Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

"Truly Amazing"

About one year ago Tony Hawk's Pro Skater kicked open the skateboading game genre door. After a year of OK and forgettable titles (Grind Session, Street Sk8r 2, MTV Skateboading), with the very technical Grind Session providing an outlet for some fans waiting for a sequel; Tony Hawk 2 has arrived. I rented this game the other day and have yet to decide if I will buy wither the DC or PSX version or both. However, Tony Hawk 2 is woth every penny of the price.

Graphics:8.5
I wasn't to impressed with the skater graphics, they seem to be the same as last years, but the levels are very nice looking.

Sound:10+
Considering the fact the game is basically all music, the sound is top notch. The track selections are a good balance between rap and rock. Highlights include: Papa Roach, Chuck D. Rage against the Machine, Naughty by Nature, and Bad Religion. Too bad Primus couldn't make a return for the seqel.

Control:10
Excellent control, just like the first. Special moves are easier to pull off and the control is very responsive.
Replay:10+

This game has it all, multiplayer, secret characters(more than the first), multiple skater appearances, and two secret levels. However the best feature of the game by far is the Create a Skater. You can choose your skater's entire appearance, name, moves, hometown, etc. The Create a Skater's can also be taken through Career Mode. Also new to Tony Hawk 2 is Create a Park. Ive only briefly tried this feature and am very impressed with it.
Overall:10

This game outshines the original Tony Hawk by ten fold. New skaters, new levels, new music, and new features make this a definite buy for any game fan.

Good: Create a Skater, Create a Park, One Particular Hidden Character(I won't spoil it for anybody who doesn't know). Rage against the Machine.
Bad:: Graphics(hopefully Tony Hawk 3 will improve this), Not enough real skateparks, No Burnside skatepark.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/03/00, Updated 10/03/00