Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 – skateboarding portal to the good, old days

So far, the game was published on Microsoft Windows, PS4, Xbox One, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, but fans can expect the Nintendo Switch release later this year. Pro Skater 1 + 2 became the fastest-selling entry in the franchise in the first two weeks. It is no surprise it received favorable critics due to stellar graphics, attention to detail, and impressive visuals.

The franchise started in the late nineties, catching up on the increasing popularity of skateboarding. Both Neversoft games had an exceptional reception regarding the critics and sales. It is why the series became one of the best-selling in the 2000s, and it published one entry per year.

But the Activision-Tony Hawk license deal ceased to exist in 2015, right when Pro Skater 5 received poor critics. Besides the independent mobile game Tony Hawk’s Skate Jam being released in 2018, Pro Skater 1 + 2 is the first entry since the five-year hiatus.

Vicarious Visions got the original Neversoft’s handling code and made it more modern. But the developers also reached out to previous employees to make the game as faithful to the first entries as possible.

The level geometry improvement ensured the skating lines are realistic and faithful to the 1999 and 2000 releases. Additionally, the game also includes most songs from the original soundtrack and art assets in 4K resolution. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 also had an impressive marketing campaign, and it was released with special editions, including The Collector’s Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition.

Undoubtedly, this game was a highly demanding undertaking, but the reviews prove it was worth it. And what did we think about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2?

Read on to find out!

Skating down the (improved) memory lane

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 +2 was surrounded by widespread anticipation after years of no releases and one that was poorly received. The fans were thrilled to play a remaster of the first two games but hoping to experience something up-to-date and novel.

In both aspects, Pro Skater 1 + 2 delivers. It kept the essence and details of the originals, but it also adds fresh vibes, modern visuals, and surprising improvements. Right after loading the game, you will notice that this entry is generous with activities, unlockables, and obstacles.

The remaster provides you with various character updates, level exploration, classic tricks, and challenges, and it never disrespects the original games. Moreover, this entry even allows you to jam with the original soundtrack while performing a mix of old and new activities.

Pro Skater 1 + 2 also lets you gain money and purchase accessories and skate decks. The developers were detailed concerning the original park revival. Even though they kept the same structure, parks align with the current moment and surprise with novel twists.

But the parks are not the only things that had a glorious return. Create-a-Park and Create-a-Skater also came back in big fashion, although the latter is a tad limited concerning the character possibilities. However, if you decide to build a park, you will encounter numerous in-depth options.

Thus, you can also find inspiration online, discovering what kinds of creations other players made. Pro Skater 1 + 2 shines out when it comes to level enhancement because there are now 714 challenges players can complete. The tricks also never disappoint, and if you try adding in revert, you will likely be amazed by the results.

The stat point system is impressive because it improves the original one by hiding it within the levels. The new approach allows you to task your skater with challenges tailored to their abilities. Other than that, Pro Skater 1 + 2 lets you immerse yourself in different modes when you want, ensuring you spend a lot of time in the game.

That is beneficial because you can concentrate on those challenges that feel best for you. For instance, you might choose to ignore Combo challenges, but you will still have plenty of various missions to fulfill while unlocking different custom elements for your skater.

The ability to customize a character is one of the most addictive parts of Pro Skater 1 + 2. You can edit everything you want without paying, which is different from what most games nowadays do. But this entry doesn’t capitalize on your entertainment, charging you for different skins or color schemes.

Instead, Pro Skater 1 + 2 is pure enjoyment that takes you down memory lane and revives the Y2K hype. Thus, it adds impressive improvements that make the game modern and up-to-date. For instance, this entry is aware that skating changed in the last 20 years.

Hence, it introduces the Weddle, new skaters like Tyshawn Jones and Aori Nishimura. Finally, it adds modern music makers, such as Machine Gun Kelly, ensuring players get the best of both worlds.

A stellar remaster

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 +2 is a flawless remaster of the two original entries, and it implements novel challenges, tricks, and visuals successfully. The graphics are impressive, and the game performance never slows down or disappoints.

It is safe to say that the anticipation surrounding the release of Pro Skater 1 + 2 was justified, but this entry exceeded the expectations across all aspects.