Devolver Digital's Marketing Countdown to Marketing premiered after the Summer Game Fest 2022 and featured a plethora of new indie games coming out soon. Like many other games displayed in the showcase, Skate Story boasted a quirky nature alongside an interesting underlying tone.
The publisher has made a name for itself by being off-the-wall and has released some similarly unique titles over the years. Skate Story jumps out from the Devolver Digital Showcase as a game in which the player takes control of a demon on a skateboard who is seen navigating a mysterious dark world while performing tricks.
What is Skate Story
As the name implies, this game aims to tell a story through the art of skateboarding. Players look to be skating around different environments all complete with a consistent neon color scheme and shattered glass theme. The trailer states that players are a demon who must skate through the underworld in order to be freed. The game’s world, The Emptylands, features environments that range from streets and spots that feel familiar to other skateboarding games such as Skate, to outlandish areas like outer space.
Though not too much is revealed in the first trailer for Skate Story, the game’s description claims that the player must master their skating skills in order to destroy demons, save other souls, and ultimately save themselves. Similar to other titles such as Tony Hawk Pro Skater, it seems there is a multitude of different tricks, skills, and trials to master as well as a leveling system and customizable gear. But unlike other arcade skating games, Skate Story is teasing an immersive and mysterious story that melds together with the skateboarding mechanics.
Devolver Digital’s Past Games Influence Skate Story
Devolver Digital is well known for creating interesting and unique stories with titles such as Inscryption and Weird West. The publisher’s newer titles will likely follow suit and provide a good mix of gameplay mechanics and storytelling.
Other games like OlliOlli World and recently announced Rollerdrome show that Devolver is no stranger to fluid, movement-based games. Clearly, roller sports games are making a comeback as creators are becoming more comfortable and creative with the movement style. And with the incorporation of a solid story, Skate Story could potentially get ahead of its competition.
Surpassing the King of Skateboarding
The recent surge of skateboarding games has likely reinvigorated developers to attempt to create the next hit title. Tony Hawk Pro Skater once ruled over all other games of similar ilk due to its high-speed gameplay and simplistic controls. But fan aspirations have since grown, and titles like Skater XL and Skate have become widely popular due to their more realistic take on the genre, as well as their requirement for a certain amount of finesse and skill. However, all of these games lack a key element: a story.
Though some feature a light story, it is never fleshed out enough to be interesting and usually only serves as a plot device to obtain more gear or unlock different areas. Skate Story has all the tools to deliver a proper skating experience that feels natural while also providing a memorable narrative. Early footage of the game shows a player performing tricks with a UI that is similar to that of Skate, which is a good sign for fans of gaming and skateboarding who want a more realistic experience. The same footage also features the character being grabbed by a monstrous hand, implying there is more to succeeding than simply landing tricks.
Devolver Digital may be the publisher for this title, but it is being developed by Sam Eng, who has previously created one game, Zarvot. Though it might seem worrisome that such a new developer is creating this game, it is important to note that fresh eyes and minds can provide a new and unique experience that could be a breakout hit.
Skate Story is currently in development.