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Music? Banging.
Gameplay? Banging.
Plot? Like if Dante Alighieri grew up reading Vans magazines, playing TC Pro Skater, and going on datura trips.
End Product? A visual cacophony of vibes.
Don't think, just buy it. It's as peak as everyone says it is. 10/10

To me, Games are constructed from people's dreams.

Surf through other's worlds. Experience them through their eyes. A practice is ritualistic empathy.

When I was young, I usually got sub-merged in these worlds. Experiencing it for what they are.

As I grew older, I started forming likes and dislikes. Games became more calculated. It became what I wanted. Rather than what they are.

I found skate story way back in 2020 through a twitter clip. I knew at that moment, I wanted to play this game for what it is.

I can go on about how the game feels, the mechanics, the looks, the lightning and its pros and cons. Looking this game through this lens is a disservice.

Playing this game was an experience, where I just got sub-merged.

I felt a billion jolts of energy per second coursing through my consciousness at times, even when I shattered into million pieces.

I lived in Sam Eng's world, at times I got close to understanding what this world meant to him and what he is trying to say.

I will be revisiting this dream, again and again.

It's been a while since a game so effectively captured my heart the way this has. I remember being awestruck upon the reveal trailer 3 years ago, and being just as impressed with every single teaser since. And after so long waiting, it makes me so happy to say it lives up to my extraordinary hype and then some.

Amazing gameplay and feel, skating that is posed as difficult to handle, yet rewarding to master, a breathtaking quase-abstract rendition of Hell, with blood waterfalls cascading down into a bustling metropolis of souls, mirroring the ever iconic New York City, a wonderful soundtrack by both Blood Cultures and John Fio, and a tear-jerking tale of perseverance and discovery of self, all under 4 urethane wheels, and a 7-ply sheet of wood.

But atop all of this, Skate Story's beauty comes from how personal it all feels. The struggles, the frustration, the ecstasy, the amazement, the highs and lows, all feel like emotions echoed from Sam's very experience with the development of this game and his genuine love of skating. This gives the every single one of the game's beats an enormous boost, because it's all genuine. I wouldn't dare spoil even a morsel of it's segments, as they are all greatly worthwhile to experience.

And all of this comes together to create such an unbelievably unique experience, that it's guaranteed to keep itself in your memory for a long time. I know I won't forget my time descending the depths of the underworld in a near impossible quest to devour seven moons. Such a game is worth every cent.


And, just in case: Sam, if by any crazy miracle you ever do read this review... Thank you. Thank you for every single second of the long three years it took to realize such a wonderful, and touching vision. This game resonated with me in a way I fear I haven't felt in a damn while. I say the following with no hyperbole: This may just be my favorite game, and I don't belive that spot will be overwritten so easily. You made a masterpiece that deserves to be remembered for ages to come as a true testament to what an indie game can be.