Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 Review Roundup

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2's development team had the steep challenge of remaking a classic game more than twenty years since it launched. The original's arcade action is just as fun as it was back then thanks to updated gameplay features and visuals. The majority of the songs are also included, with classics by Goldfinger and Millencolin among the highlights. These are in addition to new songs by artists like MGK and MxPx.

"Playing through the newly remade levels is immensely enjoyable, and that on its own is enough to call Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 a success," said Mat Paget in GameSpot's Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 review. "However, smart additions and an engaging challenge system make it an experience that's more than just a brief skate through Tony Hawk's past."

Critics from around the web have applauded Vicarious Visions and Neversoft for nailing the feeling of the original games. Modernizations, like graphics that let you actually recognize which skater you're playing as, make the two games feel like they fit right alongside new skating games like SkateBIRD, Skater XL, and Session.

• Game: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Developer: Vicarious Visions, Neversoft
• Release date: September 4
• Price: $40

GameSpot -- 9

"Because it nails so much about that original Tony Hawk experience, it's really hard to be mad at Pro Skater 1 + 2 for any of its downsides. The load times aren't enough to keep you away from the plethora of satisfying combos, and the lack of level goals for every skater isn't enough to keep you from jumping back in with a new character. Playing through the newly remade levels is immensely enjoyable, and that on its own is enough to call Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 a success. However, smart additions and an engaging challenge system make it an experience that's more than just a brief skate through Tony Hawk's past." -- Mat Paget [Full Review]

The Verge -- Unscored

"THPS1+2 both honors the legacy of the original games and updates it in smart ways. What made those first games so special is the care and attention they put into representing skate culture, whether it was the music, the clothing, or the gameplay itself. That’s all intact here, with all of the modern upgrades you’d expect, from realistic visuals to new music to online support." -- Andrew Webster [Full Review]

IGN -- 9

"Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is such a tremendous turnaround from 2015’s disastrously dismal Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 that it’s difficult to believe they share even a shred of DNA. The accessible yet tricky skating is earnest and old-school fun, the wonderful looking levels are lovingly designed odes to the past, and the music is like the hearty embrace of an old childhood buddy. It’s pretty easy to be cynical about how rapidly selling us our favourite games again became a central pillar of Activision’s business strategy, but when it’s this much fun I’m finding it impossible to be sour about it. It turns out going backwards has been the best step forward Activision has taken with the Tony Hawk series in nearly 15 years." -- Luke Reilly [Full Review]

Polygon -- Unscored (Recommended)

"After a few hours, I even got the same dull ache in the same parts of my hands, the parts that most other games don’t tax quite so severely as Tony Hawk’s games do. Everything I love about the original is still here; it’s just a little older, a little kinder, and a lot better looking." -- Ben Kuchera [Full Review]

GamesBeat -- 90

"For video games, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 still shows us what games are capable of. You’ll find sad dads in books. Movies will have equally moving stories. Music can show us that emotions are not necessarily tied to language. But only video games can re-create skateboarding." -- Jeff Grubb [Full Review]