Skate City: New York Review (iOS)

New York, despite being the concrete epicenter for melodramatic cabbies and Wall Street ne’er-do-wells, continues to tout a remarkable skate scene even to this day, with countless AM-Jams and underground events still being as prominent amongst locals as they were back in ‘98. And it’s because of that raw power and timeless skate-centric culture that, even with so many other video games out there, few of which also frequent the Big Apple, developers continue to deploy their decks in Manhattan and its surrounding pretzel-perfect neighborhoods. Take Skate City: New York, for example. Yes, it’s another skating game that takes place in the city, and rather fittingly, the wound-up cabbies also feature to support the stereotype. And yet, I just can’t find it in myself to blame the devs for planting roots in New York; it’s a near-perfect utopia for skateboarding enthusiasts, and it’s the city I’m primitively familiar with.

Skate City: New York rekindles the flame of its skate-centric series, which initially debuted back in 2019 for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, PC, and iOS. Since the global launch of its first chapter, the asphalt-heavy digital pastime has become something of a secret obsession for both fledgling skateboarding fans and mobile-based boarders alike — which speaks volumes about the importance of keeping extreme sports alive on a virtual level, for sure. Needless to say, its latest inclusion of a New York segment was the next best step forward for the series; it not only keeps skate culture alive, but it also allows the series to evolve and grasp fresh perspectives and concrete ways to elevate the sport, in general. And, you know what? I’m all for it.

So, is Skate City: New York worth your time? Well, if you’re still struggling to decide whether or not to pick it up, then read on.

Welcome to New York

Skate City: New York takes full advantage of the same toolbox that was previously installed in the previous iteration from the series, meaning, if you are somewhat familiar with how the controls work, then there’s a solid chance that you’ll know exactly what to expect in the concrete jungle that is, respectfully, the most chaotic metropolis in the United States. It’s New York, and so, naturally, you don’t have the luxury of being able to soak up sun-kissed harbors or lavish beachside panoramas; on the contrary, you have the grittiness of suburban skate culture—a playground that primarily consists of stone steps, tagged turf, and a whole lot of city streets that simply radiate warmth and communal spirit. It’s all there, and so, as far as locations travel, the slipper certainly fits with the booming landmarks of New York.

Aside from the recent installation of a multi-tier path for each of the dynamic levels—a feature that allows you to travel between a number of routes to unlock an extra layer of replay value—there isn’t a tremendous difference between the OG Skate City and its kin. Like before, each level invites you to use your handheld device to control the board; the left side of the screen operates the left side of the board, and the right side operates the adjacent side, and so on and so forth. To that end, there isn’t a huge amount to wrap your head around, nor are there any complex control systems to grasp, for that matter. In fact, Skate City: New York is incredibly easy to pick up and play, to the extent that you don’t need to know how to pop an Ollie — only that you know how to tap.

Everything Is Stylish

It doesn’t really matter if you don’t know how to skate, or even if you’ve never taken the opportunity to learn the ropes in the original Skate City. As it turns out, mashing buttons and hoping to string a line together is all part of the journey, and it’s actually a great deal of fun, provided that you don’t waltz into the concrete archipelago with the expectations of finding a flawless experience. It’s a side-scrolling game, and so, regrettably, there is only so much that you can actually accomplish before the urge to indulge in a wider world begins to take hold. And that did happen for me; I frequently felt the need to return to those grass roots and dust off an old copy of Skate or, if I was feeling really nostalgic, Tony Hawks Pro Skater. For when I wanted something new, though — I had Skate City.

In spite of Skate City: New York being a side-scrolling game with deep ties to its arcade core, the game itself is incredibly pretty, and I honestly believe that it captures the beating heart of New York remarkably well, all things considered. Granted, the latest chapter doesn’t really hold a candle to its counterpart when it comes to its available districts; where 2019’s Skate City paved the way for several global arenas and parks, New York essentially chose to restrict itself to the one location. And that’s a shame, really — doubly so when you consider the number of areas that you can visit—Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Central Park, all of which, admittedly, provide a unique vibe, but also often fail to provide enough material to warrant an extended tour.

Skate City 1.5

There are three modes to choose from in Skate City: New York: Tutorial, which pretty much speaks for itself; Pro Challenges, which invites you to participate in a series of trick-oriented skate sessions; and Free Play, which offers you the chance to finesse your tricks and explore the multitude of possibilities in each of the respective regions of New York. To clarify, there isn’t a campaign, as such, which means that there are rarely any goals to accomplish outside of the ones you set for yourself. And, again, this isn’t a major issue, so long as you don’t mind crafting your own stories and establishing your personal benchmarks to ultimately overcome in future sessions.

I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a hook to fall in love with in Skate City: New York. Okay, so it doesn’t have the same juicy incentives as its predecessor, nor does it make the effort to break free from the shackles of its chosen locale, but the fact that it manages to provide a smooth and enjoyable ride does make it an attractive alternative to its original incarnation. Plus, with the game still being in its infancy, there’s nothing to say that it won’t eventually go on to incorporate several other add-ons or landmarks in future updates, which will certainly elevate its overall appeal, without a doubt.

Verdict

While Snowman’s Skate City: New York isn’t quite the spiritual successor to the likes of EA’s beloved Skate anthology that we might’ve wanted, it is, in spite of its barebones simplicity, one of the most addictive side-scrolling skateboarding games on iOS, period. And, sure, while you could argue that the extreme sports market is disappointingly short of any form of notable network of competitors, it’s still easy to spot a quality product when you have it cradled between two thumbs for the best part of four or five hours. To that effect, it’s easy to praise Skate City: New York for its dedication to helping the street skating culture keep its prestigious reputation.

To state the obvious, if you did enjoy 2019’s Skate City on iOS, then there’s honestly nothing to say that you won’t be able to find the same dopamine fix in the bustling boroughs of its New York expansion. Is it the best skateboarding game on the block? No. Having said that, given your lack of opinions when it comes to sourcing fresh and genuinely entertaining skate-centric video games from any level of the barrel, you’re hardly spoilt for choice, sadly. The bitter truth is, while Skate City certainly doesn’t boast the famous mic drop incantation, it does manage to make the act of embarking on a side-scrolling skateboarding journey feel incredibly exciting and rewarding.