720 Degrees

720 Degrees is a classic NES sports game that captures the strange, energetic world of skateboarding in a way that feels very different from later skating games. Originally an Atari arcade title developed by Atari Games, the NES version was released in 1989 and turns the basic idea of cruising around on a skateboard into a colorful challenge built around tricks, exploration, and avoiding trouble.

The game drops you into a large outdoor area where the goal is to improve your skating skills and earn enough money to progress through increasingly difficult events. Instead of simply following a fixed course, you have some freedom to ride around the neighborhood, looking for ramps and other places where you can perform tricks. The environments are bright and cartoon-like, giving the game a distinctly old-school arcade personality.

One of the most recognizable parts of 720 Degrees is its trick system. You can launch from ramps and perform spins and other aerial moves, with the titular 720-degree maneuver representing one of the game's biggest challenges. Landing tricks successfully earns points and helps build up your skating reputation. There is also a time limit that keeps the action moving, so spending too long wandering around can quickly become a problem.

As you progress, competitions become more demanding, requiring better control and more confident trick execution. The game also has hazards that can interrupt your run, making it important to balance exploration with actually getting to the events.

It may feel primitive compared with modern skateboarding games, but 720 Degrees has a lot of character. There are no massive trick lists or complicated career systems—just a skateboard, ramps, a timer, and plenty of opportunities to wipe out. For NES players interested in early sports games, it is a fascinating snapshot of skateboarding before the genre became much more sophisticated.