Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD Review

A roll down memory lane.

Genre: Sport
Developer: Robomodo
Publisher: Activision

For many, a sense of nostalgia will be present when Tony Hawks PS HD is booted up. From rolling around in the warehouse, performing insane trick combos, to collecting the letters S-K-A-T-E, and all those hidden collectible. The memories will soon come whizzing back. Unfortunately, some of the most
memorable features, like split-screen and HORSE mode are not present. This will be a shame for many hardcore fans, but developer Robomodo should still be praised for their visual transformation. The game looks great in HD, and are fitting for today's XBLA market. Whilst some absent features are noticeable,
Robombo have managed to add some new game types, and new tracks. This will be a treat for the fans, and also great for newcomers.

Most of the game has remained unchanged. All the main levels, like the famous warehouse, and School II are exactly the same. The only noticeable change are the hidden tapes, which have now been replaced with DvD's.

The career mode spans across seven levels, taken from Pro Skater 1 and 2. Here you will be given a two-minute run to complete a list of set objectives. Objectives can be from grinding across railings, collecting easter eggs, performing a certain amount of tricks, and so on. Once you complete a certain amount of set objectives, a new level will be unlocked. Cash is also earned in the process, which can be spent on upgrading your skaters stats, purchasing boards, and new tricks. There's a variety of different skaters to choose from, and you can even uses your personal avatar for a laugh. But all the upgrades you make don't carry on to each character. So if you wish to complete the game to 100%, there's a lot recycling when it comes to the levels. This is one of the downfall to Tony Hawks PS HD. With only seven levels, it seems a little weak. Some levels have been left out, but this could be to make way for DLC? 

When you first take control of Tony Hawk's PS HD, it does feel a little strange. It's classic control layout shows you how games have changed over the past decade. With many games now using the analog stick, for example, EA's Skate series, Tony Hawk's PS HD uses nothing but buttons and the D-pad. The physics and handling seem slightly off. They feel much more clunky and unresponsive to
the original. I found myself sometimes flying in the air, or hitting the ground in an unrealistic way. With that said, the controls are still accessible, and work well enough. 

It wont take long to get through the seven levels in Career, but theres still more to offer. You can roll around in Free Skate, take part in Time Trial, Graffiti Mode, and a new addition, Big Head
Elimination.

Whilst Tony Hawk's PS HD might not be up to scratch with the original, it still offers enough nostalgia and enjoyment. The visual overhaul is fantastic, and the new features make up slightly for what's missing. 

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Review by Gareth Smith