Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (PS2)

Just in case you didn't know, the Tony Hawk's series is the best skateboarding sim ever--and now, with the release of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, it's even more so. Skateboarding is taken far more seriously nowadays, with legions of baggily trousered youths now able to refer to moves such as a bluntside or overcrook with a perfectly straight face. Indeed, the list of silly names for ridiculously dangerous stunts has been increased for this latest sequel and you now have the added ability to skitch (hold onto the back of a moving car) and grind through traffic. The big new change, though, is the career mode, which now has specific goals and milestones for all the different skaters and really adds to the replayability.

Curiously, the graphics are still not particularly good, with the same slightly muddy, undefined look to them that the developers presumably now think is all part of the fun. They have however thankfully realised that having time limits for the levels was an unnecessary limitation and, except for a few specific missions, you've now got all the time in the world to graze your knees and cave in your skull. Add in a new and improved online mode and you've got everything the discerning extreme sportsman could desire. --David Jenkins

"Is it worth buying if you've played a Tony Hawk's game before? Eminently."

"In terms of exciting, entertaining and satisfying gameplay Tony Hawk's 4 just about has the upper hand. 9/10."

"One of the most rewarding PS2 titles around. Not just a sequel--it feels like a new game. 9/10."

The world's best skateboarding game reinvents itself to give users the real-life experience of a hardened amateur skater. A completely new, non-linear career mode lets you choose the goals you want to accomplish: challenge pros head-to-head to beat their best tricks, take off to a competition or just skate solo to conquer a gap. Make your way through the game as an amateur and then conquer your pro's special challenge to unlock the more difficult professional world. Evolving levels change depending on the specific skater's goals and accomplishments--toggle different skate elements on and off (quarter pipes, benches, kickers) to change up lines. The newly upgraded Ultimate Skatepark editor allows user-set objectives such as high scores, hidden tapes and combo completion. You can create a dream park and give it to a friend to session. Skate as Tony Hawk or one of 12 other top pros. Improved skater physics and animations now allow skating on moving objects such as cars, trucks or cranes. New improvements also include more realistic balancing, bails and board dynamics. The game also has a comprehensive online feature in which up to eight players from across Europe can go head-to-head in new multi-player modes such as Goal Attack and Capture the Flag.