The Levels

As I said before, the first level is a small warehouse level. It's easy to get the next level, which is a school in Miami. Now this is a little more exciting. First of all, because it is huge. I mean, if all you've been playing is the demo... imagine the demo level, but about 10 times bigger, with 20 times more things to launch off of, grind on, and transfer too. The initial feeling of ecstacy is great, almost better than getting your balls licked. The possibilities seem endless. And the crazy thing is that this level is only the tip of the iceberg. For those who have seen the videos on the Neversoft site, this is the same level as seen in the Kareem Campbell video, as well as the rail-to-rail transfer. There is a lot of shit to grind!! And being a "street" level, there are true, street elements, like ledges, gaps, and of course, rails. And yes, rollerbladers, you can switch up grinds... you can even slide up a rail, stop (or do a kickflip) and slide back down!! The possibilities are endless!

Next stop is the mall in New York. Ok, so this is sort of a downhill level. But still,

Burnside. Yup, Burnside! click to enlarge. just like my...

you are not racing, and there are way more things to grind on/launch off of than any other extreme sports downhill level you ever saw.

Now you are off to your first competition -- Chicago. This place looks familiar, because it is exactly the same level as the one in the demo. It's got a few more details than the demo, but it's essentially the same (except that it is very difficult to hit any tricks on the jump up to the first gind. I guess they didn't want people getting 25,000 on the first trick). So I won't spend any more time on this since we already know everything.

Next is downtown Minneapolis. This is the first real street level. It's really on the street, and it's got a lot more street elements... like cars. And these cars will not hesitate to run over you. But unlike real life, you do not die. Lots and lots of long rails and gaps here.

On to the Downhill Jam in Phoenix. This is the only truly downhill event in the game. But because it is downhill, you get a lot more speed. And since you get a lot more speed, all of the obstacles are huge. I mean, if it were to scale, some of the rails

The Gonz Gap Lives On... click to enlarge

would be 30 feet high, and there would be a vert ramp type of thing that is 50 feet high. It's big. Very big. And the hidden tape is a bitch to get in this level.

The second competition is at Burnside. Yup, burnside. Looks just like it (as far as I can tell from the pics I've seen in magazines, as I have never been there). There are SOOO many transfer opportunities here, you will want to kill yourself cuz you can't explore all of them. And they are all in such a small space!!

Possibly the coolest street level in this game is the San Fransisco level. Maybe it's because it actually includes real skate spots (though some of them might not still exist,

Hubbas! click to enlarge

RIP the Gonz). And they really do look like the real thing!! Other landmarks include that one curvy street whose name I can't remember because I am drunk as hell right now... oh yeah, Lombard Street. Not that it is a real awesome skate spot in real life or anything. And Hubba's Hideout. Which is another place I've never been to because I've never been to S.F., but I totally recognized it from pictures and videos and stuff. And believe me, I have played this game with people who have actually been to the real places, and they were just blown away by how much it looked like the real thing.

The final level is a competition, and is initially the "hidden" level, in a secret location. MAJORLY HUGE SPOILER AHEAD. And this isn't even the Rice-Boy Page!! If you want to keep this secret level a secret, skip the rest of this paragraph!!! Well me, with my superior gaming skills, was able to get to this level. It is in Roswell, New Mexico. And man, you have never seen so many things packed in such a small place!! 2 half

Huge grind-transfer-grind click to download sick 445k animated GIF

pipes, a half a bowl, tons of quarter pipes, a crazy rail that launches up to another rail... a bowl with a big channel gap, aliens, and all kinds of other stuff.

This is also the place where my huge 50-50 to 180 benihana channel gap to nosegrind to 180 tailgrab to smith grind was made. You should check out the animated GIF (445k) if you have got the time and the bandwidth.

And now to some changes in gameplay, and some info about special moves!!

NEXT PAGE.

--written by: Bryan Hong, Sea Quints Editor