Tony Hawk's Underground

Tony Hawk's Underground Description

It had to happen. The concepts of free-roaming environments, objective-based missions and a general freedom of choice are becoming extremely popular indeed within the games industry. Or put more simply, the tendency for games to mimic the groundbreaking Grand Theft Auto is on the rise. And so we come to the evolution of the skating game and, more importantly, the latest instalment of the 'ever-so-slightly' popular Tony Hawk series. As you may have guessed, this is exactly the direction Tony Hawk's Underground has taken, appearing courtesy of a free-roaming adventure - albeit on skateboards - complete with a story mode and a host of other new features. You may have noticed that the words 'Pro' and 'Skater' have been dropped from the title. Consequently, you no longer play as a pro skater, instead starting out as yourself, charged with the task of making your way through a plot-twisting, true-to-life story that takes you from the ranks of unknown local skate punk to the fame and fortune of a superstar skater. A bit like what we all wanted to do in real life before realising that skating is actually really hard and we have no patience. The game features nine expansive levels that gradually open up as you meet new characters, learn new tricks and complete the game's numerous challenges and objectives. For the first time you can now get off your board and walk around with it under your arm - you know, like cool people do in town - as well perform a host of moves such as climbing ladders, shimmying across gutters, and other stuff akin to a Lara Croft in baggy slacks. Oh, and let's not forget the now-customary 'acquiring' of cars to get you around the levels. There's a heavy emphasis on customisation throughout Underground. As well as the regular park designer - itself pretty extensive, featuring houses, freeways, piers, grass, sidewalks, telephone poles, streetlights and more - the game now enables you construct your own deck, as well as design and name your own original tricks. Tony Hawk's Underground has basically rewritten the typical skating game - a concept that, in all honesty, was becoming a little tired by the release of THPS4. Think GTA, with considerably less violence, on skateboards, and with all the usual ingredients of the Tony Hawk series, and you're not far off. What a great idea!