Republished on Wednesday twenty seventh July 2022: We’re bringing this overview again from the archives following the announcement of August’s PlayStation Plus lineup. The unique textual content follows.

Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater is a sequence that outlined early PlayStation simply as a lot as Crash Bandicoot or Tomb Raider. The video games are fondly remembered for his or her tight controls, licensed soundtracks, and endlessly replayable ranges, though the franchise has actually bailed a couple of occasions as effectively. By no means concern, although, as a result of Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 1 + 2 is a triumphant return to type.

Combining the primary and second video games into one bundle, this full-blown remake is a nollie flavoured nostalgia journey that can have outdated followers doing 900 diploma spins in delight. As quickly as you begin enjoying, the controls really feel completely spot on. It’d take a minute to get again into the rhythm, however skating round and pulling off ridiculous methods is simply as enjoyable as you keep in mind from 20 years in the past. It actually does nail the dealing with, and albeit, that is half the battle received. Not like the unique two video games, you have got entry to gameplay enhancements from later titles, akin to backbone transfers and the all-important revert. These strikes permit you to maintain combos going for miles, and touchdown an enormous line of methods is after all extraordinarily satisfying. It feels notably good at 60 frames-per-second, even when load occasions do take their candy time.

However there’s extra than simply the splendidly tight controls to get pleasure from. Every of the 19 ranges from the unique video games are offered right here in wonderful type. The visible overhaul and a focus to element on show is sensible, with most phases given a dramatic new look. It goes with out saying the graphics are an enormous enchancment on the originals, however a lot care has been taken on every map to present all of them a singular identification. Faculty and Faculty II are actually radically completely different from one another, Venice Seaside doubles down on the graffiti, and Mall now seems like one thing out of The Final of Us. It is a severely spectacular effort.

What’s extra, each degree has had one thing added to it. That is most noticeable with the Tony Hawk 1 phases, the place all of the phases have extra goals to convey them consistent with Tony Hawk 2. On the very least, every map now has a pair extra gaps to search out. It signifies that even veteran gamers can have one thing new to see and do, and that is to say nothing of the a whole lot of challenges that’ll maintain completionists busy for a very long time.

That leads us to some structural adjustments that make the gathering extra cohesive. Stat factors for every character are actually collectibles scattered throughout the sport, and as a substitute of choosing up money icons, cash is earned merely by means of finishing goals and beating challenges. You will additionally earn XP and degree up, which in flip unlocks increasingly more beauty objects with which to customize your individual skater. It does appear a bit limiting that this stuff cannot be used with professional skaters, nevertheless it does no less than encourage you to experiment with making a customized character. All these completely different metrics would possibly sound complicated, however every thing feeds into rewarding the participant indirectly, and it makes the sport really feel extra fashionable.

Talking of recent, on-line play is fairly seamlessly built-in. You possibly can simply begin a session with buddies or be part of a public foyer, and interact in all of the multiplayer modes you keep in mind, like Graffiti and Trick Assault. Native multiplayer is an possibility, too, the place two skaters can get pleasure from some split-screen motion.

In addition to creating your individual skater, Create A Park returns, and it is extra sturdy than ever. You possibly can place all method of ramps, rails, and different objects, then share your masterpiece with the group. Nevertheless, there’s extra to it than simply dropping in half pipes and funboxes; you should use good items to create really customized parks. Putting one in every of these down, you possibly can then modify them in numerous methods, resulting in completely distinctive obstacles. It is sort of fiddly to make use of, however with some follow, you might simply make some enjoyable maps utilizing these instruments.

In the meantime, the soundtrack accommodates practically all of the music you keep in mind whereas including a number of new songs to the combination. Whereas it is a disgrace that not all of the songs from the originals are right here, the overwhelming majority of latest additions match proper in. You possibly can change what’s going to present up within the playlist, however we left every thing on as we loved the variability. Among the many skate punk and hip hop is a few rap and pop music that by some means all hits the precise tone.

There’s a lot packed into this sport that it will probably all really feel a bit of daunting at first. As you start your arcadey skating profession, you may see a bunch of problem notifications, your degree rising, money racking up — it is loads to maintain monitor of. Nevertheless, every thing is well offered, and when you get used to the sport’s construction, it provides a number of causes to maintain enjoying. There are secret skaters to unlock, hidden areas to entry, and extra. It nearly balances the old-fashioned really feel with extra up-to-date options, which means each outdated and new followers must be glad.

Conclusion

Vicarious Visions has produced one other glorious remake with Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 1 + 2. It brings these PS1 classics to the trendy period with a beautiful visible improve, rock stable efficiency, and all of the options you’d count on of a sport launched in 2020. Most significantly, although, it retains the particular really feel of the franchise at its greatest, delivering an addictive, fast-paced, arcade-like expertise. Outdated followers can relaxation straightforward figuring out that the Tony Hawk video games are again on type, whereas new gamers can dive into the skateboarding world for the primary time. This sport is sick, bro.