Activision lays American Wasteland

As has happened each fall since the series debuted in 1999, Activision has shipped the latest Tony Hawk game. Today it was Tony Hawk's American Wasteland's turn to hit the retail pavement, rolling out for the Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2. An Xbox 360 version of the game is due in November, with a PC port coming the following month.

American Wasteland follows in the footsteps of Tony Hawk's Underground and its sequel, combining the series' signature skating action with a free-roaming world and an extensive story mode. The game's plot follows the player's custom-made skater as he arrives in Los Angeles with the dream of becoming a pro skater. Along the way, players will receive tips from various real-life skate pros who appear in the game, including the legendary Tony Alva.

Players will hone their skills and build street cred by--what else?--skating their behinds off and unlocking the series' signature retinue of tricks. As they explore the city, players will also be able to find modifiers to existing moves, creating variations such as double flips and double rolls. They will also be able to customize their decks at various shops and can and even use their boards as weapons when hassled by muggers or overly concerned citizens. For those who want to explore virtual LA off their boards, the game also provides a BMX bike for faster transport.

Tony Hawk's American Wasteland is rated T for Teen. Current-generation console versions of the game will retail for $49.99, but the Xbox 360 and PC editions' prices have not yet been announced. GameSpot will post a full review later today.