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Publisher: Activision
Category: Sports
Platform: PS1, Dreamcast, Game Boy, PC, Mac
ESRB Rating: Teen Release Date: November 2000
Overall Rating:
3.5 Stars out of 4
Review by Tom Allen
3½ Stars out of 4
(Review of PS1 version)
Tony Hawk 2 is only one of the most anticipated, most revered, most popular games of 2000.
Therefore, we'd better bite the bullet and get the negatives out of the way first. The addition of
rap music wasn't necessary; it's too heavy for skateboarding, which has never been associated
with rap. Thankfully, you can change a track from the pause menu at any given moment.
The only legitimate complaint with Tony Hawk 2 may be the PlayStation's jaggy graphics, but
Hawk purists will deny this criticism because they can't stand a bad word to be said about "the
beloved." I can understand why.
Most sequels do not improve upon the series' original control dynamics. Tony Hawk 2,
however, doesn't just re-feed us the same controls. Instead, the controls are expanded and
enhanced beyond the familiar style with tons more available tricks. The levels (New York,
California, Montana, Mexico, France, and Pennsylvania) have also grown in size and number of
tasks in order to take advantage of these controls. Levels are designed with risers, quarter pipes,
rails, walls, stairs, pools, benches, and lots more. The bullring level in Mexico is great. You run
through piles of bull crap, literally, and even find yourself in the path of a charging bull. That's
creativity at its finest, filthiest best.
Novices won't know that there are two different skateboarding styles in real life. The goofy
style is demonstrated when your feet face left on the board. The normal style (most often used in
the sport) has your feet facing right. You can switch between the two styles, and when you do, a
different set of moves is available.
Other features include a hearty multi-player mode, create-a-skater mode, and 3-D real-time skate
park editor. Several characters are hidden in the game, including Spider-Man. That's not a joke,
either. Activision is able to deliver this surprise since they own the license for the character; the
company recently produced a Spider-Man game for PlayStation.
Tony Hawk 2 has it all, and with an average retail price of only $30, it's almost unfair that you
can get a brand new game this good for such a low price. Now hit the pavement and don't look
back.
Review by Tom Allen
4 Stars out of 4
(Review of Dreamcast version)
Tony Hawk 2 is only one of the most anticipated, most revered, most popular games of 2000.
With its ultra-crisp graphics, the Dreamcast version could be the single reason for die-hard fans
to buy a Dreamcast console, now available for $100 retail.
Most sequels do not improve upon the series' original control dynamics. Tony Hawk 2,
however, doesn't just re-feed us the same controls. Instead, the controls are expanded and
enhanced beyond the familiar style with tons more available tricks, including new grabs, grinds,
inverts, and lip and nollie tricks.
The levels (New York, Marseille, Rio de Janeiro, etc.) have also grown in size and number of
tasks in order to take advantage of these controls. Levels are designed with risers, quarter pipes,
rails, walls, stairs, pools, benches, and lots more. The bullring level in Mexico is great. You run
through piles of bull crap, literally, and even find yourself in the path of a charging bull. That's
creativity at its finest, filthiest best.
Novices won't know that there are two different skateboarding styles in real life. The goofy
style is demonstrated when your feet face left on the board. The normal style (most often used in
the sport) has your feet facing right. You can switch between the two styles, and when you do, a
different set of moves is available.
Other features include a hearty multi-player mode, create-a-skater mode, and 3-D real-time skate
park editor. Several characters are hidden in the game, including Spider-Man. That's not a joke,
either. Activision is able to deliver this surprise since they own the license for the character; the
company recently produced a Spider-Man game for PlayStation.
Featuring pro skaters Steve Caballero, Eric Koston, Rodney Mullen, Bob Burnquist, Kareem
Campbell, Rune Glifberg, Bucky Lasek, Chad Muska, Andrew Reynolds, Geoff Rowley, Elissa
Steamer, Jamie Thomas, and Hawk himself, Activision's Tony Hawk 2 has it all. Now hit the
pavement and don't look back.
To purchase Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 from Amazon.com use the button below, or use the
search box at the top of the left column
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