Jason gets same great Tony taste, with an all new 360 smell
Publisher: Activision
Fri, 28 April 2006
by: Jason
And here we have the fifth game in the Tony Hawk series. For anyone who has been living in a box for the last five years, the aforementioned Mr. Hawk is one of the best skateboarders on the planet, having invented many tricks and being one of - if not the only person - to land a 900 degree spin, and having a line of videogames bearing his name. First I have to say I wasn't overly impressed with the last Tony Hawk game (Tony Hawks Underground 2) as the very heavy MTV's Jackass influence kind of took away from the point of the series, which should be skateboarding, not frigging about in wheel chairs, Segway scooters or mechanical bulls.
This time around, I am pleased to say that the emphasis is firmly back on the board, with the only distraction being a bicycle which anyone who has played the Matt Hoffman or Dave Mirra games will feel instantly at home with. Also of note is the expansion of "off-board tricks" - really allowing you to complete some completely insane combos.
Something that must be gotten out of the way is that this is the same game also released on PS2, Xbox and Gamecube (which was reviewed by Fazz here). If you already own it on another of these systems, then it would be a bit difficult to justify plonking down 100 bucks all over again. However, the fact that this is a straight port of a game from the last/current generation consoles is not necessarily a bad thing.
 | | I think he is in Frankston |
Graphically speaking, this game doesn't even begin to tap the vast power that resides within the smooth white box that is the Xbox 360. But, on the other hand, many 360 exclusive titles haven't been jaw dropping in the graphics department either, yet. Having said that, its certainly not a blurry jaggy pixel fest. Objects in the game have more than a passing resemblance to the things they're supposed to and that's all that really matters.
Probably one of the first things people notice about this game is the impressive claim "no loading screens" and technically this is true, instead all the levels are joined by loading tunnels so at least you can bust out some combos on your way to the next level. Rather that traveling the world this time around all levels are set in sunny California(in story mode anyway, more on classic mode later) you begin the game as a up and coming young skater from middle America, moments after stepping off the bus you get rolled for everything you own except your board.
At which point you begin your adventure. If you can imagine GTA on a skateboard then you would be pretty close to the mark; completing challenges for various individuals along the way to becoming a legendary skater and having a massive skate park full of stuff you have knocked over, busted, or just plain hooked up a rope and gone for the good old five finger discount from the greater Los Angeles area.
 | | His Mum will be mad that he's ruined those pants |
For those who miss the good old days of Tony Hawk Games with S K A T E letters to find, or hidden tapes to discover, are catered for as well. Along side the story mode of the game is a classic mode with shiny pretty new versions of some favorite levels from previous games.
This leaves multiplayer and this game has it in buckets more modes than you can poke a stick at, from trick attack to skateboards that shoot fireballs, something for absolutely everyone weather you want to play co-op with a mate on the same console or challenge the world on Xbox live (a special mention must be made of the Xbox live lobby in this game in stead of just staring at a list of names you get to free skate the level until your host decides to start the game.
Overall this game is a welcome return to what made this series what it is but the geniuses of Neversoft have managed to cram in enough new stuff to keep the faithful interested as well as attract new fans to the series.
by: Jason
More articles by Jason
A worthy addition to anybody's collection, but if you've already got it on another console, at least rent it first. | |
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