Amazon.co.uk Review
When you are creating the sequel to what many felt was 1999's game of the year, there is a lot of pressure to outdo your past glory. The guys at Neversoft, makers of
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, appear up for the challenge.
For starters, people who have mastered Tony Hawk's Pro Skater will be able to take their skills to a new level. A new trick called a manual allows players to balance on the forward or rear trucks of the skateboard. Manuals bridge other already established moves and combos, making it possible to rack up bigger scores than ever before, therefore adding a whole new level of challenge for veteran players.
In the original game, an open space between rails, bowls, cars or ramps provided a small breather and a chance to survey your surroundings. This time you will be encouraged to manual between such spots, thereby increasing your point total.
Overall, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 serves up extra helpings of some very nice goodies. Better characters, and more of them: the original models look sick compared to the larger skaters and better textures of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. There are also new playable characters: Steve Caballero, Eric Koston and Rodney Mullen have been added to the cast.
More locations with new scenes are carved out of New York, the Skatestreet in Ventura, California, as well as updated locales in Miami and Philadelphia. There is a total of eight--all big, all bold.
The park creator is back in the new game, and Neversoft has also added a create-a-player feature so you can enhance the existing pros, turning them into new skaters. Also, a new customisation system lets you skate to earn enough money for new duds and accessories. Features like this, added to what returns from last year, make Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 a must-have for anybody on the planet. --Todd Mowatt
Manufacturer's Description
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater II is the sequel to the best-selling and highly acclaimed
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. The original title sported easy controls, solid gameplay mechanics and awesome visuals. These elements remain, as the designers spent their time adding hundreds of new tricks, slightly tweaking the core gameplay, and creating both a character editor and a 3-D skate park editor. Players can create the skate park of their dreams, choosing a theme and locating stairs, ramps, half pipes, pools and rails. After completing the finishing touches, you can put your park on the Internet for all to admire. Then you can create your own character to skate your custom park. You can personalise the name, age, height, weight, style, stance, trick set and skateboard of your skater.
Alternatively, players can choose a character from a number of professional skaters, including Tony Hawk, Chad Muska, Kareem Campbell, Andrew Reynolds and Jamie Thomas. Skaters will gain more skills as you progress. There are several skate parks to choose from, including Marseilles, Manhattan and Skate Street Ventura. In the core game, players perform tricks to gain money and purchase new skating abilities, tricks or boards. Another mode is free skating, plus there are several multiplayer scenarios, consisting of an eight-person judged competition, HORSE (feel free to choose any letters you'd like), tag, trick attack and graffiti.
