With all the grace of a ten stair switch-kickflip, EA's 'Skate' made a splash in the skateboarding world, unseating the 'Tony Hawk' series as king of skating games. So it was with much excitement that I picked up my copy of the sequel.

Those who mastered the first game will no doubt be able to jump right in, as the innovative 'Flickit' control system has remained unchanged. Want to ollie? Hold down on the right analogue stick then flick it up. Those new to the game should expect a drastic change from the raw-fingered, furious button-mashing in the 'Tony Hawk' series.

This 'Flickit' analogue control system is central to 'Skate's' success. This is about as close as one can get to skateboarding without the use of a peripheral or real skateboard. Every new trick discovered, be it an ollie/jump or a 360 flip, feels like a huge accomplishment and is testament to the amount of thought that has gone into the control configuration.

There are about twice as many tricks on offer than in the previous game, such as fingerflips and footplants. The most remarkable thing is that every new trick fits in perfectly with the old control system, such as the ability to do one-foot grabs by tapping a foot button in mid-grab.

Another addition to the series is the ability to get off your board and run around, making it easier to scale stairs. This was one feature that many fans were hoping for, but it's arguably 'Skate 2's' biggest problem, because the control system is quite awkward, with your character moving clumsily and turning slowly.

Story wise, 'Skate 2' sees you return to San Vanelona after a five-year spell in prison — and much has changed. According to the Wii version of 'Skate', earthquakes have resulted in a renovated city. This provides enough new environments to skate in, while retaining the feel of the old city.

'Skate 2' feels less linear than the previous outing thanks to the ability to choose which challenges to go after. So if you'd like to tackle street contests and avoid races, go ahead!

This philosophy has extended to the gameplay, with the ability to now move certain objects such as benches and rails around, thus creating your own spots.

Graphically, 'Skate 2' makes incremental improvements on the first game. Character models look as good as ever, with shirts flowing in the wind, while some effects such as reflections on marble look beautiful.

This detail extends to the animations as well. When one lands a poorly-executed trick, there are little details such as the skater leaning to maintain his/her balance. Often when one doesn't quite nail a trick, your skater will hop off the board; 'Skate 2' prides itself on this kind of detail.

It's not all rosy though — there are clipping issues such as your skater's foot seemingly hovering above the skateboard and the pedestrians' animations look decidedly choppy. Moveable objects also have a low-resolution look to them. The foliage in the game lacks detail, although this doesn't detract from the experience.

'Skate 2' also features a variety of music; from your golden oldies such as Black Sabbath and Motorhead to Nas, almost every genre is represented.

The voice-acting is your standard skater fare, filled with "dude", "sick" and "gnarly" — one shouldn't expect any Oscar-worthy performances. With that being said, the sound effects are true-to-life. Little effects such as the sound of a truck grinding along a steel rail or the screech as you powerslide to a halt all add an extra layer of immersion to the already realistic experience.

'Skate 2' features four-player offline multiplayer modes with a new mode aptly called 'Thrasher's Hall of Meat' which sees you attempting to score points for bone-crunching falls. Online multiplayer is suitably beefy, allowing you to share your created skate spots and skate freely around the city with your friends.

'Skate 2' offers enough unique elements to refine the series while retaining the unique and realistic feel that the original pioneered. While other games offer ten storey building drops and 200-metre-long grinds down telephone wires, 'Skate 2' offers a unique alternative that perfectly mimics the sport while not alienating newcomers.

8.3/10

Buy this game: Xbox 360 | PS3