Tony Hawk's Underground

"From a lowly punk to a professional punk, THUG sends YOU to the top!"

Ah.. Tony Hawk. This genre has been with me through a long period of my gaming life. I've gamed since I was 3, but this is one series that has left a mark on me. It actually got me into real skateboarding, too. This particular game in the series stands out as the most amazing of the series.

Graphics 10/10: In all honesty, there isn't much of a change in graphics here from THPS4. Not that it's bad (see my score) because 4's graphics were great too. There is a fair bit more detail on facial features here, tho. Mainly it's just a little cleaner than the predecessor.

Sound 10/10: DEFINITELY a 10. This series has always had amazing music. My only complaint with it had been the rap music. I just can't stand it. Anyone who likes it, be my guest, but I don't. Last game they let you turn the music off, and I got rid of most of the junk I could, but this time I could actually turn off the entire hip-hop genre. Rock and Punk music all the way. Drop Kick Murphys, Jane's Addiction, Q.O.T.S.A., Alkaline Trio, and more great punk names along with a good many I hadn't heard of, but now love. My favorite song on the soundtrack (if it matters) is ''Don't Wait'' by Blue Collar Special.
The sound effects are also great. There's a varied amount. When you grind on metal, not only is it definitely different than grinding on wood, it also actually sounds like a board on metal. You also hear different sounds when skating on ice, pavement, and grass.

Gameplay 10/10: This has to be the section with the greatest improvements. Most notable is the ability to get off your board. Are you in the middle of a big combo and you're getting a bit tense and afraid you'll lose it, or you want to reach that high power line? Jump off and take a breather or climb a roof to reach the line. You can also run around and explore areas that are hard/impossible to get to on a board.
You can also drive in this game. Not quite Grand Theft Auto driving, but it is an interesting addition. Nearly every level has its own special vehicle to drive. You can also create goals (look in gameplay) involving exclusively vehicles.

Controls 10/10: Not much to say here, really. Same ole same ole. Which.. is perfect. Tony Hawk games have never struggled with controls. It has all fallen together perfectly ever since the first game. Why mess with perfection? The new moves also fit in easily.

Creativity 10/10: This is probably a new segment for most of you to read when looking at reviews. Unless you looked at some other THUG reviews. This is such a big improvement that it deserves a category. First off, EVERYTHING has been expanded. More pieces for the level editor, more textures for the create-a-skater, etc. Now you have a few new things to mess with.
Create-a-Trick: You choose a rotation, flip trick, grab trick, special trick, or combination of the three to make your own trick. You edit whether you want to be able to hold the trick for more points, and how long the trick lasts. Seems sorta complicated, but it's really easy. I have yet to delve into this too much
Create-a-Deck: This is unlocked a bit further into the game. It's self explanatory. You create a deck design and it lets you put nearly anything on it. Heck, you could put a face on it if you wanted.
Create-a-Park: No, not new in any way, but it has many many new additions. First would be the completely independent rail maker. Not only does it not have to be placed on certain pieces, but it also doesn't have to be at a certain angle. You can place them ANYWHERE you want. You can also create goals for your park.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/06/03