Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 And 2

The Birdman 900’s his way back onto our gaming radar with the launch an absolutely incredible remaster

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Remaking Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2, arguably two of the most beloved games of all time, could have gone two ways. It could have ended up a product that reminded people why they played the originals so much back in the 90’s, or as a mess that disappointed fans and newcomers alike. It’s a fine line to walk, and one that Activision and developer Vicarious Visions managed to pull off phenomenally well.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 retains the arcade, score-bustin’ feel of the originals (released over twenty years ago) yet never feels old. It’s not just a fresh coat of paint over blocky character models. Masterfully pulling off what every decent remake aims to achieve, THPS 1+2 plays how you remember it rather than how it actually played. Which is to say, it’s not good solely because of nostalgia, it’s good because it feels good.

It’s just a colossal amount of fun to play. Embracing the arcade roots of the original, mastering loads of painstakingly remade maps feels as satisfying as ever, as you feel yourself actively absorbing the best lines needed to chain together long grinds or trick sequences.