Tony Hawks line of video games has been a window into the world of skateboarding for over twenty years now.
Those who can’t skate for whatever reason, found themselves being drawn into Hawks world of guest skaters competing for points within a two-minute limit. Tony Hawks Pro Skater games in particular are classed as some of the highest rated Playstation 1 games of all time and for good reason. Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 alone is rated 98% on Metacritic. The highest rated Ps1 game of all time.
The gateway to skating personalities past the Tony Hawk license (such as members from Bones Brigade or more international skaters) allowed common audiences to learn more about the skating industry and have a connection with it. Jirard Khalil from the popular YouTube channel “The Completionist” said it best: “I had Teck Decks and skate shoes but I couldn’t skateboard due to various medical issues. The Tony Hawk franchise was my gateway into the world of skateboarding. While I couldn’t shred in real life, I was the best when it came to tony hawk games.”
With the recent release of Tony Hawks Pro skater 1+2, a whole new generation will be introduced to these great collection of video games. Previous generations can now also take a trip back in time to experience these games in a brand new, visually flexed out way. No more pixelated textures. Updated soundtracks but with the classic tunes. Everything has been remade from the ground up with a new coat of paint.
The original games allowed would be fans to connect to skaters and to even build their own character. The featured skaters themselves were playable in a way that suited the skaters real life attributed (Tony did better tricks in the air due to his vert skills, Mullen earned more points through grinding and so on). This allowed the player to identify how these skaters were special in their own way.
Similar to the original games, this edition caters to fans of current generation skaters. Yes, you get the legends. But now you also get rising stars and favourites such as Riley Hawk, Nyjah Huston and Lizzie Armanto. In a sense, this new edition of the original Pro Skater games feels like passing the torch to current and future generations.
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