"completed" here meaning beating all of the amateur levels and unlocking a decent portion of the pro levels, since there's no way I can continue to want to play this given how difficult it's getting. it's a neat idea to combine a precision platformer with skateboarding mechanics, but players interested more in the former than the latter will quickly run out of reasons to continue playing. after simply finishing all the amateur levels all objectives are score-based, and learning to maximize scoring via mid-air spins, revert-manuals, etc. requires an extra level of muscle memory with truly diminishing returns for actually enjoying the game. I don't have any issue with how its all implemented, but at a certain point I have to question if I wanna dedicate hours to practicing this or just moving on to other titles. another reason: this game is extremely precise, to the point that even a couple frames of lag will likely be noticable. my gf noticed this on the main tv I play on (with game mode on!) after playing it on vita for a while, and when I compared it to vita it was night and day. it would really suit these games to have lag config built in.
as for the level designs, there's again sort of a push-pull between the precision platformer and the score-based skateboarding design philosophies at play here. it's difficult to create true playground-esque environments outside of a 3D environment, and the closest that roll7 can approximate is branching paths or joint rail/floor sections. these sections are nice, but they're alternated with linear areas that require precise jumps or mandatory perfect grinds to maintain speed, and these can become grating. level-long combos in this game can often be quite long, and when it comes down to missing the small window on a boost ramp towards the end and having to restart from the beginning repeatedly certain levels can feel like a drag to clear. my strategy generally involved doing the simplest tricks and manuals possible to try to focus on the platforming, but once the levels are finished this avenue really falls flat. this is my ultimate takeaway from the game: the avenue for mid-level players is so short as to feel pointless. if you aren't willing to dedicate yourself to high-level play, you'll finish the main set of stages and then maybe dick around with challenges until you get bored and put it down, and considering that the pro challenges and eventual RAD mode are a good chunk of the game, it feels like an incomplete experience. considering that only 2% of players on ps4 actually have finished the amateur mode, it seems like many people bailed before even I did. in short, a neat 2D skateboarding concept with surprisingly niche appeal.
as for the level designs, there's again sort of a push-pull between the precision platformer and the score-based skateboarding design philosophies at play here. it's difficult to create true playground-esque environments outside of a 3D environment, and the closest that roll7 can approximate is branching paths or joint rail/floor sections. these sections are nice, but they're alternated with linear areas that require precise jumps or mandatory perfect grinds to maintain speed, and these can become grating. level-long combos in this game can often be quite long, and when it comes down to missing the small window on a boost ramp towards the end and having to restart from the beginning repeatedly certain levels can feel like a drag to clear. my strategy generally involved doing the simplest tricks and manuals possible to try to focus on the platforming, but once the levels are finished this avenue really falls flat. this is my ultimate takeaway from the game: the avenue for mid-level players is so short as to feel pointless. if you aren't willing to dedicate yourself to high-level play, you'll finish the main set of stages and then maybe dick around with challenges until you get bored and put it down, and considering that the pro challenges and eventual RAD mode are a good chunk of the game, it feels like an incomplete experience. considering that only 2% of players on ps4 actually have finished the amateur mode, it seems like many people bailed before even I did. in short, a neat 2D skateboarding concept with surprisingly niche appeal.