Game Description

Hop on a board and save the world from alien invaders in the PS2's quirky Yanya Caballista featuring Gawoo. In a distinctive style that could perhaps be considered an eclectic cross between Jet Grind Radio and Tony Hawk Pro Skater, players control one of several exaggerated, cel-shaded skateboarder characters as they roll and trick through colorful city streets.

Unlike more straightforward extreme sports titles, players grind and ollie their way through this 3D cartoon metropolis with a higher purpose, namely to seek out alien invaders known as Gawoo who seem to like to stow away in hidden corners and hard-to-reach areas. Successful capture of errant Gawoo opens new areas and fresh challenges for ambitious skaters. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Review: Enjoyment

The fingerboard makes Yanya Caballista more fun to play, at least at first. ~ Skyler Miller, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

One of the rare skateboarding games that doesn't come across as a Tony Hawk clone, Yanya Caballista: City Skater combines the controls of an extreme sports title with action-oriented gameplay, much like Jet Grind Radio before it. But unlike Smilebit's cult favorite, Yanya Caballista lacks the necessary energy to keep the game moving, and instead relies on the gimmicky "fingerboard" to set itself apart. But as far as gimmicks go, it's a good one.

The cleverly designed fingerboard fits over both analog sticks and requires that the controller be held in a vertical position. Once it's in place, your thumbs serve as the "feet" on the board, so pushing forward makes you accelerate, back makes you break, left and right let you turn, and pressing down allows you to perform jumps and tricks. You are able to play without the fingerboard, but the game loses quite a bit in its absence.

During each of the game's levels, you ride around a city landscape in search of strange-looking aliens called Gawoo. Once you find one, you must perform a trick in its presence in order to make it disappear. There are only three tricks -- flip, turn, and grab -- but they can be chained together into combos. The gameplay's underlying simplicity could have been an asset, but there isn't enough variety to keep things from quickly becoming monotonous. By the second mission, you already feel as if you've seen all the game has to offer. While there's enough of a challenge to ensure replay value, whether you'll want to keep playing is another story.

On the positive side, the overall appearance of Yanya Caballista is refreshingly bright and colorful. The visuals make good use of cel-shading without making the technique overly apparent, and the character designs are attractive. The Gawoo are especially unusual, looking similar to designs by Japanese toy company San-X. The fact that they're cute rather than menacing is a fun change of pace.

Creativity can go a long way toward making an otherwise lackluster game into something worthwhile, and Yanya Caballista: City Skater is recommendable because of its unique controller and willingness to be different. The overly simple gameplay is a weakness that some might be able to ignore, but those seeking robust action or a traditional extreme sports title should look elsewhere. In any case, if you're planning on renting the game or buying it used, make sure the fingerboard is included in the package. ~ Skyler Miller, All Game Guide

Review: Graphics

Cel-shading is used attractively and appropriately throughout Yanya Caballista, giving the game the look of a cartoon. ~ Skyler Miller, All Game Guide

Review: Sound

The music and sound effects are cartoonish and energetic. ~ Skyler Miller, All Game Guide

Review: Replay Value

The game can become frustrating at times, but there's enough challenge to keep you playing. ~ Skyler Miller, All Game Guide

Review: Documentation

The color instruction manual is full of illustrations, screen shots, and diagrams. ~ Skyler Miller, All Game Guide

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