Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
As avid fans of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series growing up, we were super excited when it was announced that not only the first game was getting a remaster, but the second game too. Released as a combined title, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 has a lot to live up to - but can it do it? Let’s find out!
It’s been too long since we last played a good skateboarding game. Growing up as a massive fan of shows like Jackass and Viva la Bam, skateboarding was always one of those sports that I’d had an interest in, but every time I tried it out I just couldn’t get to grips with it. I’d try to skate in my back garden, which was basically just a series of broken and uneven slabs, and I’d be on my arse every time. I even begged my parents to buy me a small grind rail that I’d enthusiastically circled in the Argos catalogue, in the hopes that I’d magically gain the power to grind before I could even do the simplest of tricks.
And so came Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater - somewhere I could actually enjoy skateboarding, without hurting myself every 2.4 seconds. I played these games non-stop - admittedly it was mostly THPS3 I played obsessively, before moving onto Underground on my Gameboy Advance SP during the long drive to my grandparents’ house each morning before school. That feeling of joy when you successfully pull off a jump that you never thought you’d manage? I never thought I’d get that feeling in a skateboarding game again - but Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 has done it.
The graphics have been completely overhauled - making the world still feel recognisable, but real. The streets no longer look like those toy carpets you had as a kid that you would drive your Hot Wheels cars around - they are fully fledged streets with fantastic, realistic lighting and it just looks amazing. Sound design has been done really well too, with all of the grinding and flipping noises hitting just right, and with an absolutely addictive soundtrack like in the good ol’ days.
The soundtrack used is very reminiscent of the originals, with plenty of the OG soundtrack still being available, but expanded with a number of new tracks that still retain that THPS feel. It’s actually hard to believe some of the newer tracks aren’t from the old soundtrack, as they just fit so well. You can choose songs to play from the menu, as well as remove tracks if there are any that don’t quite float your boat.
Available at the fantastic price of £39.99 this bundle contains both games for the same price as you’d often pay for a single AAA title, and for an extra tenner you get some unique retro outfits for Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero and Rodney Mullen, ‘The Ripper’ skater from Powell-Peralta® as well as unique retro content to use in the Create-a-Skater mode.
It’s a fantastic release whether you’re new to the franchise or not. Everything feels great and with such a fantastic soundtrack to play along to, it’s easy to sink hours into without even realising. Fans of the originals shouldn’t be worried about playing for fear of this ruining their childhood - this certainly is worthy of the name.
In the end, we decided to give Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 the Collecting Asylum rating of 9/10.
Have you played THPS1+2 yet? What did you think of it?
Let us know in the comments below!
- V x
Thank you to Activision for the THPS1+2 Xbox One review code!
