With Tony Hawk now in his mid-50s, it’s surely time for a new generation while this summer’s Wholesome Direct introduced us to Sam Eng, however, has put forward an alternative: a demon “made of glass and pain” is the star of the summer’s hippest game, whose approach to skating leans towards the grounded trickery of Which isn’t to say verisimilitude is its goal: its underworld setting does have real-world elements, but also floating planetoids and diamonds, the latter shattering as you perform a kickflip within their shimmering glare. The sense of weight and impact is thrilling, while the vibe is immaculate. So what if we’re in the underworld? At least in hell we can skate.
