Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a game from the Tony Hawk series. It is a remaster of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. It was developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision.

The game was first released on September 4, 2020, for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. It was then released on March 26, 2021, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, and a Nintendo Switch port was released on June 25, 2021.

A Skateboarding Game Like None Other

Tony Hawk returns to the board to faithfully recreate two great games. This game is the best skateboarding game of all time, and that’s something to celebrate, considering the number of great skateboarding games out there. The game is even more special because it was Vicarious Visions’ final work as a subsidiary of Activision before merging with Blizzard Entertainment in January 2021.

Unlike the kickflip most of us failed to achieve in our youth, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a completely executed remaster. It delivers in all areas that fans of the original games would expect and streamlines the process by adding all the modern requirements we demand from today’s video games: beautiful graphics, excellent performance, and more gameplay challenges than you can imagine.

Like a Phoenix That Rises From the Ashes

After numerous failed attempts to revive the almost dead series, developer Vicarious Visions proved that there is still life in the old Hawk. Collection challenges, epic combos, and gravity-defying grinds are all there, and there are even moments when the game manages to take you back to the halcyon days of 1999.

If you played the earlier games, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the amazing gameplay experience this remaster provides. A wave of nostalgia washes over you when you start Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. Rage Against The Machine’s Guerilla Radio starts playing, and an older Tony Hawk proves age is just a number as he pulls off his famous 900-degree spin. It remains a masterpiece and a reminder that ice skating is still pretty cool.

A Perfect Mix of the Old and New

Skaters from past eras – Bob Burnquist, Eric Koston, and Kareem Campbell – light up the court with various tricks, spins, and catches that are all the more impressive when you consider that most of these skaters are now in their 40s.

And then comes new blood: future skating stars. These skaters, not Tony, will inspire more to take up a wooden board with attached wheels – skaters like 18-year-old Aori Nishimura and 28-year-old Leo Baker. It’s a role model moment, changing the guard, where the baton is handed to a new generation. Tony Hawk Games put the famous figure skating and The Birdman on the map.

But here we are in the 2020s, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 proves that these games have always been great, regardless of whether you are (or were) into skateboarding. For anyone who feels like their best years are behind them, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 will feel like comfort food, and it’s a meal we’ll happily eat for months to come.

And that’s because the simple arcade-style gameplay holds up so well even after all these years. Going down a steep slope for some crazy air is still an undeniable thrill, and trying to keep your skateboard from falling off during a wild ride is still rewarding.

A Few Tricks to Learn, and You’re Skating Like a Pro

If you’re new to the series, the face buttons and a combination of directional inputs allow you to perform various jumps, tricks, grabs, and spins. A large part of the gameplay loop involves going over (and into) obstacles as you explore the map to find the best spots to score points. The more tricks you mix, the higher your score will be, and the faster you’ll be able to perform special stunt/reward style moves that will allow you to rack up points.

Each level is divided into a series of small challenges. You have two minutes to complete as many as possible, but an unlimited number of attempts. Many tasks require skill and technique, such as getting a certain number of points before the time runs out or arriving at a certain location to collect or destroy certain items.

So What’s New for Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2?

While everyone will undoubtedly have a favorite entry in the series, the first two Tony Hawk games introduced many of our favorite features. Levels like the Warehouse, Hangar, and Venice are now just as fun to surf as they were all those years ago. The difference, however, is that everything looks and plays better.

The biggest improvement is the integration of mechanics introduced in later entries, such as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. Techniques can now be combined by removing feedback and guidance and have the effect of changing how games are played. Now you can put together a great combination of horror and tackle the game’s many challenging levels in a new way.

There are also noticeable improvements to the game’s graphics. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is a great game, especially on HDR-capable screens. It’s hard to imagine that we spent hours scrolling through empty levels with meaningless shapes and bad geometry, although it certainly didn’t feel like it at the time.

The action is also satisfyingly smooth. The game now runs at 60 frames per second for a smoother experience, more noticeable when the slightest mistake can send your skater flying across the pavement.

More Rewarding and Playable Gameplay

In the past, your skater would hit the deck after a failed trick and writhe in pain for a while. However, your skater is about to be fixed, making bails less frustrating and inconvenient.

Heroes of the series may breeze through the game’s 17 levels in no time, but the many in-game challenges and online leaderboards have the potential to provide hours of extra fun. Adventurers may be eager to try to beat the competition and complete everything the game has to offer – and there’s a lot to go through.

You Can Customize So Many Things in tbe Game.

You can unlock many customization options – new boards, clothes, logos, and in-game accessories – by completing certain milestones. You can also accumulate points to improve your skater’s balance, air time, and top speed, giving you a better chance of success on your board.

But that is not all. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 includes a level editor and online multiplayer. You won’t find many options here, but the ability to play with a friend, especially in these challenging times, adds an extra layer of longevity to an already sweet package.

Conclusion

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a remaster of two classic games. It’s a superb renovation that will feel like a homecoming to fans and an exciting discovery to visitors. This game will be a must-purchase for all the “getting old but feeling young” fogies, especially if you enjoyed it then. The Tony Hawk games were a phenomenon in the late ’90s and early ’00s, and various attempts to revive the series have only sharpened that sentiment.