To further aid your progress, objects such as bins, benches and ramps can be dragged around to suit your needs. In many challenges this is a vital way of succeeding, as it allows the player to think up ways of softening that momentous drop or gaining those vital extra inches of air. Although only minor additions on the surface, these improvements underline how the series is continuing to advance intelligently, bridging the gap between the hardcore and the casual audience who were previously uncatered for.

Encouragingly, you’ll find many other minor tweaks hidden throughout Skate 2. The game is still intensely difficult and will test gamers of varying skills in different areas, but the developers now offer a saving grace from the potential frustrations of the skating world. Moving across the city couldn’t be easier, with teleportation and skitching systems now in place. Tutorials are on hand at all times, as you can visit and revisit them when needing to brush up on the tougher skills such as learning to produce insane air and pulling of advanced moves in the fashion of hand-plants and the fan-favourite ‘Christ Air.’ Pummelling your skull against the pavement is now rewarded, as the infamous ‘Hall of Meat’ counter converts your broken and bruised body into compensating lumps of cash. If a fall is significant enough, you’ll make a fair amount of money; a method of income surely based on the insurance fraud mini-game hidden within the outlandish Saints Row titles. Spending your hard-earned cash is also incredibly simple, with a vast assortment of clothes and accessories at hand.

Any ‘awesome’ gear you buy can be flaunted to friends online, as the multiplayer action nicely returns. Along with the usual competitive modes, you can now roll seamlessly from single-player into free skate action, as the city of New San Van becomes a colossal skate park for you and your buddies to exploit. It’s immensely entertaining, as witnessing one of your peers fall heavily from their board leads to a cackling of laughter from all. With cuts and bruises now visible, the effects of making such a fool of yourself are plain to see for everyone taking notice, meaning respect is laid down as soon as you miss time your first intended crowd pleasing move. Add to this the chance to make your own videos and upload them to the EA servers, and Skate 2 becomes a nicely well-rounded package.

As a sequel, Skate 2 comfortably sits ahead of its predecessor. Offering a city full of opportunity and freedom, Black Box has done an admirable job in welcoming newcomers and appeasing series veterans. With a bulky career and set of multiplayer modes full of challenge and variety, the game begs to be played whether or not you have a group of friends ready to board with. With this, EA has hammered another nail into the coffin of the Tony Hawk series, as the future of Activision’s seminal skater looks bleak, if not redundant. Skate 2 highlights the premise of evolution excellently with its minor, yet impressive changes reinforcing its position as the best skateboarding game available on the market today.

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