SkateBIRD

 Switch
User Score
2.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 5 out of 8

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. SpoopySkeleton
    Sep 17, 2021
    5
    Great concept, poor execution.

    The team behind SkateBird obviously likes skating games and wanted to create something like that. However, it seems that they couldn't figure out what makes skating games fun. There is very little variety in the tricks you can perform. The level design is cluttered and sparse at the same time and is more focused on the theming rather than gameplay. The    Great concept, poor execution.

    The team behind SkateBird obviously likes skating games and wanted to create something like that. However, it seems that they couldn't figure out what makes skating games fun. There is very little variety in the tricks you can perform. The level design is cluttered and sparse at the same time and is more focused on the theming rather than gameplay.
    The theming is very cute, and the addition of a double jump could have opened up a lot of possibilities. However, as I mentioned before, it doesn't seem like the level was designed with that moveset in mind.

    There is no hook, you just get plopped into the game world without any ceremony or explanation, while the mechanics get introduced through walls of text. And the first few missions are so boring in their objectives that I could barely bring myself to finish them.

    I also expected the game to be far more forgiving and arcade-y because of the silly theme. Boy was I wrong. The player feels incredibly heavy and clunky to control, which to me is extra weird, given the theme.

    All in all, this game feels like a late alpha, not a full release. The basic mechanics are in, but they could do with a lot of fine-tuning.

    I hope the developers continue working because the game does have a lot of potential.    … Expand
  2. NindieSpotlight
    Dec 17, 2021
    5
    With the exception of the Tony Hawk redux that came to the system earlier this year, the skating scene on Switch has been on the slim side. To date, none of them has come to the table with nearly as much quirk as SkateBIRD, and I’d say that with its 3D gameplay rather than sticking to the simpler 2D plane it’s also more ambitious than most of its competition. That said, while it’s kind ofWith the exception of the Tony Hawk redux that came to the system earlier this year, the skating scene on Switch has been on the slim side. To date, none of them has come to the table with nearly as much quirk as SkateBIRD, and I’d say that with its 3D gameplay rather than sticking to the simpler 2D plane it’s also more ambitious than most of its competition. That said, while it’s kind of weird and funny to take on half pipes and other skating challenges with some species of bird that is decked out in an outfit you get to choose, the game does have some rough edges in multiple places. The one that stands out foremost in my mind is the double-edged sword of your environment being seen from the perspective of a small creature in a human-sized world. Yes, it makes everything novel, but when you mix some of the areas and the large drops off of things like a table with the missions you’ll be trying to complete on the clock it can make things very frustrating. Falling off an edge while you’re trying to make things happen will often sink your entire attempt, and when you throw in the sometimes-dodgy controls that are a bit on the loose side it’s more commonly a problem than I’d prefer. However, if you’re looking for something just a bit different and enjoy skating games given the lack of options on Switch it may be worth a look.

    https://www.nindiespotlight.com/2021/09/mini-reviews-september-16th-edition.html    … Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 20
  3. Negative: 4 out of 20
  1. Gamezebo
    Jan 3, 2022
    60
    It makes progress a struggle, so despite good intentions SkateBird isn’t a game that ever really properly takes flight.
    Read full review
  2. Gaming Age
    Dec 17, 2021
    50
    Everything is next to impossible in Skakebird. It’s the sort of game that you’ll want to love — right up until the moment you play it, at which point you’ll just be left saying, “But it looks so cute!” Ignore the cuteness, focus on the gameplay, and skip this one altogether.
    Read full review
  3. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Nov 8, 2021
    80
    If you think that Super Smash Bros. Brawl's "1/100 chance of tripping" mechanic ruined the game, then SkateBIRD definitely isn't for you. But if you'd like to embrace a little chaos while getting wild in a virtual skatepark made of paperclips and duct tape, then we're birds of a feather, and this is a game you should flock to. [Issue #56 – November/December 2021, p. 20]
See all critic reviews »