Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Overview
For those of us who don’t have the time, ability, or medical plan necessary to become a great skateboarder, there is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. Taking on the role of any one of 12 pro skaters, you can grind, ollie, nollie, wallride, etc. to become the world’s champion skater. And let me warn you right from the start, it’s a heck of a lot of fun.
Gameplay, Controls, Interface
While you are welcome to try free skate right from the beginning, and of course this is a great way to practice, to see all the tracks and really finish the game, you need to take part in career mode. In career mode you choose a skater, one of the 12 or one that you created yourself, and start accomplishing objectives on each level until you earn enough money, or beat enough other skaters, to advance to the next level. The goals may include snagging hard to reach items, beating high scores, or busting certain tricks in certain areas. There are many secret areas on each level that you can unlock, which makes the levels seem far from boring. It takes a lot of practice to get the really high scores and become able to complete all your objectives on even the first level. Being able to purchase new boards, new moves and new parks with your earnings adds even more to the length of gameplay, as well as the secret parks and characters you can unlock by accomplishing truly stellar performances. There are also dozens of gaps (trick designated areas) on each level that you can successively try to complete for a challenge and to unlock even more bonuses. When you finally accomplish all these things, you are welcome to create your own skate park with the included skate park editor, or play multiplayer. All these ways to play transforms THPS2 from being merely a fun game, to a truly addictive gaming masterpiece.
Multiplayer
Unlike the Dreamcast version, the PC THPS2 does not feature a split-screen multiplayer mode. The only multiplayer mode that the PC version supports on a single PC is HORSE, which is still a lot of fun. To access all the other multiplayer modes, like TAG and GRAFFITI, you need to have a TCP/IP network connection. Since this isn’t available to most computer users, I think it would have been a good idea for the developer to find a way to include the split-screen version as well. This is really my only criticism of an otherwise excellent game.
Graphics
The 3D accelerated graphics are excellent and not just in design, they are very smooth and lifelike. The resolution can, with the right video card, be bumped up as high as 1024 x 768. Even at 800 x 600, THPS2 for the PC graphically beats all the other versions out there. The levels have great details like planes that take off and subway trains that go roaring by. Each level is colorful, but with a logical layout that encourages you to find places to perform your best tricks. The skater moves smoothly and relatively realistically, with style and grace while performing tricks, and sickening thuds when bailing unto the pavement.
Audio
Whether punk and hip hop are your normally listening fare or not, THPS2’s mix of hot bands like Rage Against the Machine, Naughty by Nature, Papa Roach, and more will have your toe tapping and adrenaline pumping as you start skating to a new beat. With all these high-powered bands, I bet that the developers could have made quite a bit of money just selling the soundtrack as an audio CD. Needless to say, the soundtrack is top of the line and the sound effects (from every perfect grind, to every horribly squishy bail) are great as well.
System Requirements
Pentium 233 MMX, 32 MB RAM, 445 MB free hard drive space, 4 MB 2D or 3D video card. 3D video card necessary for 3D accelerated mode.
Bottom Line
Beyond being a great skateboarding game or a great sports game, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is a fun, addictive, challenging, enjoyable game in general. With so many different ways to play, tons of secrets to uncover, great graphics, a rocking soundtrack, and the ability to create your own skater and skate park, THPS2 is a high water mark for all 3D accelerated titles. With just a few extra multiplayer modes for a single PC, THPS2 would have hit right below 100, but as it is, it still ranks as an awesome 97.
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