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Better than Tony Hawk? Hmmm...... |
 Arend Hart from Detroit says (5/Sep/2000): |
Grind Session
For Playstation
As a game reviewer, I do a lot of spying on the other guys. I have a set sequence of videogaming pages I go through each day to see what the other guys are reviewing and what they have to say. After last year's release of the addictive Tony Hawk Pro Skater (THPS), all of the reviewers (including myself) have been frothing at the mouth for a little something to tide us over until the release of THPS2. Thrasher Skate And Destroy was pretty cool, but a bit too difficult to make it more like fun and less like work. Street Sk8er 2 showed promise, but its control and overall design were a bit weak and therefore annoying. Now Sony has it's own answer to THPS, the highly publicized Grind Session. A veritable clone of THPS, Grind Session is a very fun game to play. Is it as good as THPS? No. Will I still continue to play it? Yes, at least until THPS2 comes out.
Although Grind Session designers (Shaba Games) say they had their project wrapped up before the release of THPS, you can't be ignorant enough to believe that, save for a few minor differences, two completely different sets of designers coincidentally decided to use nearly the same graphic layouts, gaming goals and control schemes for competing games. So what am I getting at? Decide for yourself. But what the hell, even if Shaba did copy THPS, would it really matter anyway? I mean, if I was going to design a skateboarding game, I think I'd copy THPS, too. For Christ's sake, THPS is the best skateboarding game that has ever been made! You'd have to be an idiot not to copy it. And anyway, Shaba did an excellent job on making Grind Session different enough that it can stand on its own. And, the cool thing about the "coincidental" similarity between these two games is that it's real easy for a THPS fan to get into Grind Session right off the bat. Unlike with Street Sk8er 2, I felt very little angst and aggravation. I knew the basics of getting around and pulling off kicks, grabs and grinds from the get-go. And for someone who rents most of his games (and therefore seldom gets an instruction manual), it worked out swell.
Quality wise, THPS feels a bit smoother. Even though Grind Session's control scheme is almost identical to THPS, it doesn't seem to be as cohesive as its counterpart. And graphically, it doesn't really measure up. But still, the game was good enough to get me hooked. With extra modes and "Tech Lines" it has enough to keep you mashing and smashing for a long time.
Now as I started to say before, I watch a lot of other reviewers' articles and the general consensus is that Grind Session is a really good game. And, if it hadn't been for THPS's earlier release, it would have amazed the masses. However, because of the timing of its release, Grind Session is hardly making the stir it deserves. I feel the same way as the others do about Grind Session. Still, it's a great game and well worth your time until THPS2 is released.
Rent this from RedOctane (www.RedOctane.com)!
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With it's insane graphics, levels, sound, and much more this game is probably the best skating game ever to come out. |
| Terkz from California, USA says (14/Aug/2000): |
Most people must probably thought, great yet annother skating game. They might have just said, it probably sucks. Or others might have thought that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was so good that they wouldn't bother even to look at Grind Session. However, they couldn't be more wrong and don't know that they're are missing out on the best skating game ever made.
Graphics (10) When you see the graphics at first you may say it's too animated or too chopy but as you play the game you come to realize that the graphics are way better than all the other games. Not too real but not too animated.
Sound (9) I had to give it a nine because it is mostly rap which I don't like very much. However, I was very happy to see NOFX's song, Linoleum. Some songs were just weird just like in Tony Hawk.
Gameplay/other stuff (11!) This game has great control but not too easy to where there is no challenge. No challenge = no fun. It's levels are great and has just as many as THPS... NO it actually has more. It has many things in multiplayer and single which gives it a long lifespan. There is so many great things in this game it makes it virtually impossible to get bored with.
Overall(10) If you read everything above you'll know why it gets this score.
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Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was better. |
| Mr. Perfect says (11/Apr/2004): |
I thought that Grind Session was alright. It was a good game that was similar to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, but it wasn't as good. It would have been nice if they would have made a multiplayer mode that you could skate around in at the same time instead of taking turns and always having to compete. I guess you could call it something like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1/2 or Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1.5. I thought that the little career mode was a little too hard. I never beat it and I got really mad at the game after a while. I did beat the game, but I never got all of the rooms in the dream house. It was alright.
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Tony Hawks Pro Skater doesn't stand a chance to this game |
| ultimate sk8er from San Diego CA USA says (21/Aug/2000): |
Every one thought that pro sk8er was the best, the greatest but guess what - it's not anymore. Grind session is now the best sk8ing game out there. no more unrealistic grinds. grind session is more challenging than pro sk8er by far. when i rented pro sk8er i beat the game with every character and when i rented grind session i couldnt beat the whole game so i had to go buy it cause it is such a kick < remove me > at $$ game. so if you are wondering which game to buy/rent get grind session its the best.
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realistic |
| Jake Rutherford from orlando, fl says (28/Aug/2000): |
this game is for the realistic skater looking for a simulated skate game. it is better in tony hawk as far as that goes. BUT i like the fact of thinking about doing the impossible stuff they do in tony hawk i mean come on we all want to do that stuff. and that is what makes it a good game grind sessiong still a good game but i would rather go out and skate then watch some video do alot of stuff that i can do.
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This game kicks more *** than Tony Hawk |
| Dave from Nevada USA says (11/Aug/2000): |
This game is way better than Tony Hawk.
The graphics are better and the tricks are way more down to earth (no more 1,000,000 point grinds). This game takes a bit more skill to play. The Burnside looks a lot more like the real thing and now you can jump over that **** fence. Want to skate with a demon? Go ahead!
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Sucks |
| Emcee. from Underground city. says (9/Aug/2000): |
Pure graphics, no simulation, no "customise skater", few levels and the secret characters are clowns!!!
This is not a game!!!
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