Thrasher: Skate and Destroy
| Thrasher Presents Skate and Destroy | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Z-Axis Ltd. |
| Publisher(s) |
Rockstar Games UEP Systems (Japan) |
| Distributor(s) | Electro Source |
| Designer(s) | Alan Blaine |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Thrasher Presents Skate and Destroy 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.
Despite having less recognition, it received high scores from both IGN and GameSpot, being seen as "technically superior to Tony Hawk" and an "almost sim-like approach to the sport". 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 Thrasher magazine - from which the game takes its name.
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, a formula that the future skateboarding series Skate would build on, whereas the Tony Hawk series, even from its 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 the player does so into moving vehicles). Breaking their skateboard will mean the player has to 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.
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.
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Wikipedia