Kelly Slater, one of today’s most revered and legendary surfers, shows us beach bums why surfing can be so invigorating, especially on the PlayStation 2. Pro Surfer successfully blends realistic and arcade gameplay elements together to form a smooth ride on top of the water. Playing as one of nine distinguished riders, including Slater, you can glide through the waves and perform sick tricks and combinations—some real and some fantasy—at famous beachfronts around the world. Much like Activision’s other members of the extreme sports family, Kelly Slater’s gameplay involves honing your skills by completing different objectives, and it’s presented in a way that keeps it enjoyable throughout. It’s exhilarating to take to waves of different sizes and shapes as you run through challenges that range from completing specific stunts to competing in rigorous competitions. An appreciation of pro surfing immediately rushes at the eyes and floods into the ears once you start playing the game. The sparkling water motions with fluidity, creating the sense of accurate wave movement, and the wide range of distinct waves curl with power as you surf within vividly colored environments. The cut-scenes that document the different locations, which are told through the surfer’s perspective, are especially engaging, too. And thankfully, instead of the headbanging alternative music found in other extreme games, Pro Surfer’s soundtrack consists of relaxed and mellow tunes—sounds that actually give more meaning to your ride on a wave. The control scheme in Pro Surfer is relatively easy to learn. Each surfer can execute 12 tube stunts, eight face moves, and 16 aerials—which include unique grabs and flips—all with simple button presses. The more you link tricks in any combination, the more points you’ll receive. One humongous drawback to this otherwise seemingly outstanding surf game, however, is the ongoing slowdown. As waves start to crash, the frame rate greatly reduces, which not only looks horrible, but also makes it feel like you’re stalling in the water. If you can get past the terrible slowdown, Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer will give you one hell of a ride on the water. Plus, since Infogrames’ TransWorld Surf is more of a simulation, Pro Surfer is the best arcade style surfer for the PS2 available.
