Prior to playing Wood & Water Rage, I was prepared not to like it. Simulated surfing and skate boarding: these activities, I assumed, were not suited to the video game world, especially when compared to the more obvious thrills of motorcycle or speedboat racing. I was half-right in my initial skepticism; the surfing mode of this game is not a total waste of time, but it can get dull and monotonous after a few tries. While prepubescents and surfer dudes with a high tolerance for sub-par gaming may enjoy the Big Wave Encounter, most others will find it lacking.

I was wrong about the Street Skate Session, though. While not great, it is a legitimately enjoyable and challenging gaming experience. There's a nice variety of obstacles to jump over and avoid, forcing you to stay on your toes at all times, especially when going fast. Also, the controls are responsive to the touch. You can easily pull nifty stunts on your board such as riding the guardrails, jumping while holding your skateboard, and jumping while the skateboard stays rolling along the street. One complaint I have is the graphic redundancy. While the objects and characters look pretty decent, the backgrounds and the streets get overly familiar pretty fast.

The sound is equally good in both games. The music, though repetitive, never gets old‹it's got a rocking beat. The sound effects are pretty good, too. The ocean waves may not look particularly convincing, but they sound real enough. And when you crash your skateboard, you may wince at the sound of your skin scraping on the asphalt.

This was a very popular game in its day, especially at the rental outlets. When it's raining out or if you don't live near a beach or own a skateboard, you may want to see what the fuss was all about. Or better yet, play the sequel, Thrilla's Surfari. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide

The clouds and boats in the background of the surfing mode are a nice touch. The characters are dressed in distinctive clothing. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide

The music has a catchy beat and the sound effects are pretty cool. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide

The skateboarding mode will keep your attention. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide

A two-player option and a mode of play which combines skateboarding and surfing give this game added replay value. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide