I was not a child that was built for skateboarding. Child me was a tad too wimpy to ever do anything so wicked cool as that. What if I scuffed my knee a little bit, or worse, embarrassed myself? So I did what any skateboarding curious child would do and bought a Tech Deck. And then I never learned how to get good at it. I am only slightly bitter about this adolescent failure of mine, yet all is not lost, for there is an entire video game out today that can let me experience such a feat digitally: Stuntboost.
Stuntboost is a game that, in reality, is a first-person skateboarding platformer, it’s just presented as if you are riding on a miniature skateboard with your hand amongst cardboard courses in your bedroom. Your hand, it should be noted, is more implicated in the design as opposed to explicit, you can’t actually see it while playing, but the movement certainly seems to replicate that feel. You can turn a corner at a moment’s notice, gravity is more of a suggestion than something you have to commit to, but the momentum of it all appears to be firmly in place as well.
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The game is divided up into different tracks, complete with the likes of cardboard half pipes and notebook platforms. Speed is the name of the game here, it’s obviously one that will go down well with the speedrunner out there, a timer at the top of map judging how well (or poorly) you’re performing. This is all complete with a suitably late ’90s, early 2000s, pop punky soundtrack that people in their 40s will probably feel questionably nostalgic for. You can even collect VHS tapes! Remember those?
Those of you that need some competition to have any fun will also be compelled by the online leaderboards, with ghosts of other players present to challenge your skills. I’m also tickled by the fact that you don’t just have to ride skateboards; you’ll find scooters and a car that’s almost definitely meant to be the Toyota AE86 from Initial D. Cute! If any of this sounds like it’s up your alley, then you can pick up Stuntboost on Steam right now.