I'll be honest, It's been a long time since I played a skating game. I think the last one was Tony Hawk 2... or maybe 3, for the N64. So, some of the things I praise may be things that came along in the first Skate or previous skating games, I just don't feel like doing the research to find out. First of all, an open world really gives a lot to a skating game, allowing you to find cool spots and seek out challenges on your own. Secondly, the controls really work well. The flick-based trick system makes it simple and still allows for a lot of variety and depth to how you pull off crazy stunts. Those 2 things are probably the shining stars of Skate 2, and that in itself is enough to make it a good game.
What makes it a more than just good game is those things along with the lengthy single player mode with many differing events and challenges, the great multiplayer options, good graphics/animations/characters, and even a half decent soundtrack. To put it simply, there was a lot of work put into this game, and it shows.
I don't really have too much to complain about with this game except for the basic fact that it is a skating game, and therefore generally not my favorite style. As far as skating games go though, this is a solid one, and I actually really enjoyed it.
