Tony Hawk's Project 8

But How Does it Play?

The eighth time around is the sweet spot for Neversoft as Project 8 includes all the goodies from previous TH games, and hard-learned lessons from the past. Starting from scratch, Project 8 focuses on the skating and throws story out the window. Well, there is a story, but it's short and sweet. Tony Hawk and his team are in town searching for the top 8 amateurs to join his team. Do you have what it takes to earn the highest scores and bust the sickest tricks ever seen? You'll be competing with a list of over 100 real AMs for the top spot on the leaderboards.

Are you punk enough?

Are you punk enough?

From there, you're thrown into the Create-a-Skater mode where you'll choose from many different default styles that range from a grungy punk look to the prodigal 12 year old. After that, the customization begins. From shape dynamics to accessories, it's all there and you'll spend plenty of time playing around with all the options.

The game begins in your backyard where you'll be introduced to the many different challenges Project 8 has in store for you. Spot Challenges can be found anywhere throughout the environment. They don't require a briefing as they are simply spray paint markers prompting you to manual this far or grind these objects. The great thing about Project 8 is it will be fun for newcomers to the series as well as extremely challenging for the vets. Each goal has three difficult settings, AM, Pro, and Sick. THAW experts could beat the game in just under two hours; Neversoft expects even the most experienced of players to have at least 25 hours worth of skating ahead of them.

When a Filmer Goal is activated, you must follow the man with the camera and complete the tricks he calls out. Picture-in-Picture allows you to see what the camera man sees, a cool feature indeed. If you get too far out of range, the goal will end. Undeniable the most fun, Wreck Yourself positions your skater in a harmful situation, like the top of a 40-stair gap, and upon leaping into the air, Bail mode is activated. Steer your skater around to break as many bones as possible and rack up a high enough hospital bill to complete the goal. To make matters even better, Bail mode can be activated at any time during the game by simultaneously pressing all four shoulder buttons.

The New Stuff

Nail-the-Trick mode, although similar to Focus mode, is the bread and butter of Project 8. There are Nail-the-Trick goals everywhere, but like Bail mode it can be activated at anytime by pressing both analog sticks in. Upon doing so you are sent into slow motion and the camera fixates on your skater's legs and board. Now, your analog sticks become your feet. The left analog correlates to your left foot and the right analog to the right foot. By pressing and holding either analog in no particular direction you can fire the board to spin in any direction you want. If you're really tech, use the shoulder bumpers to add spin to your skater. To land, simply let go of the analog sticks when the grip tape is facing up, duh! It's kind of like the beginning to Yeah Right!, the acclaimed skate video.

Now listen up because Daewon is only going to say this once

Now listen up because Daewon is only going to say this once

In this middle-American themed town, you'll run across all 12 pros in the game. They'll have special challenges for you, and if completed, you'll unlock their special moves and mo-cap session. The Pro Trick Viewer allows you to view specific tricks pulled off by the pros from Neversoft's in-house studio. You can slow or speed up time, zoom in or out, and rotate the camera to get the best angles. This is the actual mo-cap data captured for that particular skater you encounter in the game -- no animators have doctored the Pro Trick Viewer mode. This way you can really get up-close and personal with each pro's style and technique.

When skating around, pedestrians will through "stokens" at you if they like what they see. "Stokens" is the currency in Project 8 that buys you new gear. Stats, however, are handled in a totally different fashion. They are calculated historically, where as you grind, manual, or catch major air over and over again, they will gradually increase. At any time you can view how many more feet you have to manual to get that next stat increase.

Unlike the tunnels in THAW, Project 8 is a streaming world with no load times. Even though you won't have access to every area in the game at first, your skills will take you far.

Nail-the-Trick mode puts you at the helm

Nail-the-Trick mode puts you at the helm

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