We in a Bunch Like the Bradys: The weirdest thing about Skate 3 has to be the subliminal shaggy, retro 1970s vibe that sneaks in. Actor/skater/vagabond Jason Lee shows up playing a goofy, headband and tube sock-wearing character named Coach Frank. Imported from his own viral videos featuring America’s Greatest Skateboarding Coach, he offers tips and tutorials while looking like something straight out of the White Shadow. There’s also Zoom-like text effects reminiscent of WGBH and an appearance by Neil Diamond on the soundtrack. Maybe these beats are to set the tone for getting old and owning a company, but they’re odd choices.
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Pulling Off an Epic Line?: The new tweaks in Skate 3 clearly look to make it a more social game, which isn’t necessarily bad. The fact that players might help the game evolve and avoid stagnation is radical. Playing with others and spreading around user-generated content don’t necessarily run counter to the core ethos of this particular series. For a non-skater like me, the Skate games replicate the feeling of how skateboarding can be its own perpetually unspooling kind of creativity, unlocked by hours of trying to get a trick or technique down. While the new social gaming wrinkles in Skate 3 don’t necessarily undermine that feeling, they don’t do much to bolster it either. Bottom line: getting on the board still feels really good and running a brand is a nice perk, but only if you’re into that sorta thing.
Official Techland Score: 8.0 out of 10