Activision has really made it easy to transition between each of their O2 games. They all share a similar control scheme and game progression that is very user friendly. Pro Surfer is no different. Outside of the free ride and versus surf modes, there's the reliable career mode. For this game, the progression is even a little more true to life. You start off on a charter boat that will carry you to different destinations across the globe, beginning in Japan at an indoor wave pool. Once you learn the ropes, it's off to discover famous surf spots and complete a number of objectives for each area. Each time you hit a new location, you're treated to a movie clip of the area narrated and surfed by Kelly Slater and his boys (of particular interest is the Antarctic footage).

While surfing games took a nap in the 80's and 90's, these new systems finally have the power to model realistic wave physics. Kelly Slater's Pro Surfing is the new king of wave creation. Not only are they pretty to look at, they are also technically very sound. Everything about the wave is true to the real world, from the shoulder to the tube to the mush down the line. Waves from different locations are also quite unique. You won't dare get near the supposed tube at Mavericks, or YOU WILL BE SLAMMED.

The biggest problem with the surfing environment is the actual representation of the ocean. Unlike Transworld Surf, which completely engrosses you in the thrill of being out on the water, Pro Surfer has you sit in one spot while the waves come to you. There is no paddling around, and you only duck dive to pass up a wave, not because you are paddling back out for the next set. The whole game takes place with you on a wave instead of you out in the ocean with sets of waves coming in.

When it comes to riding the waves, there is a good mix of arcade style with simulated surfing aspects. While the gameplay is as good or better than anything else out on the market, I can feel myself starting to get pickier. The motion of your surfer on the wave is not very life-like. He slips and slides and cuts without much regard to physics or gravity. Perhaps video game surfing would be a big snooze fest if these things were modeled correctly. I just don't know because I haven't seen it done yet. This mix does work very well for Pro Surfer though. They are many moves at your disposal, each dependent on what section of the wave you are working. There are face tricks, lip tricks, tube tricks, and aerials. You move around working all these sections trying to keep a combo alive or trying to complete an objective. If you feel you've milked the wave enough, you can even do tricks while you bail off the back of the wave. This is my favorite addition to the genre, as I love to fly off the lip and cannonball into the water.

Tube tricks are also an interesting idea, but they fail to come through here. I love the idea of grabbing a rail or standing tall in the tube, but it becomes a futile effort because of the balance you need to maintain in the tube. While very true to the real life event, riding in the tube in Pro Surfer is quite frustrating. You have a balance meter, much like the manual or grind meter in Tony Hawk. The further into the tube you go, the smaller your margin of error. Granted, it is tougher in the beginning because your stats are significantly lower, but it's still way to touchy. I'm also bothered by the fact that you don't have to work to get speed on the wave or in the tube. You should have to pump up and down the face of the wave to build up speed, not just hold "up". It kind of cheapens the surfing experience.

While it may not feel like you are entirely in the ocean, the visuals of the waves help to make up for it. As I mentioned when talking about the wave models, they are very true to form and very pretty. I love how similar waves sizes and breaks can look totally different based on the your location. Water colors are different and lighting conditions are never the same. The surfers are also wonderful recreated on the screen. It's pretty easy to spot the likenesses even outside of the replays. Most of the animation is superb as well, especially the aerials. The only place is falls apart is on the wave face, but this is due entirely to the fact that there are very little physics keeping you character from sliding or turning too sharply. It makes the motion look a little jumpy.

The sound track is filled with, well....surfing music. It's a genre all its own, and it suits the title just fine. I don't know many people who would listen to it in their car, but it's cool for the game. Kelly Slater has lent considerable voice talent to disc. He introduces each location; calls you on the cell phone to tell give you important info, and voices over all the movie clips. It really gives the game a flavor of profession surf video from beginning to end.

It was a welcome surprise when I first tossed Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer into the machine because I thought that Transworld was just an anomaly (as in the only surfing game that would ever be any good). While it may not capture the "feel" of surfing quite as well as its closest competitor, it makes up for it with better wave models and the incredible number of actions to perform on each wave. Very little (graphical and aural nuances) separates the three systems for which Pro Surfer is available, so go for whatever system you have or play favorite to. Bonus points must be given for making the first tour stop none other than Sebastian, FL (just an hour and fifteen minute ride from my house). Good job guys. I guess it helps that Slater is from Cocoa Beach, FL. You know what to expect with the objective based progression, and the surfing is as solid as you'll see to date. Stay away from tube riding, and you'll find Pro Surfer is a very worthy pick up. I'm very happy to see the sport progressing in digital form like it is.