I will give it a solid 4/5 simply because the developers should have known that storylines/objectives are extremely crucial in building up and preserving persistence in the gamers who do not actually skate. Many feel there is no point in taking the time to learn something that they’ll never be able to apply to what is asked of them in a game setting. However, the game at its core is a beautiful creation.
If you are into skating and the culture, if you know about all the legendary spots in its history, this game has the potential to be satisfying to you. Once a few long hours are spent in each stance and practicing lower hubbas and rails, varying waves of new possibilities begin to wash away any “frustrations with the controls”.
That’s in quotes because the controls are not the issue; You must be willing to learn and adapt to something totally different and much more complex that whacking the right stick and auto-locking into whatever is down the drop (not to talk down the skate series because I often enjoy whacking the right stick and auto-locking into whatever is down the drop).
I get that everyone isn’t into trying the same trick over and over again until you land it, and then doing it over and over again until you NAIL it. But guess what my friend, that IS skateboarding... and struggle turned reward in skateboarding IS what this game is all, and solely about, as advertised might I remind you.