E3 2008: Hands on with Skate It on DS

It's all go when it comes to DS skating games this year. Not only is Activision promising a third Tony Hawk game (although no other details have been released, so it's leaving it a bit late perhaps), but EA's is debuting its Skate It.

As the new kid on the street, the game's got a lot to prove given the dominant position the Tony Hawk series holds on handhelds. But following a hands-on session during E3, it's clear Skate It has a few tricks up its sleeve that could leave Tony and company shaking in their Vans.

Set in the fictional southern California town of San Vanelona, Skate It translates stylus sketches into fancy footwork. Skating around the city, pulling off tricks on guard rails, steps, ramps, and various other objects takes skillful use of the touchscreen. All of the action occurs on the DS's top screen, leaving the touchscreen free for squiggles. Drawing shapes on an image of a skateboard depicted on the touchscreen yields different tricks depending on where you touch the board.

Both the shape and the velocity at which you draw on the touchscreen determines the type of trick pulled off. A simple ollie is done by drawing up the length of the board, whereas a nollie involves drawing down the board in the opposite direction. More advanced tricks involve complex lines. A 360-degree pop shuvit, for example, requires drawing a quick half-circle at the bottom edge of the touchscreen skateboard.

Dozens of tricks will require committing each drawing pattern to memory, but the variety is definitely a good thing. Potential problems could arise, however, given the subtle differences between a lot of the moves.

Take an ollie, for instance. A small deviation can mean pulling off a manual instead of an ollie. Timing is also a factor, since the game will tailor tricks to the surrounding environment. If you're near a handrail, as an example, you'll hop up and grind on it if you try executing an ollie in time.

Despite our concern regarding the trick system, we have absolutely no complaints to lodge against the amazing presentation. Exactly how EA Black Box has managed to pump such detailed graphics out on DS is lost on us.

Hopefully it can match the visuals with gameplay that's equally as flashy. We'll know soon enough when Skate It hits stores in North America this autumn (a European release has yet to be announced but should mirror its US counterpart).