In a time when it seems most games are getting a remake, it’s nice to see one that is done for the right reasons. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 by Vicarious Visions and Activison is a return to a series that was always about fun. This is not the original game, but a re look at the two games most would say were the best of the series. In the modern world, is there still room for Tony Hawk and his merry band of skaters?
Grab your board and start hitting the rails. the game is about learning tricks and getting the high score. There is not much of a story and there really doesn’t have to be. As you flip and grind, you have to adjust as you land in a different spot. Achieving goals unlocks new stages and new abilities as you chase that unreachable goal of the ” perfect run”.
The game looks great. This is not a new paint job on the old stages. Things have changed in 2020. The mall from the original now looks as if it has closed down. The Hanger looks like a skater’s heaven, with nods to the other games in the series. Tony and his crew look different as well. The choice was made to show the skaters as they are now. They may look older, but they can still skate. It shows that even when time marches on, the things we love are still available to us.
The soundtrack is amazing, with almost every song from the originals back on the track list. Maybe one song that you love might not have made it, but five others are. It is insane to think that in an age of copyright and rights, the developers were able to get as many song as they did. The controls are exactly as you remember, with a few added tweaks to give you the best possible experience. You will fall, but you know next time you can land that trick.
Why is Pro Skater 1 + 2 so important? Because Tony Hawk loves skating, a love you could feel from the game. He wants people to love it as much as he does, even if it is a virtual experience. After skating came down from it’s height in popularity, Hawk is still there, telling everybody how fun it is. It is his passion, not the most important thing in his life, but he still remembers how it felt to be a younger version and hit that trick for the first time. If this year has taught us anything, it is that we need to hold on to the things we love. A new generation gets to experience these games for the first time and honestly, I’m a little jealous.
9/10
Available on PS4, Xbox and PC
https://www.tonyhawkthegame.com/buy?cid=pgo_thpslaunch_kwthps_61701458_us