Play 720 Degrees Online

I first played 720 Degrees on the NES back in 1989, a port of the arcade game by Atari Games. It was a time when skateboarding games were still finding their footing on consoles, and this one stood out for its ambition, trying to capture the feel of the arcade cabinet with its distinctive control scheme and structure. It wasn't just another simple side-scroller; it promised a whole skatepark to explore.

You control a lone skater with a simple goal: earn enough money to enter the amateur, pro, and then finally the skate jam competitions. The main gameplay loop involves skating through an open hub world to find four different event venues: ramp, downhill, slalom, and jam. Your signature moves are pulling off tricks for points and, most importantly, grinding on rails and ramps to build up your score and speed. The difficulty is relentless; you're constantly battling a timer, aggressive enemies who try to knock you over, and your own balance as you attempt complex maneuvers. It feels like a constant, frantic scramble to prove yourself before your quarters, or in this case, your lives, run out.