Skatebird is a fantastic new skateboarding adventure game, surprisingly with an avian skater. Skatebird is a classic skateboarding game at heart that lets players go for the goals or enjoy themselves as a bird who loves to skate. The game can be as simple or intricate as the player wants, and there is always room for improvement. It’s a stellar idea executed well. I appreciate all of the effort put into making this game so fun and adorable too.
The player has control over what their bird looks like, and there are plenty of different birds to select. Players can deck out their little friends in hats, and accessories, while also changing up their board. The customization might not be in-depth, but players will find more apparel and decorations as they play through the different levels. After decking out the bird, it’s time for the fun to begin.
Players will board around large stages inside and out. They will take missions from birds as they learn the ropes, and then the missions will continue to get even more challenging. Players might do tricks or collect letters, but it’s all in the name of fun. Skatebird is a game that wants players to enjoy themselves, and it is clear even if the player is failing a mission. Just hop up on the board and try again.
Skatebird is easy to learn but challenging to master; players can hold down the B button on the Switch to push their feathery friend forward. Tricks occur with ease with a button press or two. Timing is everything, but this game is far less forgiving; than Skate, for instance. It’s more in line with Tony Hawk, and that is awesome in my book. The game wants the player to have fun, and even if they aren’t great, it’s a fun way to spend a few hours.
The tricks can be pretty hard to master, and if players don’t have good coordination, it is hard. Thankfully, there are accessibility controls to cancel out the balancing minigame and stop the bird from falling off the board. I’m not great sometimes with control, so it’s nice to have the options there. Skatebird wants to be a skateboarding game for everyone, and I genuinely think it can be that.
Skatebird is a game that doesn’t take itself seriously. Players can play through the game using bird-speak or dude-speak. The birds fall off their boards but are always ready to hop back on the board. These birds don’t give up, and it should help the player keep playing. Players can make their birds flop around on the ground, and this is humorous too.
The music of Skatebird is fantastic too. There are plenty of tracks to choose from, and they each fit the game perfectly. Some of them are ska anthems, and others are rocking tunes. But some are ornithological tales over music, and those are some of my favorites. The Heron; is a great track, and it is just talking about birds, and I love it unironically.
The stages are incredible in their design too. Each of the places looks fit for a bird to skate, and the worlds are picture-perfect. Birds might skateboard up magazines or on bird-sized ramps and rails. Maybe they will be in updrafts or the clouds. The player will experience different locales, each with its unique charms.
Skatebird is a beautiful game with a rocking soundtrack, tons of cute birds, and a decent story. It’s a game that brings everything together in a brilliant way, and while it might not be a perfect skateboarding game, it works. The player could spend hours playing through each world, perfecting tricks, and collecting goodies, and that’s what it’s about, fun. Some birds want to skate; will the player join them for some skate-birding?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch
Also Available On PC, Xbox and PlayStation