Sorry but this is one of those posts where I need to tell you a little backstory to fully understand why I enjoyed the game the way I did.

It all started a year ago. I don’t remember why but I decided to start playing Tony Hawk 1 and I really liked it. Then I played 2 and holy shit, that was one of the best games I’ve ever played. I don’t know how but I replayed it a couple of times last year and I even 100% with a custom character to play as Spider-Man. THPS3 was also pretty good but short. I still bought a physical PS2 copy though.

After that I started rating these games with 3 different metrics: Gameplay, Levels and Music. And that was because the later games started failing a bit in those aspects.

THPS4, Underground and Underground 2 are good games but don’t come as close as the first 3. I guess this is basically preference but the mission system, while good to not make the series feel monotonous, does feel strict in what you can and can’t do. Again, they are fine games for what they are (and I really like THUG2’s OST) but I’m not gonna replay them as often as the others.

I also played half of American Wasteland (got tired), Pro Skater HD, the demo of Proving Ground and thug pro.

To some degree I enjoyed all of these games (except THPS HD) but it didn’t felt the same. That doesn’t mean they are bad, it’s just a personal thing. I know some people hold 4, Underground or American Wasteland as their favorites and I absolutely respect that.

​

The thing is that these low expectations transferred to 1 2. I knew the game would be good but I didn’t thought it would be That Good.

​

Guess what? It was.

​

So basically THPS 1 2 is at the same time not a remake and one of the best uses of that word ever.

The most obvious difference aside from graphics are the controls. It plays like THPS4 with Wallplants and that gives a different vibe to what you can do with this levels, specially THPS1. But It doesn’t feel like they just copied and pasted the old geometry in the new engine. Weirdly, it feels like the levels are actually designed for reverts and spine transfers. I guess that’s a huge testament to both Neversoft and Vicarious Visions.

Now, the culture of the early 2000’s and 2020’s is vastly different and this game gets that. Every skater has aged (except Chad Muska), the justification for no npcs is that a certain virus is out there and people need to stay home, and levels like Mall with everything in ruins, Downhill Jam with drones and the hangar with a beautiful homage to the Neversoft era makes this feel like a 2020 game more than a nostalgia trip to 1999/2000. That's why I said this is one of the most accurate depictions of a remake. It mostly feels like they made THPS 1 and 2 now.

Also, the soundtrack kicks serious ass. Unlike Pro Skater HD, It doesn’t feel awkward to listen to one of the old songs and then a new one that doesn’t really fit. Like the classic soundtracks, it only took a couple of times for me to sing along Sedonna, Let Me In or Flamingo among others.

If I have one nitpick for this game is the lack of substantial unlockable content. Only 3 secret characters and the best one is exclusive to the deluxe version?

​

But that's pretty much it. If this is the last Tony Hawk game, I’ll be satisfied the series ended on its highest note possible.