Skate or Die

Game review

This skateboarding game is the conceptual predecessor of the better-known Ski or Die title in our country. The game includes five competitive disciplines. Two so-called "ramp events" - Freestyle ramp and high jump, which are single-player and the player must earn as many points as possible by performing various acrobatic stunts on the ramp. Two so-called "downhill events" - downhill race and downhill jam, which are basically classic races seen from above, one in a park environment and the other in an urban environment. And finally, pool joust, which is an elimination competition where two players face each other and have to beat each other up.

The first event is freestyle, in which your aim is to score as many points as possible in 10 attempts. Judges determine how much style and skill you have shown. The High Jump uses the same equipment, only this time your task is to jump as high as possible at the end of the ramp. The downhill events are overhead-view races. In the Downhill Race you simply try to complete the course within 90 seconds. In the Downhill Jam you try to outperform a human or computer opponent whilst dodging or jumping hazards. You can use attacking moves to either remove hazards or knock your opponent over. The pool joust is more of a one-on-one beat em up using a stick, set within a pit to skate around.

Four characters were featured in Skate or Die!: Rodney Recloose, a wild man with a purple mohawk and a Marine Corps tattoo (and a facial resemblance to comedian Rodney Dangerfield) who runs a skateshop in the game, and his son Bionic Lester, an even wilder kid with a green flattop, who the player character was able to take on in the joust and the downhill jam. In the joust, Lester and his two cronies await the skater. Poseur Pete challenges beginners and Aggro Eddie takes on intermediate players, leaving Lester with the advanced pros.