The change Fut 15 Coins from Wasteland to Sk8land appears to be mainly focused on toning it down to make the game easier to swallow for a younger audience. Wasteland's storyline had an edge that's lacking here. You aren't referenced as a runaway, and though you still meet up with Mindy, she's just a friendly local comic book artist looking for her big break. You meet up with Tony Hawk almost immediately, who's impressed with your skills, and the three of you set out to build a wicked skatepark by collecting cash and completing goals.
While the game is largely focused on throwing goals at you, there's something to be said for just skating around and doing tricks. The Tony Hawk trick system has evolved quite a bit over the years, and this installment contains most of the moves that have made the series so popular. You'll notice some omissions--the ability to get off of your board is gone, for example, but since none of the goals require you to get off your board, you probably won't miss it. It's almost like the game has taken the good, refined points of the series' classic gameplay while leaving behind the more recent inclusions that haven't worked so well. In addition, the levels are large and contain plenty of interesting surfaces to use in your combos.