The extreme sports genre in videogames has been dutifully working its way through every available sport. The latest to be immortalized in gaming form, this time by Acclaim and Z-Axis, is inline skating. Originally released on the PlayStation 2 not too long ago, Aggressive Inline is also slated for release on the Xbox as well. We got a chance to check out a build of the game and are pleased by how the game is coming together. Featuring clean graphics, addictive gameplay and accessible control, Aggressive Inline looks as though its conversion to the Xbox is going to be a smooth one.

The animation in the game is very fluid.

For those not familiar with the PlayStation 2 incarnation of Aggressive Inline, the game follows the basic model most extreme sports games have been following since Activision's Tony Hawk series. You'll choose a skater and then test your skills in several different themed areas. However, rather than just mimic the Tony Hawk games Aggressive Inline actually manages to throw quite a few fresh twists that definitely make the game stand out.

The game offers four gameplay modes, career, freeskate, timed run, and a multiplayer mode, as well as a park editor that lets you build your own skate park. Career is the meat of the game where you'll work your way through the game's levels, collecting items, keys and power ups. As you go through the game you'll unlock new levels and secret areas as well as items to use in the park editor. Freeskate lets you roam through the levels you've unlocked so far and hone your skills outside of the career mode. Timed run challenges you to make it through any open level and score as many points as possible. Aggressive Inline's multiplayer mode lets you and a friend compete in split screen competition. You'll be able to choose from five game types, most points, best trick, egg hunt, twenty one, and animal rescue. Most points and best trick are timed runs that focus on scoring as many points as possible within a time limit. Egg hunt and animal rescue require you to collect the most items before the clock runs down. Twenty one offers a variation on the collection theme by scattering playing cards throughout a level requiring you to collect and hold on to the right combo of cards to get 21 before time runs out. The game's park editor makes up a separate mode wherein you'll be able to build you own skate park. You'll start out choosing from one of four themed areas, a prop yard, trolley house, fun house, and repository, and then stock it as you see fit. Terrain and rail tools will help you structure level to suit your tricking needs. You'll be able to drop an arrange an assortment of items including wedges, quarter pipes, bowls and kickers to make the area as trick friendly as possible. As you're putting together your park, you'll be able to take a test run through what you've assembled so far whenever you like. Once you've created your ultimate park you'll be able to save it to the Xbox hard drive.

You'll be able to perform a wide variety of tricks in the game.

You'll initially find an assortment of twelve skaters to use in the game. The roster runs the gamut from well known athletes such as Chris Edwards, Jaren Grob, Taig Khris, Shane Yost, Franky Morales, Matt Lindemuth, Sam Fogarty, Sven Boekhurst, Matt Salerno, Eito Yasutoko, to original female characters, Chrissy and Jordan, to use in the game. As you progress through the game you'll also be able to unlock another batch of playable characters as well. As you go through to make your character selection you'll find each skater will be rated on nine criteria which affect their performance. Aside from the expected attribute ratings such as jump, speed, spin, grind, manuals, fakies, and wall rides, each skater will sport a raking based on their performance in the game as well as a description of the size of their juice meter.