Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2
- October 3, 2023
- Iron Galaxy Studios
- 54h median play time
The Digital Deluxe Edition of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 offers the remastered versions of the first two games in the series, complete with new skaters, outfits, and music, as well as upgraded create-a-park and multiplayer features. Play as legendary pro skater Tony Hawk and other pros, and pull off tricks and combos to compete against players worldwide. This edition also includes unique retro content for create-a-skater mode and local 2-player modes.
Reviews
- music584 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the remastered Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 has received mixed reviews, with many praising the nostalgic return of most original tracks while noting that a few favorites are missing due to licensing issues. New songs have been added, which some players enjoy, but others find them unfit or disappointing compared to the classics. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a highlight, offering a blend of old and new that enhances the gameplay experience, though players appreciate the option to customize their playlists to exclude less favored tracks.
“The soundtrack, I love the mix of old and new, which makes sense since old and new players have come along to experience this.”
“The soundtrack is a banger, featuring an eclectic mix of tracks from the original games and new additions.”
“The music, the updated graphics, makes one long for better times.”
“The new music sucks.”
“The soundtrack is filled with absolute hot garbage.”
“These new songs just ruin the nostalgia a bit for me, I'm always skipping them until I find an original song.”
- gameplay344 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is widely praised for its smooth mechanics, blending classic elements from the original games with modern enhancements like reverts and manuals, creating an addictive and satisfying experience. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel, updated graphics, and the balance of accessibility for newcomers while still offering depth for veterans. However, some critiques mention issues with control functions and a grindy challenge system that may detract from the overall enjoyment.
“The skating mechanics are a perfect-feeling blend of those found in the original 1 and 2 and those which arrived in later entries that are difficult to imagine a modern THPS experience lacking.”
“Possibly the best remake I’ve ever played, everything about the gameplay is just like I remember it 20 years ago (and it's even better because there are a few new additions from the later games in the series such as revert or wallplant).”
“The gameplay is so easy to pick up, yet difficult to master, and it just feels so satisfying to play.”
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- graphics316 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their stunning visual overhaul, effectively modernizing the nostalgic aesthetics of the original titles while maintaining their core charm. Players appreciate the detailed textures, vibrant lighting, and smooth performance, with many noting that the updated visuals enhance the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that the graphics can occasionally obscure gameplay clarity, and a few players feel that despite the visual improvements, the gameplay retains a dated feel.
“The graphics are beautiful in 4K and render scale maxed out.”
“The graphical enhancements make this classic absolutely still hold up as the best skateboard game.”
“Incredible graphics: the visual overhaul is nothing short of stunning.”
“Almost no graphics options.”
“I feel like the original graphics were less confusing as the way you ride was clearer, because there was no (good looking) rubbish on the floor.”
“Sometimes the framerate will drop to sub-30fps no matter what graphical settings I use.”
- stability56 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 36 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report that it runs smoothly and looks great, there are notable issues with bugs, glitches, and occasional crashes, particularly in online modes. Some users experienced significant problems, such as hard crashes and connectivity issues, especially when playing offline. Despite these technical challenges, the game is generally enjoyable and performs well on platforms like the Steam Deck.
“The game looks great, runs great, feels both familiar and new.”
“Looks great, runs great, multiplayer works perfectly.”
“Runs great on desktop, love the create-a-skater, tutorial's very well done to help you remember (or get used to it for the first time, if you're not a returning fan from way back when).”
“I came here for nostalgia and am instead troubleshooting connectivity issues for a game I was going to play by myself.”
“There are some weird glitches, such as achievements not unlocking and crashes while connecting to multiplayer.”
“And I mean, it freezes every 10 to 15 minutes for me.”
- story54 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a significant absence of a story mode in the latest Tony Hawk game, which many fans feel detracts from the overall experience. Players express nostalgia for previous titles like American Wasteland and Underground, which featured engaging narratives and character development, and they long for a return to a story-driven format. Overall, the lack of a compelling storyline has led to a less immersive experience, with many players feeling that the game lacks depth and replayability.
“But I grew up on American Wasteland, the only game that bothered with a decent story, as corny as it was.”
“I hope someday another Tony Hawk story-progression game gets made.”
“Well, as you expect, there's no story.”
“The game also lacks some features that fans of the series might expect, such as a story mode or a create-a-trick mode.”
“Great for nostalgia but lacks the story of Tony Hawk Underground or Tony Hawk American Wasteland, so it might not be something you put many hours into.”
- grinding48 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely noted as tedious, particularly the journey to level 100, which many players find excessively time-consuming. While some appreciate the nostalgic grind reminiscent of earlier titles, others feel that the grindy challenges and XP system detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many players still find satisfaction in the mechanics of grinding and unlocking items, making it a polarizing feature of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grind for level 100 is insanely tedious.”
“Once you beat the goals in the game, there's really nothing more to do except unlock stuff in a super grindy shop.”
“Moreover, it's too grindy.”
- optimization38 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized, delivering smooth performance across various hardware setups, including older PCs and the Steam Deck, with many users reporting stable frame rates and minimal CPU usage. While some minor technical issues and audio glitches have been noted, the game's graphics and performance are generally praised, making it a visually appealing experience. However, the always-online DRM may contribute to occasional performance dips for some players.
“The performance on deck is basically perfect once you hone in on the settings, and has so much content to pursue that I can see myself keeping this game installed for a long time.”
“It's really well optimized, using 99% of the GPU and barely taxes the CPU, so overall if you have a good PC setup, you should be able to actually play it as high as your monitor's refresh rate allows.”
“Game is optimized well, can max it out on mid-level specs at a locked 144fps.”
“I do not like that it has always online DRM, and that's possibly where some of the performance loss I also noticed is coming from.”
“There are some minor technical issues and glitches that can affect the performance and visuals of the game.”
“I wish the THPS 2X levels were included; I wish the blood effects were also in the game. There are some strange performance and audio issues on Steam Deck that I hope get resolved as well.”
- replayability34 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by a wealth of content including over two dozen skaters, revamped park creation, and a variety of challenges and unlockables. Players appreciate the addition of speedruns and leaderboards, which enhance the experience despite some level design issues. Overall, the combination of multiplayer options, character unlocks, and engaging challenges ensures that players can enjoy the game repeatedly, making it feel fresh and rewarding.
“One of those games with practically infinite replayability and oh so many good memories.”
“The new characters, secrets, and challenges that they added make the game infinitely replayable.”
“A ton of replayability even if you don't count multiplayer, due to the amount of skaters you can complete, the amount of challenges, as well as the speed run mode which is always stupid fun to play.”
“The challenges are fun to complete and give an incentive to keep playing. I was never a fan of the one-and-done classic game modes; I know some would argue they were replayable, but they weren't for me.”
“The addition of speedruns and leaderboards adds replayability, but also really lays bare the problems with some of the levels.”
“Create a park is revamped and improved in some places. Multiplayer is active, and the new challenges and unlockables add a lot of replay value, although the grind to level 100 and its unlockables is going to be tough for casuals, which gets to my gripes with the game.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate the absence of microtransactions, highlighting a rewarding gameplay experience reminiscent of earlier gaming eras. While some express a preference for in-game purchases using in-game currency as a motivational tool, the general sentiment favors a return to unlockable content without the pressure of monetization schemes.
“Gameplay was super rewarding, and thank god there are no microtransactions.”
“I like the idea of in-game purchases (with in-game currency, no microtransactions as far as I can tell) because it's a small, but effective incentive to complete the game's many challenges.”
“In a gaming period dominated by microtransactions, battle passes, and any other mechanic designed to squeeze every penny out of you - I have started to become disconnected with my gaming passion.”
“Just don't let this franchise die out again, it already has once. You have the chance to revive it, but will the microtransactions in Call of Duty distract you from creating quality video games yet again?”
“Forgot the feeling of a game that has unlockables without microtransactions; feels like I'm 9 again.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive levels, particularly the downtown area, which is enhanced by a nostalgic and complementary soundtrack. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the joyous, dreamlike quality of the music and presentation, creating an experience that consistently brings a smile. Overall, the atmosphere is described as brilliant and engaging, making exploration enjoyable.
“The soundtrack is a spectacle apart, featuring tracks from the classic games and adding more tracks that complement the game's atmosphere.”
“They all have a real sense of atmosphere and it’s impressive even to just skate around slowly taking in all of the little details.”
“Combine with this beautiful dreamlike combination of genuine, joyous and kind of sweetly innocent music, presentation, and atmosphere and you end up with an amazing experience that will put a smile on your face every single time you play.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the remastered game, highlighting nostalgia for their childhood experiences with the original titles. The remaster evokes feelings of happiness and fond memories, particularly through its soundtrack, making it a compelling experience for both returning fans and newcomers. Overall, the emotional resonance of revisiting these classic games is a significant aspect of their appeal.
“I guess it must have been around 22 years since I've last played THPS, so to see both of these games in one bundle, fully remade, made me feel like going down memory lane.”
“Soundtrack made me feel happy and remember growing up with them on the PS1.”
“If you have ever wanted to play these games, and have wondered if the remaster is worth touching, it is a resounding yes.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily highlighted through amusing loading screen tips and the quirky appearance of characters, particularly Tony, who is described as "funny looking." Overall, while the humor may not be the main focus, it adds a lighthearted touch to the experience.
“You do have funny loading screen tips, though, so, uh, yay...?”
“Tony is a funny looking dude.”
- character development6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is seen as lacking, with custom character design and backstories for the skaters being particularly criticized for their dullness. While the overall gameplay and graphics have improved, many players feel that the character design elements do not meet expectations and could benefit from more creativity and depth.
“This remake is a great thing, but I'm still missing some things... all the deck designs for the boards are so boring, and so are the labels for the clothes. The whole character design is quite disappointing.”
“While the custom character design could use a lot of work, the rest of the game is as great as it was in its heyday, but with much improved graphics and features.”
“However, the character development and backstories of the skaters could make for an intriguing side story in a literary work.”