Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

"Probably the best selling game for the PSX"

Tony Hawk 2... Where do I begin? I got so excited when I got this game.. As soon as I got home, I wondered.. Is this game going to be more of the same, or is it going to be just as good as the hype? Friends, this is better than the hype. Each stage has 10 goals for you to get to. You can't possibly do it all in one run! There are so many interactive objects in the game also. To trigger them, you need to grind them.

As you probably know, there is also create-a-skater full of different heads, clothes, and too many options to list! I thought it was rather funny to see a five year old 400 pound black guy with a red mohawk do a handplant. Also, you can create your own skate park, then skate it. You can make up to 10 gaps, and even play it in horse! You get to select where the starting spots are. So... Looks like you'll soon have that awesome secret gap that will help you cheat.. I mean win that game of ''horse''.. Or as I have it ''dumbassf---''.

So far I've played for about 14 or so hours, it's only four days after the release date. There's still so much more for me to do. After you beat the game with a character, you got every goal done in a stage.. You'd think you're done? HAH! This is when it gets tough! Did you make every gap in that stage? There's four types of gaps now. Theres air gaps which require you to be launched off of a ramp or a big big ollie. Next there is a grind gap which I believe speaks for itself. Then two new ones! There is a manual gap which you must manual or nose manual all the way across some lunch tables or coming off of a grind. Then the last one.. The wallride gap! This one will usually require you to wallride over an object. Trying to find all these gaps, this game will keep you busy for a *LONG* time!

Sound: 9
There are some rather big names on this soundtrack that most people will like. There is Papa Roach, Powerman 5000, Public Enemy, Bad Religion, Anthrax & Chuck D, Rage Against the Machine, Swinging Utters, and Lagwagon. On the contrary, it's not really skater music, but it's not bad music. I feel most of the people who play this game will like the music way more than in the first. Don't like punk rock or rap? Don't worry, the songs aren't that bad but you can always turn down the music volume and listen to ambient sounds. In freestyle mode, the music doesn't repeat anymore!

Controls: 10
Flawless. Absolutely flawless. If they had spent two decades perfecting the controls, response, etc... They wouldn't have changed a damn thing. However, if you don't like the trick configuration of not have up and left be kickflip to indy, one of the new additions is to change your tricks so YOU can configure them. So now when you mess up, there isn't an excuse that there is a controller delay, or you're not used to those sets of tricks. Isn't Neversoft one of the smartest game companies out there? If you're new or a vet, you won't have a problem with the controls!

Graphics: 10
So detailed! The skaters are so neat looking. The grafitti all over Philidelphia is so nice looking and crisp. When you get close to them, it does not get too blocky. There's so much detail put into each stage, the tricks are done correctly this time (correct motions for real life)..

Gameplay: 10
This is the only time I have given a 10 in gameplay. This game deserves it though. There are no downfalls to the game. There is no slowdown, there is no horrible loading time, there is no moment in which you reach a part thats impossible to pass.. None of that! This game is for fun damnit, the way games should be! This is going to be the best selling game of all time for the playstation, and I feel there is only one game that was better than this.. Metal Gear Solid. Thats it.

Overall: 10
So much I've covered, and I've hardly done more than scratch the surface on the game! If you don't like skateboarding, rent it.. Give it a try. You'd be surprised. I was. Hell, this is the game that made me start skating way more. This is the game that I believe helped skateboarding back to being cool again. This is the game that in my area, sent all the kids out to buy punk rock cd's. Very influential. So if you're really wondering whether you should use the $4 to rent and play it... I think my damned neighborhood is a evidence that you should give it a try. For those of you who are just killing time until you get money for it, kiss your girlfriends and job goodbye. This game kicks ass.

Agree? Disagree? Did the 400 black guy with the red mohawk comment offend you? Just making chit chat? Write to brittharris@hotmail.com

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/24/00, Updated 09/24/00