Shredding New San Van

Published January 28, 2009

Much of what makes Skate 2 remarkable is its commitment to realism through both physics and gameplay. Sure, you'll partake of ramps, gaps, and grinds that no rational human would dare attempt, but that's only because the game doesn't include a pain ray to acquaint you with just how your bones would shatter after a 150-foot body-flop onto concrete.

Tweak with the Right Thumbstick.

Of course, realism begets challenge, and challenge can sometimes lead to frustration. With that in mind, I've turned my hours of game-time into a series of ready-to-use tips and strategies you might find useful as you tour the streets of New San Vanelona.

Instant Air
Gamers have long been accustomed to holding their skater in a crouched position to build up power, and consequently, air-time for their Ollies and Nollies. It's important to realize that Skate 2 doesn't work that way. It's the speed at which you flick the Right Thumbstick up or down that determines the height on your Ollie, Nollie, or any flip-trick for that matter.

Sharp Angles
The various flip-tricks in Skate 2 make up the foundation of the game's trick system. Use them to chain combos, enter into grinds, and even to start and finish aerial tricks. While most gamers will execute the Kickflip, Heelflip, and Pop-shuvits without problem, there are some difficult flip-tricks to master.

You'll need these more challenging variants (such as Laser flip, Variable, and Hardflip) whenever facing off against the pros in the S.K.A.T.E. competitions. Make a point of practicing these harder tricks early on in your career. If you don't, your muscle memory will instinctively gravitate towards the easier tricks.

Almost all of the more difficult flip-tricks require you to begin with a small circular movement and then jam the stick up or down at an angle. The trick here is to make sure your Right Thumbstick never brushes the edges of the circle once you make the upward or downward movement. If it does, you'll perform a Pop-shuvit variant.

Look for shortcuts on races.

Focus on moving the stick at a severe angle once you begin the upward or downward movement, and you should start to find success. It's not easy, but practice makes perfect.

Quality, Not Quantity
Unlike other skating games, Skate 2 rewards smooth lines and beautiful tricks over a hodge-podge of quick grabs and flip-tricks mid-air. Yes, combining a flip-trick into a tweaked-grab and finger-flip will earn you a high score, but you shouldn't need to get too much crazier than that.

Focus on landing solid tricks smoothly, allowing you to easily transition into the next trick. The game's combo meter is generous, so any time you land a quality trick, you should have a few seconds to execute another and keep your combo going.

Try spending some time scouting out the environment so you can plan your "line" ahead of time. Ideally, you should always know where you're going to perform your next trick the moment you land your current trick.

Manual Combos
You can really string some unbelievable combinations together by using a Manual (gently press up or down on the Right Thumbstick while skating) to extend your combo. Providing you begin your Manual before your combo meter expires, it will keep your combo going for as long as you continue to Manual.

Use this technique whenever you've got quite a bit of distance to cover between tricks. Also, try practicing landing into a Manual by gently pressing Right Thumbstick while you're still in the air. With a x3 multiplier going, even just the few points a Manual offers between rapid-fire tricks will add up.

Nice form.

Challenge Order
Most challenges in Skate 2 require you to complete multiple steps, for instance, grind two separate rails and launch successfully over a gap. What isn't commonly understood at first is that you rarely have to do these tricks in order, and better yet, you can complete one, warp back to your Marker, and set up at your leisure to tackle the next one.

Stay In Pool
Many gamers, myself included, often find themselves launching out of a pool or half-pipe, rather than going straight up and back down. This is caused by pressing up on the Left Thumbstick, which angles your skater forward instead of keeping them vertical. Make sure to keep the Left Thumbstick in the neutral position, or pressed to the left or right if you want to spin.

Faster Rotation
Knocking out multiple rotations on a single trick is a sure-fire way to amp up your score. Increase the speed of your rotation by pressing both the Left and Right Thumbsticks in the same direction simultaneously. If you approach a ramp at the same angle you're going to spin, you should earn even faster rotation.

Board Angle Grabs
While heading into the Trick Guide may be the best way to memorize a single trick, you can vastly expand your repertoire of grabs by tweaking the Right Thumbstick before grabbing the board with the Left or Right Triggers. Once you're in the air, hold the Right Thumbstick in any direction before grabbing the board to pull of Mutes, Crails, Cross Bones, Stales, and other equally unique grabs.

Hippy Jump by pressing X+A.

Grind Musings
In all, you'll almost certainly spend more time street skating in Skate 2 than flying high in a pool or half-pipe, and that means lots of grinding. Try keeping the following in mind:

• Angle of approach: Always approach your Ollie, Nollie, or flip-trick into a grind from a shallow angle. Your skater should be edging towards the grind rather than aimed right at it. If you approach a grind at a 45 degree angle, you'll almost certainly overshoot.
• Left Stick control: Once you've landed your grind, use your Left Thumbstick to maintain your balance. If you start to slip to the right, hold the Left Thumbstick to the left to correct your balance. Your skater will usually do a decent job of balancing themselves, so don't correct unless you're slipping substantially.
• Right Thumbstick angle: Whenever you're airborne before landing a grind, use your Right Thumbstick to change the angle of your board. If you press up, you'll tilt the front of your board down, landing the more challenging Nosegrind rather than the more pedestrian 50/50. Mix up this technique while spinning for even more spectacular results.

Environmental Assist
Many seemingly impossible challenges can be made easier by moving bits and pieces of the environment around before tackling the challenge. If you need to clear a gap with a large drop, the sheer speed at which your skater lands will likely send them sprawling across the pavement. If, however, you grab hold of a nearby broken down picnic table to work as a makeshift ramp, you can then land on it, using its gentle incline to keep your feet and complete the trick.

There's virtually no limit to the possible combinations in Skate 2. When you combine the game's hefty trick repertoire with its stunning, customizable environments and your imagination, the sky's the limit. Hopefully with the preceding tips and tricks in hand, you can unleash the full complement of your awesome skating creativity.

Article by Ryan Treit