Tony Hawk's American Wasteland

"A good video game, but a poor Tony Hawk game."

First off, I LOVE the Tony Hawk series. I've been playing since the first one came out. I own every game for one console or another, and I've 100% each one (except for the gap lists). So I had some high expectations for Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, even though the game prior to this one (THUG 2) wasn't the best Tony Hawk game ever. So with that, lets explore this game a bit further......

GAMEPLAY:

Just like all other Tony Hawk games, you skate around and complete a bunch of goals. This one does it a bit different though, it starts you off with the bare minimum of abilities and you slowly regain them all throughout the game sort of like Metroid Prime. I don't see the point of this really, I mean, it makes sense in the story mode, since you're just beginning, but it takes too much time to regain some of the better tricks, even the special, and when you finally have them all back, you're about 50-70% through the story mode.

You build up your stats by doing sponsorship challenges, which are small lists of things you need to do in order to bump up certain stats. A new list is available every day and must be completed before midnight. None of the goals are hard at all, even in sick mode. Plus, you can rest at a rest area to skip through large periods of time, so after you complete one list, you can rest and do another one in a matter of minutes.

My biggest problem with Story Mode is that it's too easy. Far too easy. Especially for a Tony Hawk vet. I'm used to being frustrated with Tony Hawk games because of the hard challenges, while it's true that this game is easier on my controller, it doesn't give me the sense of satisfaction that I got when I accomplished those goals. The game holds your hand throughout the entire story mode. It tells you all the steps that you need to do in order to accomplish the goals and starts you out right in front of where you need to go. Basically, the Story Mode feels like one big training mode.

One of the things that this game promised was the ability to skate LA. This is sort of true, but not in the way that you'd expect. It's basically divided between 8 separate areas. All of which are connected via tunnels. These tunnels are where the game loads each area, and when you go through them the game hiccups a little bit while it loads. So it's not really one big city like GTA has, but just a bunch or areas connected to each other.

The classic mode is just what the name implies. It plays like the old Tony Hawk games (THPS 1 -3). It includes several levels from previous games. However, 3 of these levels are from THUG 2 Remix for the PSP (one of which you can only play if you have the Collectors Edition), so most of them aren't really 'classic' levels. The goals are also pretty easy to accomplish as well.

The biggest addition to gameplay is the ability to ride BMX. When you go on a bike, the controls change. They actually created a new control scheme for it instead of recycling the one they used for Matt Hoffman's Pro BMX. It plays well and is actually pretty fun when you get used to it. But you don't really need it for that much of the Story Mode.

5/10

CONTROLS:

Tight, just like previous games, it's responsive and it works well. There's not that much additions to the controls in this one though, the walking is improved as you can double jump and run up walls. There's also the Bert Slide, which you do by pressing and holding R1 while skating, but that doesn't really prove all that useful in the game.

The BMX portion of the game controls differently. You can only use the analog stick to move around, and you use the right analog stick to perform certain tricks like the tail whip. Square does a tabletop, and Circle does an X-Up. You can perform back flips and front flips as well and you can grind, manual, and wall ride. You can combine the moves to perform some crazy tricks and it all works pretty well once you get used to it.

8/10

STORY:

While the first four instalments of the Tony Hawk series wouldn't have this part of the review since they didn't have plots. However, since THUG 1 the series has put a big emphasis on the Story Mode. So here this section is.

The plot for this game is actually pretty good considering it's a Tony Hawk game. You're a rookie skater who's looking to leave his crappy life behind and make a name for himself in LA. But when you get out of the bus you get beat up and robbed of your stuff. After this you meat Mindy who is this 'rebel' tough girl. She takes an interest in you and decides to help get your stuff back and survive in LA. This all leads to you meeting more people and helping create a killer skate park for a legendary skater who went underground after he started to get big.

My biggest gripe about it though, is that it's far too short. It doesn't take long to go through at all.

It's not the best plot in the world, but for a Tony Hawk game, it's the best since THUG 1.

6/10

GRAPHICS:

Great, as always. Everything looks smooth and there's no framerate problems. A few pro skaters models do look pretty bad though and there are the hiccups in the loading tunnels. But those are just minor.

9/10

SOUND:

This has to be the largest soundtrack to ever grace a Tony Hawk game. It's more punk oriented than the last few outings. Several of the songs are covers of classic bands done by some more current bands. It was all meant to fit the theme that they wanted for the game, which was 80's style punk. It's an interesting idea to do that, but it would have been better to just put the original songs in.

There are a lot of other songs as well. There's not as much rap either. So whether that's a good thing to you or not is up to you. Personally, I really like the soundtrack and I think that it has something to offer for everyone who would be interested in a Tony Hawk game.

The sound effects are all nice as well, as always, and most of the voice acting is pretty well done. Except for a few pro skaters who don't really sound like they're trying at all.

8/10

REPLAYABILITY:

Worst in the series in this regard. There are plenty of unlockables, but it's FAR too easy to get them. The Story Mode is very short as well, and there's not that many levels in Classic Mode to make the game that much longer.

There aren't that many goals either, and all of which are simple to beat. You won't be stuck on one for too much time and if you're a Tony Hawk vet, you'll beat almost each one in one, maybe two tries.

While it plays like a Tony Hawk game, which helps the replayability, there's just not much there to keep you going if you're not absolutely in love with the gameplay.

4/10

OVERALL:

As a stand-alone game this is really good, but as a Tony Hawk game, it's weak. If you're new to the series then this would be a great start. But I think that the majority of people who buy Tony Hawk games now are people who have been into the series for a while and this game alienates most of them by holding your hand throughout it when it doesn't need to. Don't get me wrong, I still like it and think that it's a very solid game, but its short Story Mode and severe lack of challenging goals hurts this game.

6.6/10

Rounded: 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 10/26/05