Reviewed by: Funkadelic
Rated: 
Posted on: 06/06/00
Thank God for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater! Not only is the PlayStation version one of my all-time favorite games, but it also saved me a few trips to the emergency room by allowing me to live out my skateboarding fantasies virtually. I have been a fan of skateboarding for 15 years now — admittedly more old-school than new-school — and always partake in a late-night grind session. If there was a ever a game that kept me from my daily late-night sessions, though, THPS was it. Unfortunately for me, the recently released Dreamcast port has kept me away from my board for far too long (a week and counting). So, I vow not to play any more Tony Hawk's Pro Skater after this review. (Notice I didn't say anything about Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.) Anyway, on to the review...but first a small rant.
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| A little kickflip never hurt anyone. |
Since this Dreamcast port is, for all intents and purposes, the same game as the two previous versions (PSX & N64), you can read my PlayStation review for a more in-depth look at the game and a complete rundown of the modes. That said, let me cut right to the chase: If you already played the PSX or N64 version to death, there's not much new here other than some high-resolution eye candy. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing per se, I would have enjoyed having some exclusive Dreamcast modes or, at the very least, some modifications. In fact, Crave and developer Treyarch promised a four-player mode and a higher polygon count for the skaters. Well, needless to say, there is not a four-player mode to be found, and the latter statement is a bit of stretch. Granted, the skaters are made up of more polygons, but they still have a PlayStation-ish look to them. The result is a game that features beautiful high-resolution environments, with impressive lighting and shadow effects, but — dare I say it — contains lackluster character models. This becomes painfully obvious after playing the latest graphical masterpieces on the Dreamcast, such as Dead or Alive 2, which feature exquisite character models. I will say this, though, if you have never played THPS (Where have you been?), the Dreamcast version will absolutely floor you with its graphical finesse and niceties.
Nevertheless, gameplay, not graphics, is what made the PSX version of Pro Skater an instant classic. The Dreamcast port provides an even better gameplay experience thanks to tighter animation and a consistent 30fps frame-rate. A noticeable amount of fog still exists on some levels, but it isn't as annoying or as intrusive as before; however, it increases during the two-player split-screen modes to keep the frame-rate smooth. The punk-rock soundtrack (Dead Kennedys, Vandals, Suicidal Tendencies, etc.) and awesome sound effects have been left intact as well, but, unfortunately, the skaters still make the same repetitive sounds after they fall.
Now that I'm finished ranting and making comparisons, please allow me to review the Dreamcast version more formally:
Whether you're a fan of skateboarding or just an average gamer looking for a game with great gameplay and a ton of replay value, Pro Skater is the game for you. Offering a variety of grinds, grabs, flip tricks, and aerial maneuvers based on actual skateboarding tricks, THPS contains an almost endless array of possibilities. Of course, there is also a wide range of half-pipes, launch ramps, rails, and pools to shred, which are littered throughout each of the nine levels. The environments are varied and range from a traditional schoolyard setting to the more outlandish Roswell level (complete with alien autopsy). Just about everything you see in each level, from parked cop cars to traffic lights, is completely skateable in one form or another. Your creativity level is your only limitation! Furthermore, the control scheme is great, allowing instant access to several types of grinds, grabs, and flip tricks by using simple, easy-to-remember button combinations.
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| Once you fill the 'Special' bar, you can perform your skater's signature moves. |
Pro Skater has a variety of gameplay modes that range from fun single-player experiences (Career, Single Session, Free Skate) to unique multiplayer modes (Graffiti, Trick Attack, and HORSE). Career mode is the main mode of the game, in which you must collect a total of 30 tapes and earn three gold medals during competitions to unlock your skater's hidden video. Each professional skater has an individual video, so you will need to play through with each character if you want to see all of them. This, of course, is easier said than done, as there is a time limit to contend with on each level. You earn tapes in the following ways: meeting preset scores, collecting letters that spell out the word skate, performing task-related objectives (destroy cop cars, grind lunch tables, knock over boxes, etc.), and by reaching well-placed hidden tapes. On the other hand, you earn medals (gold, silver, and bronze) by participating in traditional skateboard competitions. The tricky part is you must obtain a certain amount of tapes before competitions become available. Likewise, you need to earn medals to unlock some levels, and only the levels and competitions you unlock in Career mode will be available in the other modes. The other single-player modes in the game, Single Session and Free Skate, are self-explanatory: Single Session is a two-minute session where you can try to set new high scores, while Free Skate is devoid of time limits and tapes, allowing you to explore the levels and try out new trick combinations.
If you're feeling competitive, the multiplayer modes in THPS will let you school a friend in one of three unique competitions. In Graffiti mode, the object is to "tag" ramps, rails, pools, etc. by performing tricks on them. Each time you perform a trick on an object, it becomes colored (blue for Player One, red for Player Two). Your opponent can "steal" your tagged object, however, by performing a bigger trick on it. Whoever has the most tagged objects at the end of two minutes wins. Trick Attack is similar to the one-player Single Session mode, except two players play simultaneously. The person who receives the most points at the end of the time limit wins the game. HORSE is the final two-player mode, which is based on the basketball game of the same name. This game is played in an alternating fashion, and each time a player fails to one-up the other player's trick, he or she will receive a letter. Whoever receives all letters of the word horse loses the game. Because players alternate in this mode, there is some brief loading time between turns, which is slightly annoying.
As far as the skaters go, there is a total of 12 skaters in the game (10 real-life pros and two hidden characters), each of whom have their own unique style, set of special moves, and selection of brand-name boards. While skateboarding fans may be apt to pick their skater based on name alone, it's still best to look at a skater's stats beforehand to find out where his or her strengths lie. When playing in Career mode, the skater's stats increase as you collect tapes, so stats become less of an issue later in the game.
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| The DC's high-resolution graphics make the skateboard deck graphics much easier to make out than previous versions of the game. |
Control is tight and responsive, and button assignments can be completely remapped in the options menu if you dislike the default settings. Furthermore, you can disable auto kicking, letting you have complete control over your skater's movement and speed. You can also adjust the music and sound effect levels, disable trick tips, turn off score display, and enable or disable Jump Pack support. With an optional Jump Pack peripheral, you can become further immersed in the game, since it allows you to feel every grind, bail, and rough surface.
While there are no VMU mini-games, the game does make use of the optional visual memory card in an unique way. Besides saving your progress, high scores, and replays, the VMU displays different types of messages according to your performance. For example, if you execute an awesome trick, the VMU will flash a praiseful message and display the score you receive for the said trick. However, if you eat pavement in the middle of a trick, the VMU will taunt you with a negative message (unfortunately it doesn't display profanities 
).
In the end, the Dreamcast port of THPS is the version to get if you have yet to experience the virtual skateboarding goodness that is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. For those who already own a version, however, I recommend renting this one first to see whether this prettier package, which lacks new gameplay elements and modes, is worthy of your hard-earned dollars. Whatever the case may be, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is currently the best skateboarding game you can own for any system.
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