Hey gamers! How's it going? I hope you all had an amazing Christmas! So, I'm continuing my adventure in Skate, and man, I've been grinding this game hard these past few days. For a game that's still in BETA or early access, I have to say it's got me pretty damn excited. I've been discovering some really interesting stuff as I dive deeper into what this game has to offer, and honestly, there's a lot more depth here than I initially thought. The more I play, the more I realize that the developers have put a significant amount of thought into the various systems and mechanics that make up this skateboarding experience.

Discovering the Currency System and Battle Pass

One of the cool things I discovered is that there's this special token or currency in the game that you can use to buy items from the battle pass. As I mentioned in my last post, you can actually purchase the battle pass with in-game currency, which is pretty generous if you ask me. But what's even better is that there's also this special token that allows you to buy certain specific articles directly from the pass without having to grind through all the levels. It's a nice touch that gives players more flexibility in how they want to approach unlocking content. This means if there's a particular cosmetic item or piece of gear that you really want, you don't necessarily have to wait until you've progressed through twenty levels of the pass to get it. You can prioritize what matters most to you, which is a player-friendly approach that I genuinely appreciate.

The City Reputation System: A Game Changer

Another fascinating discovery I made is about the city reputation system. It turns out that cities have their own individual levels. So yeah, there's your overall player level, but then there's also this reputation or level that you build up within each specific location on the map. This adds a whole new layer of progression to the game. It's not just about leveling up your character globally; you're also building your reputation in each neighborhood, each spot, each city. It makes the world feel more alive and gives you more reasons to explore different areas rather than just sticking to one location. I'm really digging this mechanic because it encourages you to spread out and experience everything the game has to offer.

Think about it from a realistic perspective – in real skateboarding culture, you build your reputation at specific spots. You're known at your local skate park, you're recognized in your downtown area, and when you travel to a new city, you're starting fresh. The developers have translated that authentic experience into the game mechanics, and it's brilliant. Each city feels like its own ecosystem with its own challenges, its own community, and its own opportunities to prove yourself. As you increase your reputation in a particular area, you unlock new missions, new spots, and probably new gear or rewards specific to that location. This system keeps the game feeling fresh and prevents it from becoming monotonous.

I've also been seeing way more people in the game lately, and honestly, I think this is a really good sign. It's positive to see new players jumping in and giving Skate a shot. I don't know if it's just because I'm such a huge fan of skateboarding and its culture, but I genuinely want this game to succeed. There's something special about the skating community, and seeing it come alive in this virtual space is pretty damn cool. The more players we have, the more vibrant the community becomes, and the better the overall experience gets for everyone. When you're skating through the city and you see other players pulling off tricks, challenging each other, or just vibing at a spot, it creates this organic feeling that's hard to replicate in single-player experiences.

The multiplayer aspect of Skate is really what sets it apart from previous skateboarding games. It's not just about competing; it's about sharing the experience. You can learn from watching other players, you can spontaneously start a session with someone you've never met before, and you can build friendships through your shared love of skating. This social element is crucial for the game's longevity. A skateboarding game without a strong community is just a trick simulator, but with an active player base, it becomes a living, breathing world.

The Endless Tutorial Problem

Now, let's talk about the title of this post: "The game gets interesting but it seems like an infinite tutorial." Look, I'm going to be real with you – this is partly true, and I don't know if it's because the game is still in development or if this is how they've intentionally designed the progression. The tutorial just seems to never end. I can honestly say I've been playing for a good while now. I'm already in the second city, and pretty much every single mission up to this point has been, or should I say, is basically a guide about something.

Maybe this is how they've planned it, I really don't know. But so far, I've gone through the city tutorial, the tutorial on building and placing objects, the shop tutorial, the reputation system tutorial, the tricks tutorial, the rails tutorial, and now I'm stuck in the tutorial about friends and the social features. I want to keep playing to see where this all leads and when the game actually becomes, well, a game – when the missions stop being part of an endless guide and start being actual challenges or objectives that feel organic to the gameplay experience.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that tutorials are necessary, especially for a game with so many mechanics and systems. Skate is a complex game with layers upon layers of features, from the physics-based trick system to the social elements to the city reputation mechanics. All of these need to be explained to players, especially those who might be new to skateboarding games. But there's a fine line between teaching players the ropes and holding their hand for too long. Right now, it feels like Skate is leaning heavily toward the latter. Every time I think I'm finally done with the tutorial phase and ready to just skate freely and take on real challenges, boom, another tutorial mission pops up. It's like, "Okay, now let me show you how to do this other thing." And while I appreciate the thoroughness, I'm itching to actually play the game without constant interruptions telling me what to do next.

The frustrating part is that the game itself feels incredible when you're just skating freely. The controls are tight, the physics feel realistic, and pulling off a perfect line of tricks is immensely satisfying. But these moments of pure gameplay bliss are constantly interrupted by yet another tutorial mission that breaks the flow and momentum. I find myself wondering if the developers could have integrated these tutorials more organically into the gameplay, perhaps through optional side missions or contextual prompts that appear when you're near relevant objects or areas, rather than making them mandatory story missions that you have to complete to progress.

The Dueling System: Where Skate Really Shines

One thing I have been able to experience outside of the tutorial missions is the dueling system, and let me tell you, this is where the game really starts to shine. When you or another player places a beacon, you can enter into a duel where you compete for points and pull off tricks to outscore your opponent. I spent some time today experimenting with this mode, and the dueling process is honestly pretty damn good. It's competitive, it's fast-paced, and it really tests your skills. You have to think on your feet, chain together your best combos, and try to outdo your opponent in real-time. This is the kind of gameplay I've been craving – actual competition and challenges that feel meaningful.

The dueling system shows glimpses of what Skate can truly be when it breaks free from the tutorial shackles. It's engaging, it's fun, and it gives you that rush of adrenaline when you land a perfect trick or edge out your opponent by just a few points. The tension builds as you watch your opponent's score climb, knowing you need to pull off something special to take the lead. And when you do, when you nail that kickflip to manual to grind combination and see your score jump ahead, there's this incredible sense of accomplishment. This is what skateboarding games are all about – that feeling of progression, of mastering difficult tricks, of competing with others and proving your skills.

I really hope they expand on this mode and add more competitive features as the game develops. Maybe tournaments, leaderboards, or special events where players can showcase their skills on a bigger stage. Imagine weekly challenges where the entire community competes to see who can get the highest score on a specific spot, or seasonal tournaments with exclusive rewards for the top performers. These kinds of features would give players long-term goals to work toward and reasons to keep improving their skills even after they've completed all the tutorial missions and explored every city.

So, bottom line, gamers: I want to keep playing Skate. I want to see how it evolves throughout the entire next year. I'm excited to gradually test out whatever new features and content they integrate into the game. I want to see just how far they can take this and whether it's worth sticking with it long-term. The foundation is solid, the mechanics feel good, and the community seems to be growing. Now it's just a matter of whether the developers can deliver on the promise and turn this early access experience into something truly special.

The game has so much potential. The physics feel great, the world is beautifully designed, and the skating culture is represented authentically. But they need to let players breathe. They need to trust that we've learned the basics and let us loose to create our own experiences. That's when Skate will truly come into its own – when it stops being an extended tutorial and becomes the open, creative playground that skateboarding games should be. The best skateboarding games give you the tools and then step back, letting you create your own memorable moments and develop your own style. Skate has all the right ingredients; it just needs to have more confidence in its players.

If you're playing Skate too, hit me up and let me know! Let's start a session together and see what kind of chaos we can create. I'm always down to skate with fellow gamers and push each other to land crazier tricks. Whether you're a veteran skater or just picking up the board for the first time, there's room for everyone in this community. Until next time, keep shredding, and I'll see you in the next post!