when he crashes?
The only complaints i have for this game is of course, Cars have horrible AI so if you dont pay attention you shall get hit. (Thankfully there are far less cars than the first)
The parks are better, the people are better, the tricks are better, the city is better, and the chalenges are better. Even spots are harder, making it all the more worthwhile when you get it. New tricks, new editing, new parks and new look. Skate 2 takes everything good about its original, and runs with it until it hits a whole new level of perfection. If your a fan of Skate, tired of Tony Hawk(though its good), or even if you want to add a new title to your collection Skate 2 holds up to all the aspectations.

Skate 2 picks up five years after the original Skate, a period marred by an unspeakable disaster that left San Vanelona in ruins. Within that time, Mongocorp rebuilt the city but their zealous protection of private property has put a damper on the once thriving skate population. Equipped with double the bag of tricks, gamers are tasked to rebuild their career and revive the New San Vanelona skate scene. With their ability to get off-board to move objects around and with help from a crew of locals, players embark on a mission to take back the city, one spot at a time. Along the way, they need to get coverage, earn sponsorships, own challenges and enter contests, including a coveted invite to etnies GvR competition.
This game is great overall and you will have tons of fun with it.

Skate 2 does what the first does best... and more. EA's Blackbox Studio seemed to have really wanted to push what the old Skate did with this new title in the series. With a slew of new features, tricks, and official skateboarding companies this game should keep you entertained for hours.

Skate 2 still uses the "Flick-it" controls, which is great. Skate 2 would have been a flop otherwise. Only now, they've added new modifier buttons to allow you to do such tricks as No-Comply's, Bonelesses, and you can even go 1 footed or no-footed on some of your tricks.

The only downside is the graphics look a little dated. When the first Skate came out it had some of the best in the industry, but with Skate 2 it would have been nice to see them update the engine. With that said, the physics engine is as great as ever which is a key aspect to making a great skateboarding game.

Long story short, if you like skateboarding, or if you don't but liked the first game - Get Skate 2. Its fun.

PROS - good clean graphics, huge map with various terrain/obstacles/locations, ease of use controls, movable objects (while off board), tons of tricks, vast character customization, endless playability, great game engine, massive online community (fyi you can skate your friends created parks online), etc

CONS - storyline, mild vulgarity

VERDICT - overall this is a great game! controls are easy to use, with practice the vast move set can be mastered, add in all the skate spots and you have all the ingredients to a "must have", even if your not a die hard skate fan.

The game brought me back to the "video game skating days". Back when i was into tony hawk and what not. But this time i needed some skill. Instead of holding the X button i had to hold down the right stick and push up to Olly. Overall this game held my attention for hours and hours to justify the 30 or so spent on it. But as far as a GREAT or EXCELLENT game? nah. sorry but its true. Skating games have been beaten to death. There's not much more you can do with them. They have become more of a side "thing". like if GTA were to have skating in the game. I would expect that. But to pay for a game JUST to skate. meh. Its still good. and if you can get a good price on it then i Highly recommend you pick this up. It is fun don't get me wrong. But after awhile of Pop, flip, grab, and spin you get bored of it. Honest truth. good luck.