Released in 1999 and 2000 respectively, Tony Hawk Skateboarding (Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater with our Anglo-Saxon pals) and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 brought on an actual earthquake on the planet of video games, but in addition in that of skateboarding. This was not the case with the newest installment, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, which was launched unexpectedly in 2015 and which was each a vital and industrial failure. Decided to revive the picture of the license, Activision determined to surf on the remakes mode to modernize the primary two episodes, with a purpose to make a bundle for thirtysomethings wishing to reconnect with the odor of deck sawdust and factors suture. Let’s see if mayonnaise nonetheless takes in 2020.
Casually, for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, the selection of the studio was essential. No technique to return to Robomondo after the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 fiasco, and as Neversoft was absorbed by Infinity Ward in 2014, the unique creators have been now not out there. Activision subsequently turned to Vicarious Visions, a studio identified for the Skylanders sequence however whose experience in porting (Destiny 2 on PC) and remake (Crash Bandicoot N. SaneTrilogy) is now not to be confirmed. From the primary moments, we really feel the respect vis-à-vis the unique work. The game opens with the legendary theme of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (“Superman“from Goldfinger), earlier than flaunting all of the skaters we did and redo the methods with – Tony Hawk, BuckyLasek, Bob Burnquist, Chad Muska and Steve Caballero.
The graphic redesign is current: the skaters are extra actual than life, the textures have gained in consistency, to not point out the lighting that works wonders on some skateparks (Venice Beach particularly).
But with a purpose to keep on with the present period, we notice the arrival of youthful athletes in addition to a sure feminization of the roster, with the arrival of Lizzie Armanto, Leticia Bufoni and AoriNishimura alongside Elissa Steamer. Better, we now have the likelihood to create a personality from scratch and retailer as much as 4 totally different characters, so as to have the ability to juggle specialties. If you will have by no means touched a game within the sequence, know that the riders all have a specialty, whether or not it’s the ramp (the aerial figures), the flat (manuals, grinds and others heelflips) or park (a delicate mixture of each). Our avatar might in fact be improved with the important talent factors (to go quicker, make ollies larger, carry out flips extra rapidly), with out forgetting the beauty facet. To do that, we must go to the shop the place garments, decks, vehicles and different wheels are stacked, and spend our money earned via the challenges of the game.
A GAME THAT DIDN’T TAKE THE MELON
On the content material aspect, we discover the standard “Exploration” modes with their totally different targets, comparable to recovering the letters SKATE, the hidden VHS, or the well-known signature figures. On this level, every part is devoted to the previous games, and in case you bear in mind the secrets and techniques and hidden areas of sure parks, you’ll discover them right here identically. The very first thing that jumps out if you launch Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is in fact all of the graphics enhancements. If it isn’t essentially the most stunning game of the 12 months both, the result’s fairly spectacular, particularly when in comparison with the rendering of the unique episodes. The lighting has been significantly cautious, and the skateparks that we stroll round with a sundown (Venice Beach, for instance) are merely elegant. The modeling of skaters is to not be outdone, their facies now akin to their older age. Gear lovers can even be capable of benefit from the good decorations for the totally different decks and wheels within the catalog of many manufacturers comparable to Split, Flip, Element, Birdhouse and even Powell Peralta.
As for the gameplay, remember that the game is extremely much like what one would expertise on Nintendo 64 or PlayStation. The methods are at all times really easy to carry out, and we are able to now reap the benefits of the mechanics of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 within the first opus, which lets you chain loopy combos whereas making the most of manuals and reverts. No panic for purists: it would at all times be doable to return to the unique gameplay by going for a stroll within the choices, simply as we are able to activate the cheats whose grind excellent, the handplant excellent, the everlasting particular, or just the absence of falls to go all of the figures. Moreover, if the official skaters have an outlined set of methods, we’re fully free to switch it. As for the avatars created, these haven’t any restrict: we are able to make actual chameleons able to passing 900s and McTwists on a ramp, whereas chaining the darkslides on rails.
It is true that we might have preferred the multi to incorporate somewhat extra new options, however we assure that the majority gamers ought to discover their account, of their thirties or not.
If ever the twenty or so skateparks out there are usually not sufficient for you, there’s the superb park editor which permits essentially the most artistic to have enjoyable, earlier than sharing them on-line and presumably downloading some. The different benefit of on-line is in fact multiplayer. There, we’re entitled to all of the traditional modes, together with the “Graffiti”, the “Combo Mambo”, the “Tag”, and even the “Trick Attack”. Nevertheless, we really feel that the net game has been built-in in a rush, as a result of it’s inconceivable to decide on exactly its mode of play. In truth, we should restrict ourselves to choosing the “Jam” or “Competitive” modes, the primary mixing all gamers in all modes, whereas the second classifies skaters based on their expertise. Another small disappointment: the “HORSE” mode which stays for the second restricted to the native multi. Because sure, there’s at all times a technique to share the couch with a buddy to play break up, regardless of the machine. The astonishing factor is that the net games are linked collectively rapidly, with out downtime, and with out the slightest lag.
THE BODY OF CHRIST AIR
However, the dressing of the occasions stays minimalist, we are able to simply check out the rating of the rivals. We would have cherished to have the ability to profit from a replay with the most effective combo of the game, for instance. Of course, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 retains these punk rock tones with traditional tracks from Dead Kennedys, Rage Against The Machine, Suicidal Tendencies or Goldfinger. That’s not all, as a result of we’re entitled to 37 new music, together with a music by Machine Gun Kelly, because the latter has deserted rap for rock. What to reproach this compilation lastly? Well, not a lot to be sincere, aside from hellish laziness. We are right here dealing with a remaster nicely finished, however we might have hoped that Activision made an actual remake, because it was indicated within the title of the game at one time.
