TESTED GAMESn the ’90s, the Tony Hawk
skateboarding series took
a niche sport and turned
it into a mainstream phenomenon.
But each new entry got further
away from what made the early
games so good. We had downhill
racing, throwaway storylines and
misfiring skateboard peripherals
before what was supposed to be
a return to the series’ roots with Pro
Skater 5. And we don’t talk about
Pro Skater 5.
Sometimes it’s best to go back
to the start – and Tony Hawk’s Pro
Skater 1 + 2 proves it. This is THPS
as you remember it: the first two
games in their entirety but with a
stunning HD paint job and modern
additions making them feel brand
new. The first time you drop into the
opening Warehouse level feels like
revisiting an old friend.
The layout remains broadly the
same – each quarterpipe, rail and
pile of smashable boxes in its right
place – but every surface you hit
is textured and full of detail. Venice
Beach looks incredible, while the
Brooklyn Banks section of NewYork City uncannily resembles its
grimy real-life inspiration.
And then there are the skaters,
who now look human. Most of the
original lineup remain, joined by a
modern-day roster including Leticia
Bufoni, Lizzie Armanto and Nyjah
Huston. All are customisable with
cash earned in-game, and you can
create your own skater too.
If the games look different, they
play the same – gloriously so. In the
single-player Skate Tours portion
you still have two minutes in each
run to chase goals that unlock newlevels; plus there are hundreds of
new challenges, ranging from the
easy to the impossible. Then check
out Create-A-Park, another THPS
staple. The editing tool is easy to get
to grips with, before you share your
creations to test others.
If you have fond memories of the
originals of these games, it’s difficult
to see how you’d be anything other
than head over heels in love with
one of the most accomplished
remakes we’ve ever played. After
all, heaven is a halfpipe.
Matt TateSTUFF SAYS A superb remake of two of the best sports games ever committed to disc +++++
To n y H a w k ’s
Pro Skater 1 + 2
Unashamedly old-school but with a fresh coat of high-definition paint, this remake of the first
two instalments in the legendary skateboarding franchise will have you kickflipping for joyI