Grind Session feels like a game made by your parents. As soon as you reach the startup options screen, GS earns a grin – move the cursor up and down and your actions are followed by the jewa-jewa, zigga-zigga sounds of stereotype scratches. The documentation and goal screens are blessed with words like “rip” and “shred.” Street-savvy skaters will also be happy to know that knocking over a ‘Boom Box’ will earn them respect, one of the criteria for passing levels. We hit enough to scare several Ottawa wiggers out of town, but apparently O.G. status is reserved for version two. If there was a VICE logo on the game we could have believed these hoaky tricks were irony, but don’t believe for a second that Shaba was being sarcastic.

It’s not all bad, though. In respect to its competition (namely, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater), Grind Session has more moves and the possibility of acquiring more as you progress in skill. The large soundtrack also is a relief from the few grating, catchy riffs that plagued Tony Hawk’s. As well as the stock skate punk, GS includes classic hip hop tracks from Doctor Octagon, Jurassic 5 and KRS One. Still, if you’re going to get blunted and sit down to do some phatty-phat stick slapping, I’d stick to a copy of Tony Hawk with the music off.

Grind Session
Platform: PlayStation
Publisher: Sony
Developer: Shaba Games