Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
Image Credit: Activision
Nostalgia is a tricky thing. It can drastically skew your perception of history, but it can also create a deep sense of comfort. For someone like myself, who grew up in the 90s, it’s impossible to review this game without some nostalgic biases, but consider it an extremely high level of praise when I say that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 lives up to every ounce of nostalgia I had for it. This is the part where I ask that you turn on Superman by Goldfinger and listen along while you read this review. I’m serious. Turn it on now. Let that beautiful ska saxophone fill your ear holes.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 perfectly recreates the feeling I had when I played the originals 20 years ago and that is no small feat. Remarkably, Vicarious Visions was able to preserve all of the good content from the originals while elevating areas that needed it. Consuming content you loved as a child in adulthood is a dangerous game to play. More often than not, familiar films and games do not stand the test of time. I’m looking at you Batman Forever. THPS 1 + 2 doesn’t just throw a fresh coat of paint on the game we loved from the '90’s, though it is absolutely gorgeous, it’s a full remake of the levels we thrashed and the characters we crashed.
The gameplay is exactly as you remember it. Drop into a level for a two minute arcade session where you need to hit the high scores, collect S-K-A-T-E, “Ollie the magic bum,” and many more challenges you fondly remember. Depending on your skill level, the first two games' original challenges can be completed in a weekend, but Vicarious Visions created even more challenges for players to accomplish. These new challenges unlock cosmetics for your create-a-skater and objects for your create-a-park. I can firmly say that the content in this game far exceeds the $40 price tag. If you’re the competitive type, there is a handful of fun online and local multiplayer modes that can be enjoyed for hours.
Tony Hawk games, especially the first two, resonate with a wide range of people. You never had to be good at skating or even own a skateboard to enjoy these games. Our recent podcast review discussed how THPS 1 + 2 is a great equalizer for a diverse gaming audience. There is a wide range of content for all ages in this iteration of the game. Not many games can pull in hardcore combo magicians while also providing a fun experience for less advanced players. Tony Hawk is for everyone and that should be celebrated.
The music of Tony Hawk has shaped the taste of generations of gamers and I am happy to report that this strength is preserved in THPS 1 + 2. The majority of the songs you loved from the originals make their return, but Vicarious Visions played with fire and significantly expanded the music library. This could have easily backfired since the original soundtrack is so beloved by fans, but it is clear that they put in extreme care when selecting new songs. This new collection of songs results in the ultimate skateboarding soundtrack. Some of the new additions that I absolutely love are:
These new additions excel at preserving the original soundtrack's roots while bringing it forward into 2020. In a Variety interview, senior sound designer at Vicarious Visions, Justin Joyner, goes into great detail on the research performed to select the right songs for THPS 1 + 2. This curation was done so well that I have a hard time telling what's a new song and whats old because the whole soundtrack feels homogenous with what I experienced as a kid. The music in this game cannot be praised enough for the nostalgia that it invokes and how it creates the skating vibe we so fondly remember in Tony Hawk games.
This game was incredibly difficult to score due to my admitted biases and my love for the genre. Vicarious Visions was able to masterfully elevate the gameplay and visuals to recreate the game I loved as a child. THPS 1 + 2 magically took me back to a simpler time where we still had optimism for the Star Wars prequels and Destiny’s Child was still together. My hope for this game is that it doesn’t just resonate with the old fogies like myself, but that it can find a new generation of wannabe skaters. It is clear that the two minute arcade sessions were pivotal to preserving the structure of the original game, but this play style can become stale for a generation not familiar with the arcade skateboarding genre. I believe that Vicarious Visions elevated THPS 1 + 2 as high as they could using the original's aged structure. This is a game that I recommend to everyone, as I would love to see this genre make a triumphant return. Busch League Gaming gives Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 an 8.5 out of 10.
Listen To Our Podcast For a Full Breakdown of the Game!
Play this Game if You Enjoy:
Tony Hawk Games
Skate Games
Action Sports Genre
