Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2 Xbox Series X Review
Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk is back again with the combined remaster of his iconic games in “Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2”. Return to where it all began in this cult classic skating game as you master unique tricks and skate your way through two separate campaigns.
Gameplay
There is something magical about replaying a game that you spent countless hours playing as a child. Maybe it is the overwhelming nostalgia of simpler times or your brain getting excited over the detailed memories of joy which have been locked away and forgotten about. But here you are, 10+ years later looking at a remastered copy of a game wondering, is it going to be as good as you remember it? The answer: it is even better!
Fully updated and re-rendered with brand new graphics, “Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2” is everything that the original was and more. Every single original level has been completely redone with graphics worthy of the Xbox Series X. This is not one of those situations where the developer has simply put the original game files through a converter and called it a day. All of the ramps, rails, and collectables have been redone while still keeping the same level of charm as the original games. I am particularly fond of how fresh and modern the collectable S-K-A-T-E letters now look compared to the original. It is the little things like this that really bring back the nostalgia and add value to the game as a whole.
Originally, when these games first came out, I played them on PC and never on console. As such, it’s taken me a bit of practice to get used to the controls. Unless you are you to playing fighting games like “Street Fighter”, mastering combos to pull off amazing tricks without stacking will require a bit of skill and a decent amount of luck. Tricks are broken up into four different categories, each assigned a different ABXY button, that when combined with a different thumb stick direction will perform a different trick. Once you become familiar with the controls, performing multiple tricks in sequence to create high scoring combos will become less of a challenge. One little trick that I found to make things a bit easier is to use a controller with programable buttons. Assigning the D-Pad directions to these buttons will make it easier to pull off combos while you get the hang of things.
If you are new to the skating games or not used to button bashing combos, then don’t panic. It will take a little bit of time to get used to the controls but that does not mean you need to keep playing the same levels over and over again. Unlike the original games, “Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2” is two games merged into one. You will have access to two separate campaigns and still be able to use the same character across both games. Essentially, if you get stuck on a particular level in either campaign, you can simply jump across to the other and not lose any of your characters stats or customizations. I personally love this feature as it gives me more opportunity to unlock more stat points and play a wider range of levels whenever I get stuck on a particular section of the game.
However, if you ever want to take a break from becoming the greatest skater that ever lived, then why not take a shot at building your own skate park? Start with an empty lot of land and build whatever comes to mind using a massive array of ramps, rails, pipes, and decorative items. Once you’ve got the park laid out the way you want, you can then create special markers that give bonus points for doing tricks between two objects. For example, you might have a really long rail that if grinded all the way, will give extra points or a wide gap that might be extra tricky to cross successfully. Surprisingly, adding all of these little details really brings the park to life and makes playing them much more fun.
Final Thoughts
“Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2” is a very successful remake of two cult classic games, bringing life into a long-lost genre of gaming. While there have been skating games since their original release, the “Tony Hawk Pro Skater” games have always been in a league of their own, and this remake further proves just how awesome they are. Players of all ages and skill levels will have hours of fun exploring the fully modernized skate parks, trying their best to complete the list of challenges in each level. I recommend this game to anyone who wants something different that is also challenging and might be limited to how much continuous game time they have available.
About the Author
John Werner Web Designer by day, Gamer by every other hour. No game is too big or too indie for this gamer. I review from the heart and an open mind. Every game is worth giving a go!
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