Skate Story Launches December 8 (And on PS Plus)

There are not enough words that I can put together to describe my fascination with Sam Eng’s Skate Story. From its unconventional yet striking presentation to the absolute euphoria in its soundtrack from artist Blood Cultures, this game left one hell of an impression on me. 

Skate Story releases December 8th for PS5, PC, and Switch. Right now, there is a demo you can download on Steam and I urge you to try it. Not to mention, the game will be featured on the PS Plus catalogue on release. I could just end it right there, but instead I am going to gush about Skate Story. Trust me, by the end of this you’ll crave the moon too.

In Skate Story you play as a demon made out of glass and pain. To break free from your torment, you make a deal with the Devil. Swallow the moon, and you shall be freed. And how will you get there? As the description aptly states, all you need is your skateboard.

There is a story to be told here through text dialogue and all of the characters are cut from the eccentric cloth. However, as everyone features a different design it makes the characters memorable. While there was more dialogue than I expected it never at any point felt like I was reading a book. Even if I was reading a book, I’d still be hooked as these are some of the prettiest visuals I’ve ever seen.

Trying to describe Skate Story’s visual style is similar to being asked to describe the different components in a sorority's pit of jungle juice. It’s such a wild amalgamation of colors and shapes. Never at any point, though, does it feel overbearing due to the game’s clarity. It isn’t trying to force feed your eyes with colors for the sake of it, it wants to welcome you into its world. Not just welcome you into it, but to turn it into your playground. 

As far as skating games go, I definitely lean more so on the side of skate than Tony Hawk as I found Skate easier to grasp. Even nowadays, there’s no better way to put it but I just suck at it. Luckily, Skate Story manages to bridge the gap between all levels of skill so that way anyone can enjoy the game but those who take the time to learn can make some serious magic happen.

For starters, you don’t have to worry about maintaining balance with a meter like in Tony Hawk. In fact, every time you perform a trick you’re guaranteed to land it albeit not always well. When a trick is initiated, an outline will appear with one part of it being highlighted. Should you press the trick button at the same time during the highlighted area, it will net you a bonus in the form of momentum, more points and an extended combo. However, you don’t need to hit it perfectly every time to have a sick line. 

You pretty much are the extent of how hazardous the journey will be. As you are made of glass, should you hit the wall pretty hard you will shatter. If you die, you just pop right back in and get to try it again. All of this combines for a very forgiving experience that allows anyone of any skill to see the story to the end and more people that get to play the better.

The last thing I need, and I do mean NEED to mention: the soundtrack. Blood Cultures is a new artist to me, admittedly I was unfamiliar with their work. Hearing the soundtrack for Skate Story as a mix of their previous discography as well as brand new music specifically made for the game makes me think that the soundtrack could not have been placed in better hands. Given that some of the soundtrack as I said are previously released tracks, it doesn’t change how transcendent the melodies are. Every track perfectly elevates the moment you’re in. The music accompanies you and guides you rather than overtaking you. Getting into a flow state with Skate Story with its visuals, mechanics, and audio, it’s as easy as it sounds. 

I may just be speaking about the band and not necessarily their relation to Skate Story, but Blood Cultures is going on tour. “Emptylands” was the first track I ever heard in full from Blood Cultures. After listening to it nonstop for I don’t even know how long now, I very easily bought my ticket to see them in February. I’m only putting here purely as a new fan for the love of the game. But really think about it, a video game introduced me to a band I’m downright obsessed with and now I’m going to see them in a few months.

As of the writing of this article, Skate Story releases two weeks from today. Of course that’s going to age poorly, but that’s fine. I just want to share my anticipation for this game with the rest of you and hope that you find interest in it as well.

You have games like Black Ops 7 that come out and I watch my brother play it and be miserable where instead you can find something unique and strange like Skate Story that leaves something with you. That’s the sign of good art, when you have a lasting feeling. I think deep down in my gut, Skate Story will undoubtedly be living in my head for years to come.