A relic of the PlayStation 1 era of gaming, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series was one I never got to play in-depth due to my lack of owning a PS1, but do have fond memories of playing it on demo booths in stores. While the Tony Hawk video game series lived on up until this generation of gaming consoles, almost five years has passed since its last release, with later titles not receiving the critical acclaim of the originals. If you are like me and never really got to sink your teeth into the classics, no need to go hunting in used game stores, Activision has a rather exciting announcement.
Activision together with Tony Hawk and Vicarious Visions has this morning confirmed that they will be releasing remastered versions of the first two games in the series – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2. Seeking to provide “players with breathtaking gameplay experiences”, they claim that this remaster will “blend all the original levels, pro-skaters, old-school tricks and more that gamers remember from the ‘90s and 2000’s with new, beautifully recreated levels”. It has also been confirmed that the remaster will include songs from the original releases as well!
Features from across the franchise will also be making a return, including revert, lip tricks, wall plant and original multiplayer game modes, both online and for local couch play. More excitingly is an upgraded Create-A-Park and Create-A-Skater modes. New to Create-A-Park this time around is a robust editor enabling new ways of customisation. Players will be able to share parks online with friends and outfit skaters with customisation options.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 will be released for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC – the latter exclusively via the Epic platform. While on offer at a standard price of $69.95 AUD, hardcore fans of the series can nab themselves a Digital Deluxe version for $84.95 AUD which includes unique content and in-game gear, or a Collector’s Edition priced at $169.95 which includes digital deluxe content and a limited-run Birdhouse Deck.
What are they promoting about this Remaster?
HD to the Max – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2’s amazing HD graphics allow players to pull off reverts, wall plants, lip tricks and manuals with even longer combos in brilliantly vivid detail.
Faithful Remaster – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 combines original levels, original pro skaters, tricks, and modes from the first two games in the franchise into one gnarly package.
Added Features – New tricks, secrets and more to uncover will take the original games to the next level! Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 also provides loads of gameplay options with online multiplayer modes. New features to the remaster also include even more goals than before, added challenges to amp up gameplay and more.
Sick Customisation – Create-A-Park and Create-A-Skater modes are back! But new this time around is a robust editor enabling new ways of customisation. Players will be able to share new parks online with friends, remix already published parks with their own personal flavour, and outfit skaters with tons of customisation options.
Iconic Soundtrack – Get ready to kick, push and trick to one of the greatest videogame soundtracks ever as many iconic and fan-favourite songs from the soundtrack that defined a generation return with the new remaster.
Killer Lineup – They’re all back! Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Geoff Rowley, Bucky Lasek, Elissa Steamer, Kareem Campbell, Andrew Reynolds, Bob Burnquist, Chad Muska and the rest of the pro skaters from the original two games are back and brought to life in HD detail.
What are they saying about this Remaster?
“The original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series is a big factor in the evolution of modern skateboarding tricks and inspiring many of the pro skaters you know and love today. “I’m excited to help inspire a new generation of skateboarders and gamers – and existing fans – to grow the sport even further.”
Tony Hawk
“Getting the chance to bring back the original two games which had such a meaningful impact not only on gaming, but on an entire sports genre, has been an epic experience for our team, many of whom worked on the original series.
We’re taking what you knew and loved from the original games and mixing that with enhanced creative tools which will allow gamers to invent brand new ways to play the game they love. We’re confident it will be the ultimate Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater experience fans have been asking for.”
Jen Oneal
Studio Head at Vicarious Visions.
Can I have another look at this remaster?
