Tony Hawk Pro Skater

Solo players will skate to win the world championship, with over 100 moves available to score points, including slides, grinds, and landing tricks. A split screen allows players to compete against each other. During this head-to-head mode, you can score style points, race between obstacles, or play tag. If you opt for graffiti mode, both players compete against each other by "tagging" objects while performing their tricks. A replay mode is available for players to view highlights at the end of a game.

The level design is enormous, with 10 interactive courses, including skate and pool parks, half pipes, and a downtown area. Each skating environment is filled with secret places, shortcuts, and obstacles. Once you get the moves down, you can perform a trick off of just about any object that you see. Tony Hawk is not the only star in this game--the music stands strong on its own. Cool cuts come from Primus and the Dead Kennedys--which can be inspiring during the frantic onscreen action. While game control is relatively solid, there are some minor problems in tight areas.

This title is so large it is overwhelming, given the enormity of levels and available moves. However, persistent skate pros will master this game with a little practice. (Fortunately, there is a practice mode to scrape your knees on.) --Kasty Thomas

Pros:

• Variety of moves and tricks
• Excellent course design and graphics
• Solid controls

• Control problems in tight areas

PROS:
-UNLIKE A NUMBER OF EXTREME SPORTS TITLES, THIS ONE USES ACTUAL PEOPLE! As the title of the game may have implied, Tony Hawk is a playable character. In addition to Hawk, there are a number of other pro boarders selectable.
-THE GAME USES ACTUAL MUSIC BY ACTUAL BANDS! Most extreme sports titles feature lame, generic music that sounds like it would be better off elsewhere. In this game, that is NOT true. Bands like Goldfinger and Primus contributed music to this game, and their contributuions are one of the things that make this game so great. The other bands that contributed aren't as well known, but their songs are no less excellent.
-NO TWO CHARACTERS ARE EXACTLY ALIKE. Although every character plays in a similar fashion, each one has his or her own special moves. Likewise, what one character may lack in one area he may make up for in another, while with another character it may be vice versa.
-THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INTERESTING LOCATIONS. This game's settings are another great strength that it has. You'll go everywhere from an abandoned warehouse to an abandoned mall, and even a dam! There is no shortage of cool places to go in this games.

CONS:
-CONTROLS TAKE SOME GETTING USED TO. If you've never played any game by Activision that uses this same game engine, expect to take some time adjusting to the controls. Once you get the hang of them, though, you'll end up liking them.
-LATER ENTRIES IN THE SERIES WERE CONSIDERABLY BETTER. Although this was a good game, the later games were better, featuring more characters (and some even cooler secret ones), more secrets, and more music. Oh well, this game is still good.
-THE GAME GETS TOO HARD, TOO FAST. This game starts easy, but gets hard after a few short play sessions. Expect to blister your thumbs a lot, and often times accomplish nothing for it.

OVERALL:
Overall this is a very good game. Sure, it's overrated, but that's because it's a good game! If you want the best skateboarding games out there, the games in the Tony Hawk series are exactly what you're looking for.


YEAH!   January 1, 2004
 1 out of 4 found this review helpful

punk skatin in your living room! tons of great trick including the 900! unexplaynably great worlds! hell i give it a gabagilion starz!