When I normally hear of a Disney game coming out I do cringe a little. Not only because Disney makes movies and movie-games are usually abysmal (though are getting better) but because Disney caters for kids mainly, making these games worse. So when I saw this on a demo free with an issue of OPS2 it’s hardly surprising I did not play. After a long trip to a large ASDA though I went straight to the games section, only to see this demo being played on an Xbox. Any chance for gaming I played and found out it was not half bad, even with the Xbox controller. Digging out the demo for my PS2 I realised it was actually excellent, and this is because it uses the same system (and is made by) Neversoft, creator of the Tony Hawks series before it went off track. So it is like playing Tony Hawks 3, but with (even) easier controls.

There is no story to this game really; you just skate as characters from Disney movies like Tarzan, Lion King and Pixar’s excellent Toy Story movies with a similar aim to Tony Hawks’s games. Collect items, pull of jumps and tricks, do a few more things, find hidden items and collect more. By mixing Disney characters with the somewhat superb Tony hawks, it makes for a surprisingly good game. It was no doubt made for the young, but I am young at heart.

~Levels~

There are 3 levels to each game and 4 characters to skate as, though some may have to be unlocked. I’m not a fan of playing as characters like Pumba since a 4 legged beast, no matter how cartoony just looks but younger people who don’t think about such things will not care, especially if they like the Lion King. I am far happier playing as Woody, Buzz or Terk who look far better on the board. Characters do have different moves and slightly different stats but I doubt many will take this game too seriously. They will either be too young to care, or, like me will play as their favourite characters. For me that is Woody from the Toy Story movies, one of the best computer animated movies out.
One thing that should be said early on maybe is that you will not enjoy this game if you are not a fan of any of the movies. By far the most fun I have had is playing as Woody in Andy’s Room (you can only play as each character in their own world), though I am sure that if Tarzan is more your thing then playing as Terk will be far more enjoyable because of nostalgia.

The levels themselves are a decent size though if you are aiming for exploring for an hour I recommend some of the later Tony Hawk’s games. This one, using the same system as Tony Hawks 4, you can not get off your board, and the environments are smaller. But they are based on environments from the movies such as Andy’s Room, Pride Rock and the Human Camp, all made skateable.

For example, Andy’s room which I think is by far the best. The bath is used as a ‘bowl’, books are used as steps or for grinding and car tracks are used for a loop-the-loop. Then there are the half pipes etc. that let you get up to the bed etc. There are far more but you get the gist.
Even with all these changes it resembles the game superbly.

Then there are what is in the levels. There are collectibles and like in Tony Hawks there is the hidden video which now takes the form of different items, like Wheezy’s squeaker. You also have to collect 25 items whether it is Buzz Lightyears batteries or Sheriff badges for Woody each taking a considerable amount of time if you want to collect them all since there are some hidden areas to find or items in awkward places. Then you may have to get a certain high score, which, though may be easy at first gets harder as the levels go on.

There is not much of a variation between things you have to do. Each level you have to collect items etc. but it doesn’t really get repetitive because the areas are so different.

~Gameplay/Controls~

The controls are also very simple, like Tony Hawks. Being a skating game you are never really going to get your fingers mashed up playing such a basic game. Each button on the left represents a different trick. X makes you jump, or ‘ollie’ with the other buttons letting you grind, perform a grab trick, or a flip trick with the directional buttons allowing more tricks. No normal tricks like pop-shove-it here though, as the tricks have been jazzed up for the younger gamers with the special tricks being completely impossible to do in real life though you won’t particularly notice it as mainly it is just a change of names to make them a bit more ‘colourful’ to kids. So, the controls are pretty simple being honest and only some of the more complex tricks (that you don’t really need to do) will be hard-such as having to push different buttons at different times because combo tricks are far easier to do and let you rack up a decent score.

I am definitely a fan of the game and the environments. I actually think it could beat Tony Hawks for the level design since it is so bright and colourful you can’t help but like it even if the environments are a little smaller.
The gameplay does mainly revolve around what I have already said which is superb, though there are some dodgy levels and I am not a fan of Clayton’s ship from Tarzan just because I think the feel itself was too small and uninteresting. With 12 levels in the game plus another one where you can play as a human skater there is enough choice, so, after you have been to that world and done the basic targets required to move on (there are more) you will never have to go back unless you want to complete the game 100%.

~Modes~

What I have mainly describes is single player adventure, though you can free-roam around unlocked levels just for the purpose of skating or take a visit to olliewood, a skating area as a created character and skate in a slightly more realistic world.

The main thing though aside from the adventure is 2 player mode which fits in perfectly with the laid back feeling this game gives you and, whilst not quite being a party game, is great if you don’t want to be starting any serious gaming with your friend like you would expect in many PS2 games, including Tony Hawks Pro skater, even though you mainly do the same thing such as try to pull off the biggest trick, free roam, get the highest trick score in a certain time limit and play a kind of ‘tig’ game where you have to bump into one another.

~Music~

Although I think this doesn’t really deserve a mention, I love the music in this game, with quite a few tracks to listen to. And if you don’t like it, just go to the options and delete it from the tracks that will be played. My favourite is ‘Don’t wanna grow up’ which fits in perfectly with a 16 year old playing a Disney skating game as Woody and liking it. Some of the songs don’t really fit in but many do, and deleting them gives you the perfect background music to skating.
The characters also talk every so often repeating phrases etc. which I think is a pretty neat thing, though can get annoying if you don’t like the voice of a character such as Jessie. Oh well, I’ll stick to the much more loveable woody who sounds just like himself despite not being voiced by Tom Hanks. A nice addition though it wont really make the game for you.

~Graphics~

Cartoony more than anything the graphics are not a problem. They do not compete with, say, the Tony Hawks graphics but they don’t need to and portray the worlds of each of the movies extremely well. The graphics aren’t exactly smooth at all times and they do lack detail but this is the kind of game that does not need such detail since it is made for young people who like the film and I doubt they care really, as long as the graphics are cartoony enough.

~Replay Value~

Well, if you are aiming for 100% the game will take a short time to complete. It’s not as long as Tony Hawks’s games I don’t think and it really depends on whether you like the movies or not. Liking toy Story the replay value for me is high because the levels are excellent and Andy’s Room just brings back memories of a younger me loving toy Story (even though I still watch it now and then). If you think the movies are good but nothing spectacular then, after you have completed the game you will no doubt not go on it that often but if you are a fan of one of the movies (and skating games) then the replay value will be pretty immense-since it is the kind of game that is just relaxing. You do not need to think much into the game and can play for short bursts of time so I play now and then as a fun time-waster. Since you can pick this game up pretty cheap now with it being over 3 years old though, then you won’t be wasting your money if you just complete the main story, though if you aren’t keen on the movies then Tony Hawks is probably the best option providing none of the cuteness but allowing it to be more realistic than this one.

~Extra Information~

Name: Extreme Skate Adventure
Website: www.extremeskateadventure.com
Formats: Playstation 2, Xbox, Gamecube, GBA (version differs)
Price: Amazon Market place from £9.99
Developer: Neversoft
Year: 2003
Memory Card: 110kb minimum
Players: 1-2
Age: 3+

~Overall~

Not everybody is going to like this game and if the thought of Simba on a skateboard makes you cringe then I would avoid this game like the plague. The same applies if you are just not a fan of the movies because (unless you are 5) if you do not like the movies you will not like the game, since it is so childish. If the thoughts of Woody and Buzz Lightyear bring back great memories from the past hop on to the Amazon website and order now, if you like skating games that it. Again, if you dislike skating games, then obviously a skating game is not for you.

With cartoony graphics, great music, some great levels and woody being a playable character though, I will definitely keep on playing it since it makes for some good light-hearted gaming.