Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

"The best extreme sports game on the Dreamcast"

Graphics: 8/10
While not as good as some games, they are definitely improved from the PSone original game. The areas you skate in may not have very high detail on the different textures but at least the lines that draw all the ramps and scenery are clear. The company that did the conversion has obviously spent some time upgrading the visuals because you can make out the designs on the boards much easier, and even the tread on the skaters’ shoes it recognizable.

Sound and Music: 9/10
As usual there is a great line up of music on the game’s soundtrack, which is perfect for skating to. I’m not sure if the sound quality has been improved since the conversion but I am guessing the DC would be able to play sounds off the disc better. You will notice that such effects as collecting the subway tokens and rocking the bells are very clear and audible.

Gameplay: 10/10
The best part of this game is the sheer fun you get from skating around the different parks. Somehow Tony Hawks seems to run better on the DC, probably due to the increase of power the DC has to call upon. I found that I could just play the game for hours completing all the levels and not getting bored. If you have already completed the PSone (like me) then you won’t want to complete the game too many times, but I found that I could complete the game twice without getting bored. If you have never played a Tony Hawk game before or even this one, there’s tons to keep you busy, especially with the addition of the new modes: custom skater, park editor and gap check list, not to mention the load of custom parks already programmed in for you to try.

Overall: 9/10
A neatly polished package of a Dreamcast game. Forget MTV sports skateboarding and maybe Tony Hawks (but it is still good) because this is the definitive extreme sports game on the Dreamcast. If you bought one game for each genre then you would have to purchase it. There is so much here to do and it is great fun. The controls are just the same as the original version so you won’t be alienated. Plus the game runs ultra smoothly.

Rent or Buy?
Make sure to buy it; you will not be disappointed. It is by far the best of its genre, but it may be difficult to find. I heard that someone had to pay $60 just to get a copy. You don’t just see them lying around in a pile of second-hand games. But I was lucky enough to find a brand new copy for 6.50 pounds, including postage. It took a long time to arrive and the case was badly cracked but the game was fine and still is after a lot of play.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/10/02, Updated 10/10/02