Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

Tony Hawk's made his way to the Dreamcast, and even though this dog hasn't learned any new tricks, it's definitely got a shinier coat.

Tony Hawk's made his way to the Dreamcast, and even though this dog hasn't learned any new tricks, it's definitely got a shinier coat.

Judo Air And Comb Your Hair
Less than a year ago Activision released Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, unquestionably the best skating videogame ever made. The popularity of T. Hawk's Pro Skater among skaters and gamers alike astonished everyone, and not surprisingly a sequel is on the way. In the meantime, the original version has been ported to Dreamcast, and although the gameplay and levels haven't changed, the graphics are noticeably improved and the game is certainly worth checking out.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is so good that there was never really a question of whether or not it would come to Dreamcast, it was just a matter of when. The title is so graphically stunning that is adds a new level of fun to a game that caused many gamers to lose sleep, miss dates, and stay inside instead of actually skating. Kareem Campbell, Andrew Reynolds, Rune Glifberg, Jamie Thomas, Elissa Steamer, Bob Burnquest, Geoff Rowley, Bucky Lasek, Chad Muska, and of course Tony Hawk, return to round out the killer lineup of playable pros found in the game. Each character has a short bio and personal ollie, speed, air, and balance capabilities.

Slash It Again Sam
Unfortunately there isn't anything new offered in the Dreamcast version of THPS. The objective is still to skate awesome parks and collect tapes in order to unlock new levels. You can collect tapes by performing difficult trick combinations, gathering the letters S-K-A-T-E scattered throughout each level, or solving challenges such as grinding every picnic table or unlocking valves to a dam. Every level has a hidden tape, most of which are rather difficult to get to and add a good deal of fun to the game.

The soundtrack remains the same with standout tracks by Dead Kennedys and Primus. The other songs become pretty annoying after hearing them a few times but hey, that's what personal stereos are for, right? The sound effects for ollies, grinds, board slides and slams are great. When you grind a pipe it sounds like a pipe, when you grind a block it sounds like metal on cement. The slam sound effect is the same 'thud' and 'Uhgg!' and of course the splash of blood from your character's face is in the Dreamcast version. The control is tight and basically the same as the PlayStation version. If you've played the game on another platform, you'll have no trouble picking up the controller and ripping right away. Graphically the game is head and shoulders above the PlayStation and N64 versions. Textures are smooth and detailed and colors are vivid. Simply stated, the game looks, feels and sounds great.

We'll Grind Again
If there was ever a question regarding the staying power of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, let it now be answered -- the game rocks and is here to stay. Following hours, even days, of playing the PlayStation version, all the fun the PSX version brought is re-lived in the Dreamcast port, thanks to the consistent gameplay and updated graphics. Pro Skater is still the blueprint for all future skating games to follow. Skaters, gamers, and posers be warned, this game has been known to cut into work, school, and romantic relationships, so set aside some time each day to avoid becoming enthralled.

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