ESPN X Games Skateboarding makes its Game Boy Advance debut with eight professional skaters, each of whom can perform up to 42 tricks. Two primary modes of play include Vert and Park, both of which offer further options in the form of X Games, Free Skate, and X Rage competitions. Vert has players stringing together tricks on a vertical ramp, while Park offers a selection of rails, ramps, and obstacles to skate through.
Each of the skaters is individually rated in jump height, speed, and balance. Players can select Bob Burnquist, Rick McCrank, Colin McKay, Chris Senn, Lincoln Ueda, Kerry Getz, Chad Fernandez, or Carlos de Andrade. The X Games option involves competing against a field of 24 skaters in a series of 45-second runs. Points earned during this mode can be used to acquire more tricks in the Skate Shop, as skaters begin with a limited repertoire of moves.
Free Skate does away with the time limit and point system found in the X Games event, allowing players to practice their moves without restrictions. A training option exists on the vertical ramp so players can learn the names of the tricks they perform and the controls. X Rage is a Vert-specific event where players attempt to score as many points as possible during a 60-second run. Progress and high scores achieved in each mode are automatically saved to battery after each contest. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide