Thrasher: Skate and Destroy
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| Thrasher: Skate and Destroy | |
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| Developer(s) | Z-Axis Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) | Rockstar Games UEP Systems (Japan) |
| Distributor(s) | Electro Source |
| Designer(s) | Alan Blaine (Game Design) Randy Condon (Project Manager) Sam Houser (Executive Producer - Rockstar) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation |
| Release date | NA 1999-09-26 PAL 1999 JP 2000-03-04 |
| Genre(s) | Sports game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer (2 players) |
| Rating(s) | ELSPA: 11+ ESRB: Teen |
| Media | CD-ROM |
| System requirements | 1 block of space free on Memory Card (for saving data) |
| Input methods | Playstation Controller, DualShock Controller |
Thrasher: Skate and Destroy (also called Thrasher SK8 in Japan and Thrasher presents Skate and Destroy; see box art) is a skateboarding video game developed by Z-Axis and released in 1999 for the Sony Playstation. A Game Boy Color version was also developed, but was later cancelled. This is likely due to when Thrasher was released, following in the wake of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and therefore being largely overshadowed (much like many other skateboarding and extreme sports games released after).
Despite having less recognition, it received high scores from both IGN and GameSpot, being seen as "technically superior to Tony Hawk"[1] and an "almost sim-like approach to the sport"[2]. Aside from less advanced graphics, this was one of the reasons Thrasher was ignored, as the learning curve (due to unconventional controls) is fairly steep compared to the 'pick up and play' style of the Tony Hawk games.
The objective of the game is to take one of the six fictional skaters and work through a total of 12 levels across the globe, gaining sponsors, decks and clothing, and eventually appearing on the front of the Thrasher magazine - from which the game takes its name.
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[edit] Gameplay
Reviewers noted the more realistic style and different control layout, compared to Tony Hawk, which added to the overall difficulty of the game. Because it is more of a simulation of skateboarding as a whole, the focus of the game is mostly on technical tricks and to perform tricks efficiently, whereas the Tony Hawk series has, even from the outset, had a focus on arcade style gameplay and is rather more forgiving.
Like the other Z-Axis developed sports titles, the game features ragdoll physics. In keeping with the realistic nature of the game, players can break their skateboard and even bones if they crash hard enough (especially if it is into moving vehicles). Breaking their skateboard will mean the player has the restart their run and will lose their score, so it is in their best interest to use the 'bail' button combination (L2 + R2), as well as the 'tuck' button (Circle/O), while in the air to minimize the damage.
[edit] Controls
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Note: This section describes the default control configuration. Two others can be selected in the options menu.
Unlike many other extreme sports titles, most importantly Tony Hawk's, the game has a drastically different control scheme. The Square face button performs ollies, aka jumps. In Tony Hawk the Cross (X) face button gains speed and performs ollies, in Thrasher it also gains speed but instead performs grinds when near the edges of certain objects (instead of the Triangle button in THPS, which is now used in combination with the directional buttons for different flips). It should be noted that the player does not need to ollie while skating to perform fliptricks, instead only the Triangle button is used. Holding one of the shoulder buttons in combination with Triangle and a direction will produce either a nollie or fakie variation, depending if the skater is in a Switch stance.
While in the air, grabs can be executed by pressing the Circle (O) button in combination with a direction. Pressing this while skating flat (in conjunction with Triangle, if desired) will instead perform different degree spins. Powerslides and Switching stances are done by pressing the L1 shoulder button plus Down, or L1 plus the Cross (X) button respectively. Manuals and Nose Manuals are executed by pressing L1, the Square Button and either Up or Down. If the player uses the Right button instead of Down or Up while near a wall, a Wallride is done instead of a (Nose) Manual.
Playing on the 'Expert' difficulty setting also adds to the gameplay. The face buttons should be held while in the air to increase height, and the Square (Ollie) button must be pressed before every landing, so that the skater can balance properly to finish the trick. These requirements do not apply to the other difficulties.
[edit] Skate Mode
This is the main gameplay mode, where the player advances through 12 different levels in a series of two minute runs. When the player enters a level, there is no time limit so they are free to explore the whole area before starting their run with the Select button. The player then has two minutes to get the high score necessary to complete the level without breaking their board, or being arrested by the police officer; This occurs when the time limit reaches ten seconds. The player is seen from behind, with a policeman's arm extended out ready to grab the skater, who then must then leave the level through one of the designated exit doors. If the skater is caught, then their score is annulled and the run must be done again.
In the competition levels (last level of each zone), the player's objective is also to gain score, except this time they are being judged on "high difficulty, risk and style". Repeating the same tricks in the same areas devalues their point score, so the player must use a wide selection of different tricks and objects in the level, as well as avoiding bails (sometimes almost completely) to progress.
At certain points in the game, the player is also offered choices of sponsors. Three are available at once, but only one can be chosen, which then gives the player new decks, shirts, pants and shoes to outfit their skater with.
Once the player has completed the game on the Expert setting, they are classified as a 'Pro Skater'. However, to fully complete the game and to feature on the cover of Thrasher Magazine, the player must go back through the levels and once again complete them. At the end of the runs, the player is able to take a photo of any tricks performed in that run to feature on the cover. Completing all of this lets the player feature in the 'Skater of the Year' issue of the magazine, which marks the end of the game.
[edit] Multiplayer Mode
There are 7 total multiplayer game types available for 2 players. In the same way as Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX, the players do not skate simultaneously, instead they take turns. The game types are actually the exact same as Dave Mirra, just renamed. Each game takes place on a different level associated with the specific challenge. The game types are follows:
- Sessions: Each player has a two minute run to beat the other player's score.
- Nickel Bag: Players take turns doing single tricks. The highest scoring single trick wins.
- H.O.R.S.E.: One player does a trick, then the other must match it. If they do not, they are assigned one of the letters of 'HORSE'. The first player to get all the letters, spelling out the whole word, loses.
- Top Dog: Each player takes turns doing different tricks at five different spots. The highest total point score wins.
- Sick Fix: Taking advantage of the ragdoll physics, the players take turns inflicting the most damage to the player by crashing into different objects in the level. The highest score wins.
- Long Grind: Longest grind in the level wins.
- Big Wallride: The highest wallride in the level wins.
[edit] Levels
There are 12 levels. They are listed below in order of progression.
Hometown
- USA
New York
- The Subway
- Washington Square Park
- Brooklyn Bridge Banks
Los Angeles
San Francisco
- China Banks
- The Hills
- Embarcadero
International
- South Bank, United Kingdom
- Der Kolosseum, Germany
[edit] Skaters
There are six fictional characters to choose from in Thrasher. The skater descriptions are taken from the game manual. Players can rename and re-clothe (when new clothes are unlocked) any skater if so desired. Each player has different statistics, meaning that some tricks will be performed more easily. Also, each character also has a special move that is executed with a specific combination.
- Axl: Tough and Versatile. He'll take on any terrain with huge snaps and has scar tissue thicker than most people's kneepads.
- Kahli: All-around skater. At home on ledges and picnic tables. Can pull any grind, with flips in and out.
- Scab: Rides fast and hard. Bombs hills, jumps off buildings and grinds anything available. Tough.
- Jasmine: A vertical fiend. More comfortable on mini-ramps than street terrain, and can throw down 540's all day long.
- Roach: The tech commando. Each trick is in the bag as long as he's on flat ground.
- Cyrus: A heavy hitter, throws big snaps over big sets. Destroys barriers and hydrants with huge kickflips.
[edit] Soundtrack
All of the songs on the game are from the rap genre, and are supposed to represent a definitive selection of 'classic' rap from the late 1980s and early 1990s (many are from "The golden age of hip hop"). There is even a two-page section in the game manual dedicated to "The History of Hip Hop". While skating, two songs can be chosen at a time - one for freeskate, and one for the timed run.
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[edit] Critical Reception
The game was well received within the gaming press, gaining an average of 8.2/10 from 3 of the top review sites (individual scores listed below). According to the same list, the average 'Gamer score' was around the same, measuring 7.8/10, which brings its overall total to 8.0/10.
