I haven't owend a game system since PS1 and the days when the first Tony Hawk Pro Skater consumed way too much of my time, so I'm probably not the most qualified guy to post a review of the new EA Skate game, but I did grab some couch at ASR and can happily report that it's pretty damned good. Everything you've heard is true: The graphics are pretty spectacular, the controls are fairly intuitive, you really do put your thumbs to work, and it actually approximates real skateboarding in the way you set up tricks using a sequence of technical maneuvers.

Much to the chagrin of the impatient kid trying to wrestle the control from my hand at ASR, I was stoked to sit through the entire intro segment. Gametrailers.com has it up now, and it's thoroughly amusing. I'd be stoked to run into Mark Gonzales just about anywhere, but, come to think of it, might just assume not see him in an emergency room. Check it. 

The EA Skate site is actually worth a visit itself: With a news feed from Thrasher, "pro.files" of the skaters included (here's the one for the good doctor), blogs about the making of the game, and other cool treats, it sort of accidentally ends up being cooler than most skate sites online.