Skater XL

I definitely think Skater XL is worth checking out, more so on the PC for the mod side of things than the console version at the moment. But if you’re not opposed to challenging yourself and seeking out your own fun with a responsive, unique physics-based control system, then I think you’ll still get some enjoyment with the current release of the game. Ideally, future updates will flesh out the experience even more, and based on the early access process prior to release, it does seem as if developer Easy Day Studios is committed to Skater XL for the long haul.

While there will be a core audience that enjoys mastering the footwork needed to pull off the different tricks, for most people that will not be enough to keep them playing for long.

A skate game with good performance and a good playable base, but with little content.

At the moment, Skater XL feels more like a skateboarding and lifestyle simulator rather than a fully fleshed-out game. There’s plenty to try and the difficulty level will keep enthusiasts glued to their screens in hopes of nailing those elusive combos, but as a gaming experience, it comes up short.

With more time in development for avatar physics off the board (specifically in crashes), a new system for basic movement in the game, and some direction in a videogame sense, this would be as revolutionary as Skate was with its Flickit controls, but right now, it’s just not where it *could* be. Hopefully the content the PC community pours in finds its way to console, but as it stands, Skater XL is just too barebones and difficult for the everyday person to likely want to play.

Skater XL is a super realistic skating simulator that encourages you to simply go out and skate. If you are someone who loves skateboarding and the thrill of just getting that trick down or making a cool montage to show off, then this is definitely for you. If not, it might be a tough time. Overall it’s a good game, it just feels like it is missing something.

Skater XL has a great foundation to build upon, but right now that’s all that it is. While we expect further updates to bring more content to the game, we can only recommend it to those who need a new skateboarding now and cannot wait.

Skater XL is a good attempt to recover this genre, but this is it, an attempt. It tries to put some realism in the gameplay, but isn't enough. The lack of content and game modes, the insufficient graphic quality, play against it. Maybe, for these people who wants something now, could be enough, but it's far from being a game that these people deserve.

To say that Skater XL's finish leaves something to be desired is an understatement.

Skater XL introduces an innovative and very satisfying control system, but that's all: it feels more like an early access game, still lacking any meaningful content like a story mode or challenges/missions. It's also in need of a visual overhaul, as the skate parks feel too empty and lifeless, skaters lack any expressivity and the overall graphical fidelity is quite low.

Ultimately, Skater XL on Xbox One offers a vision of something that could be excellent in the future. It has a great but lonely atmosphere and downright revolutionary controls, but this is brought down by the sheer lack of content and mediocre performance. It is too messy to be able to call it technically good, but it is definitely a game that is worth keeping an eye on. As a full experience, you might be let down, yet as a demo of what it could become, it is very promising.

Skater XL has promise as a platform but on console it still feels a bit too much like a prototype.