Grind Session
For a Pro Skater knock-off this game impressed me a bit. The graphics though similar to THPS feature alot of lighting effects and sport gritty, dark stages. The layout is great and some areas are simply huge featuring multiple floors and lots of hidden places. The gameplay is pretty much dead-on Pro Skater as well. Meaning it's responsive and you can whip out a number of moves depending on the directions and buttons you press. The only addition (which I think the THPS series should implement) is the "Balance Meter" which represents your balance as opposed to watching your character. You advance in the game by accomplishing certain goals. Ranging from hitting the High Score to finding Secret Areas. It's just too bad 989Studios didn't offer up a little variety with the stage goals as you'll soon start noticing the same objectives for each stage. At least there's a load of video clips and other extras to open. Not to mention the cool mansion at the end of the game. Unfortunately the game does feel a bit "B-Quality". Meaning that the featured skaters and bands aren't the best known and are nowhere near as cool as the guys and gals featured in Tony Hawk Pro Skater (well maybe except for Willy Santos). One of the trade offs for being a copy cat I quess. The game ain't bad, just more of the same. And quite frankly I got no problem with that considering this and THPS are the only decent skateboard games available.
(thanks to www.gamefan.com for the pics)
| Category | Rating | How & Why? |
| Graphics | 8 | Huge Stages with lots of PSX Special Effects / A Lot Grittier and Darker than you would Expect |
| Music | 7 | Soundtrack Assortment of Punk and Hip-Hop with "okay" bands / Soundeffects are believeable |
| Gameplay | 9 | Plays almost exactly like TonyHawk but with a Balance Meter / Plenty of Trick and Hidden Areas / Similar Objectives get a little repetitive further into the game |
| Innovation | 8 | Doesn't Go Beyond the Standard set by THPS / Pretty Much a version of TonyHawk with crappier bands and lesser-known skaters.... |
| Replay | 8 | Lots of Objectives despite Repetitiveness / Video Clips and other Extras to Open / An Enjoyable Game but still doesn't beat out THPS or THPS2 |
Overall 8.0
Reviewed by ShinjiZ on October 14, 2000 for GameyPlace.com