Jumping onto your skateboard, paintball gun in hand, ready to take on irate mayors' wives and villainous Icepick – that could only mean one thing on the Nintendo Entertainment System: you were playing Skate or Die 2: The Search for Double Trouble NES. This quirky sequel from Electronic Arts took the original's skateboarding action and mashed it together with a bizarre adventure plot, creating a truly memorable, if slightly chaotic, retro experience.
Unlike its multi-event predecessor, Skate or Die 2 on the NES decided to tell a story. And what a story it was! It all kicks off when your unnamed skater hero accidentally bumps into the mayor's wife's poodle. Yes, a poodle. This minor canine kerfuffle escalates dramatically, leading to a town-wide ban on skateboarding and the demolition of the local half-pipe. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to gather the resources, permits, and blueprints needed to build the ultimate skate spot: the legendary Double Trouble half-pipe.
Hitting the Streets with a Paintball Gun
Gameplay in Skate or Die 2: The Search for Double Trouble shifts from the first game's competition format to a side-scrolling action-adventure. You navigate various levels, from the suburban streets of Elwood to a bustling shopping mall and a sandy beach.
But you're not just skating; you're surviving. Armed initially with a paintball gun (because, reasons?), you defend yourself against various foes. As you progress, you can acquire other throwable items like eggs and firecrackers. The controls allowed for some customization, letting you map actions to your liking.
The Quest for Double Trouble
The game's plot unfolds across several distinct stages, each with its own challenges:
- Elwood Streets: The starting point where the poodle incident occurs. Here you learn the ropes, interact with some quirky NPCs, and face the initial consequences of your accidental pet- bumping.
- The Mall Job: Needing cash for the new half-pipe, you take a job as a delivery boy in a shopping mall. This level introduces time limits and obstacles you need to navigate while earning money.
- The Beach Blues: After earning the cash, you accidentally scatter Rodney's blueprints for the Double Trouble pipe. The beach level is a hunt for these scattered pages while avoiding hazards.
- Icepick's Warehouse: With blueprints and permit in hand (briefly!), your girlfriend CJ gets kidnapped by the main villain, Icepick. You must infiltrate his multi-story warehouse hideout, a maze filled with enemies and traps, to rescue her and retrieve the permit.
Along the way, you encounter familiar faces like Rodney, who sells you upgraded skateboards, and his son Lester, who teaches you new tricks – if you can catch him! There's a basic bartering system where you trade collected items like CDs, tapes, fries, and tacos for these crucial upgrades.
Shredding the Double Trouble Half-Pipe
While the story mode is the main quest, the "Double Trouble" half-pipe itself is a standalone mode accessible from the title screen. This massive, two-screen ramp is where you can truly show off your skills.
In this mode, you have a time limit to pull off tricks and rack up points. Wipeouts cost you tries (unless you knew the cheat code!). Hit a high score streak, and CJ might appear to cheer you on and even double your points temporarily. Your skater's reaction after a run, from dejected slumping to ecstatic fist-pumping, depending on your score, was a fun little touch.
Why We Remember It
Skate or Die 2: The Search for Double Trouble might not be the most polished or logical game on the NES, but it holds a special place for many retro gamers. Its blend of side-scrolling action, platforming, item collecting, and skateboarding was unique. The digitized voice samples in the opening theme (composed by the legendary Rob Hubbard) were impressive for the time on the NES. And let's not forget that distinctive cover art featuring Jef Whitehead.
It was a game that didn't take itself too seriously, offering a challenging and often funny adventure centered around the most bizarre premise imaginable. Finding that permit, rescuing CJ, and finally getting to shred the Double Trouble half-pipe felt like a genuine accomplishment after navigating the weirdness.
FAQ
- Who published Skate or Die 2 on NES? It was developed and published internally by Electronic Arts, making it one of their few self-published NES titles.
- Is the Double Trouble half-pipe only available at the end? No, you can access the Double Trouble half-pipe mode directly from the title screen by pressing Select.
- What kind of game is it? It's primarily a side-scrolling action-adventure game with skateboarding elements, rather than a pure skateboarding simulation like the first game's events.
- What's the main goal? To earn money, collect blueprints, find a permit, and build a new, legal half-pipe called Double Trouble, all while dealing with a skateboarding ban caused by a poodle incident and a villain named Icepick.
Whether you conquered Icepick's warehouse or just spent hours trying to master the Double Trouble half-pipe, Skate or Die 2: The Search for Double Trouble NES remains a fondly remembered, wonderfully weird entry in the retro gaming library. It's a prime example of the creativity and sometimes strange design choices that made the 8-bit era so charming.
