Tuesday Grudge Match: Skate or Die vs. 720

[Kroogah]

2 classic skateboarding games, 1 hailing from the Commodore 64, and 1 a Midway arcade treasure. Both received decent NES ports as well. Tell us your favorite of the 2, and why.

[Richter Belmount]

never played 720 , so =P skate or die >.>.

[Oobgarm]

One could vote Skate or Die simply due to the wicked digitized voice on the title screen, but in all seriousness, Skate or Die really captured the feel of skateboarding during the late 80's. It was just more fun overall.

720º was a decent game destroyed by the home port. That wacky joystick was essential IMO.

[referring to NES ports here]

[Keir]

Just want to say cool feature! Hope this continues in future weeks. I'm tempted to vote for Skate or Die just because it's on the good old C64, but honestly I don't have much experience with/care for either game so I'll pass on this one.

[Flack]

Wow. Wow wow wow. Where to begin?

720 Degrees took arcades by storm in 1986. In the mid-80's the skateboarding fad had exploded in the US, sending California's look and lingo across the country. By this point in time, Atari knew exactly what they were doing -- players could always buy their way back into the game with another quarter. Each level had interesting things to do in the middle of the playfield which led you directly away from the game's missions. Atari's other 'trick' at that point in time was releasing games with unique controls (720, Paperboy, RoadBlasters, etc) so that home ports, regardless of how good they were, would never "feel" right.

Electronic Art's Skate or Die! debuted on the Commodore 64 a year later. SoD is set up like Epyx's "Games" series (Summer Games, Winter Games, etc), where players compete in a series of events. There were a lot of skateboarding games that eventually made it to the Commodore platform (including at least two different ports of 720), but none ever stood up to Skate or Die! (which, incidently, got its name from 720 Degrees!)

720 Degrees was eventually ported to the Commodore 64, Gameboy Color, Lynx and NES. It also appears on a couple of different console compilations, including the Arcade Party Pack for the original Playstation and, most recently, on the original Midway's Arcade Treasures. EA's Skate or Die! was ported to the NES, and inferious sequals appeared on the GBC.

With it's addictive music, unique controller, and innovative gameplay, I have to give the edge to Atari's 720 Degrees. However, if we're talking about home versions, I'd say Skate or Die! takes the edge.

[-hellvin-]

I've only spent a lot of time with skate or die, thus my vote lies there.

[NintendoMan]

Skate or Die. I haven't played that much of 720, but still doens't even compare.

[Mayhem]

There's a good reason why Skate or Die is similar to the Games system; two of the major creators of the Games series were responsible for SoD!

[portnoyd]

You know, I never knew Skate or Die was a C64 game first.

Based on the NES versions, yeah, Skate or Die is better, but based on the arcade version vs. NES (hey, this is what I remember), 720 is unbroken enough to be better. Just something endearing about those Atari arcade games from that time (APB, Xybots, etc).

dave

[Kroogah]

I voted for Skate or Die, me self. Based on the NES version, and having played the arcade, NES, and GBC versions of 720.

The NES Skate or Die was the first NES game I ever owned, along with Contra. Even though the high jump is frustrating as Hell, I played every other event to DEATH. I still break out 2-player pool joust occasionally when friends are over.

Biased? Hell yes I'm biased.

P.S. Skate or Die also earns 15 billion cool points for the classic Commodore 64 soundtrack. So awesome.

[Kid Ice]

Big fan of the C64 version of Skate or Die here. I never get into 720.

[le geek]

Man this a tough one as I spend a bunch of time with the C64 Skate or Die. The title screen is awesome alone! I particularly got good at the trick halfpipe.

But the arcade 720 with the unique control and its bizarre late 80s style wins it by an inch!

Cheers,
Ben

[slip81]

Skate or Die all the way.

[Quintracker]

Skate or Die all the way.

[Chunky]

720 via the damn arcade has me everytime. I still to this day pick up mame and try to pay the damn thing. but since that had that odd rotating joystick thing, i coud never get it down right in mame.

i suck anyways.

[AB Positive]

When I first learned of MAME, I got a handful of roms to test with, this being one of them. It ended up being the only one I played for months until finding money puzzle exchanger. It is by far my choice of the two.

-AG

[boatofcar]

I'm a big skateboarding game aficionado, so both these games I love. However, due to the awesome soundtrack, I give the edge to Skate or Die. Is the C64 soundtrack the same as the NES one? If so, that SID chip could sure kick out the jams!

[Kroogah]

Is the C64 soundtrack the same as the NES one?

The NES soundtrack tries to be the C64 soundtrack, and while it comes close, the C64 soundtrack is just...better. And yeh, the SID chip kicks out jams like the MC5.

[Ed Oscuro]

SID > NES sound. All the way. Where else could you find Legend of Kage's theme done one better as just one song in a complete soundtrack? :)

Dang...well, this isn't a SID thread but wow, I've got the HVSC (High Voltage SID Collection) and my problem is I don't know where to begin most of the time! LOTS of good listening in there.

[videogameking26]

Skate or Die hands down