Hands-onWhirl Tour GameCube
We play the GameCube version of Crave's hybrid of extreme sports and platforming games.
Crave stopped by the GameSpot offices recently with a playable build of Whirl Tour for the GameCube. While it may seem like a clone of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater on the surface, closer examination reveals that's not the case. Like many other extreme sports games, Whirl Tour is split into levels with specific objectives to accomplish, but the story runs throughout the game to make the experience seem more cohesive than in other games in the genre.
As Whirl Tour begins, a band named Flipside is sucked off the stage in the middle of a concert and disappears into the sky. Concerned for their well-being, Wasa B., the band's roadie, sets off on his scooter to rescue them from the depths of a dark castle. The version we were allowed to play had two levels unlocked and a race mode available. At the beginning of each level, you must choose a rider and a scooter, and at the game's outset, there are just one character and one scooter to choose from. But as you defeat boss characters in the game's race mode, new characters and tricks are unlocked.
Much like in other extreme sports games, the gameplay in Whirl Tour is predominantly combo-driven. Jumping is accomplished by pressing the A button, and the longer you hold it, the higher you'll jump. You can grind and slide on ledges using the Y button or perform aerial tricks with the X button. In this way, the controls are identical to those of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3. While on flat ground, you can also perform slides by holding the analog stick to one side and pressing the X button. If you're in midair and see that you're going to bail on a trick, you can press the A button to save your combo points. If you're having problems with the default control scheme, you can customize it to match your abilities.
There are several power-ups in the game that will temporarily improve your rider characteristics. One power-up allows you to spin faster during airs, and another icon makes it easier to keep your balance while grinding or sliding on obstacles. You can also perform an invert and switch the trick to another type of invert before dropping back into the transition. If you bail on tricks, a skull-shaped health meter gradually dwindles. If all your health is depleted, you'll have to begin the level again. In addition to the bosses located in each level, there will also be pedestrians scattered around the environments who will attempt to knock you off your scooter.
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