The past decade has been full of trouble for the Tony Hawk franchise, with the mostly-dormant series popping up in 2015 for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5, which was widely criticized as a mess. Luckily, there's the Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 remaster to look forward to this year, and if the demo is anything to go by, it's the game fans have been waiting for.
Game Rant got to go hands-on with the Warehouse demo, a recreation of the classic Tony Hawk's Pro Skater level included with pre-orders of the game. After playing multiple sessions of the game's demo, it's safe to say that this is an incredibly accurate remake of the classic game, and will likely leave fans hungry for more.
The demo feels exceptionally smooth, though it may take some time to adjust to its arcadey style for those that skipped the most recent entry. Give it a few sessions, though, and even lapsed players will feel right at home here. Chaining together flips and tricks is as satisfying as ever, and losing an entire combo because of a bungled landing is still soul-crushingly disappointing. Of course, that's offset by nailing combos worth tens of thousands of points, which can quickly pump up scores to new highs if chained the right way.
Players are able to access a trick list from the in-game menu that allows for some extra customization by slotting in special moves from Skaters other than Tony Hawk — the only playable option in the demo. These tend to have some additional flair over the simpler moves, like tricks that introduce backflips to the mix, though they do take a bit of trial and error to get right, both for landing and pulling the trick off in the first place. However, they look really cool when they're properly executed, especially when chained together with other tricks.
There is still some jank to the controls on occasion, but it wouldn't really be a Tony Hawk game without it. Typically, this manifests as grinding when meaning to do a grab in a half-pipe or off a ramp, resulting in players rapidly building up momentum. It isn't necessarily a good feeling, but it's far from game-breaking, and usually just means players have to manual to continue their combo. That often leads to some high-scoring combos, too, so in a way, it's a blessing in disguise.
Seeing the Warehouse level recreated decades later is truly something special. Pro Skater isn't the best looking remaster on the market, but it's still pretty sharp, and the authentically rebuilt Warehouse more than makes up for any the relatively plain visuals. It manages to capture the grunge look of a 90s skateboarding video well enough to make a photo mode almost feel like a necessity, though none was featured here.
The demo itself features a limited soundtrack, so players that are diving into it for repeated sessions may get tired of the limited options. However, most of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack is returning for the full game, plus there will be some new additions, so it shouldn't be much of an issue during the full release.
Fundamentally, the game manages to capture the same feeling it did when the series debuted, making the player feel like a skateboarding pro, even if it's all digital. The arcade formula holds up too, providing a less grounded experience than a game like Skate or Skater XL, but certainly in a good way. At its core, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 strives to be fun, and the demo is just that.
Luckily for those itching to give the game a try, the demo is available for everyone that pre-ordered starting on August 14. Players will be able to access single 2-minute sessions, but they can be replayed endlessly, and trying to beat previous high scores is a great way to get some extra enjoyment out of the experience.
For those with fond memories of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, the demo paints a bright picture for the full release. While the Warehouse is a relatively contained stage, the wide-open areas of Pro Skater's other levels will hopefully provide even more freedom. If the game sticks the landing, it's easy to see it being a competitor with the other skateboarding games circulating right now.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 launches September 4 for PC, PS4, and Xbox. Game Rant was provided a PS4 code for this demo.