X-Bladez: Inline Skater

X-Bladez: Inline Skater
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)
ReleasePlayStation
  • UK: 22 March 2002
  • NA: 4 December 2002

Game Boy Advance
  • NA: 5 April 2002
  • EU: 29 March 2002
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

X-Bladez: Inline Skater is a 2002 sports video game developed by Vision Scape Interactive and published by Ubisoft and Crave Entertainment for the PlayStation. A version for the Game Boy Advance was developed by The Code Monkeys. Upon release, X-Bladez received negative reviews, with critics citing its simplistic design and the difficulty involved in completing tricks.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot of X-Bladez.

X-Bladez is an extreme sports game in which players compete in aggressive inline skating races over thirteen tracks based in five different countries. Races are held in Tour Mode, involving a series of races, Time Mode, timed races, and a free-form Practice Mode. Players perform flips, spins, and grinds across slalom and circuit courses to finish in the first place. Players can collect and use power-ups across levels, including boosts for speed. The game features a Shop for players to upgrade their skates and wheels to improve performance in acceleration, top speed, balance and cornering.

Reception

X-Bladez received negative reviews from critics. Joe Rybicki of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine dismissed the PlayStation version as a "simple game for kids", stating the tricks were "much harder to pull off" compared to other titles.[2] Describing the Game Boy Advance title as more of a "racing game", Nintendo Power stated that "despite the danger element, X-Bladez doesn't feel like an extreme sport".[1] German magazine MAN!AC lambasted both versions, stating the PlayStation version had "completely uninspired" design, "stupid opponents" and "cumbersome" controls,[4] and the GBA title had "lousy visuals, dingy sound and dull controls" and was "ugly, boring, and without any appeal".[5] Console+ recommended readers avoid the game, citing its "pitiful" graphics, simplistic gameplay, tricks, and difficulty.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "X-Bladez: Inline Skater". Nintendo Power. No. 159. August 2002. p. 147.
  2. ^ a b Rybicki, Joe (April 2002). "X-Bladez Inline Skater". Official US PlayStation Magazine. No. 55. p. 109.
  3. ^ a b "X-Bladez: Inline Skater". Consoles+. No. 124. May 2002. p. 125.
  4. ^ a b "X-Bladez: Inline Skater". MAN!AC. No. 103. May 2002.
  5. ^ a b "X-Bladez: Inline Skater". MAN!AC. No. 103. May 2002. p. 83.