Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1990 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: ACTIVISION
• Released on: 2007-11-02
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review

Tony Hawk is thirty-nine now and yet already nine of those years have been spent appearing in Activision’s yearly skateboarding sims. As such he has nothing at all to prove any more but in this game you do, as the series takes a turn away from the action adventure gameplay of previous titles and recalls the glory days of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. Not only does it include real world landmarks from the older game, such as FDR Skatepark and the Love Park, but it also sees the return of favourite features such as Create-a-Park.

In the main single player mode you create your own skater and then follow their entire skateboarding career in one of three classes: hardcore, rigger and career. Hardcore skaters aren’t interested in competitions or trophies, career skaters are and riggers prefer to invent tricks and layouts out of ordinary environments. The control system expands on the Nail the Trick concept from the last game, which essentially creates a kind of slow motion bullet time that zooms the camera in closer to your board. Proving Ground adds in Nail the Grab and Nail the Manual which work in a similar way. New moves include the turbo boosting Aggro Kick and Skate Checking, which basically amounts to knocking people out of the way. Like many new game at the moment the online community will allow you to upload videos of your endeavours as you attempt to prove you’re the best, at the best new Tony Hawk’s game for years.

Manufacturer's Description
In the largest and deepest Tony Hawk game yet, gamers are now in total control of their skating destiny in Tony Hawk's Proving Ground. Set in the streets of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., the title empowers players with the freedom to define their character, story and style based on the choices they make, the paths they select and the style of skating they want. The game delivers deeper customization than ever before, including a full-featured video editor to create epic skate videos and a completely customizable online Skate Lounge, where players can skate with friends in the ultimate pad. Gamers also have the freedom to skate from single player to online seamlessly. Tony Hawk's Proving Ground also features an arsenal of amazingly detailed Nail the Trick moves, and new gameplay mechanics like skateable terrain building and Bowl Carving to deliver the most personalized and immersive skating experience ever.

Customer Reviews

:]
After 8 other gmes, you might think the guys at neversoft would be running low on ideas, and it certainly shows in this game. Although the graphics and cut scenes have been improved, the game is basically the same as project 8. There is the addition of the new fature Nail The Grab, which has amazing graphics and extremely easy controls, if you have plaid project 8, which had nail the trick, its pretty much the same as that. Nail The Trick is also in this game. The point of this game is for you to choose your own way in life. Whether it be going into all the competitions and photo shoots "career" building you wn things to skate with "rigger" or skating for the hell of it "hardcore".

The storyline (i found) was extremely easy to complete and it only took me around 6 hours of gameplay.

There is a certain lack of realism in this game, as in busting ut 1.000.000 point combos is hardl real. It was fun untill th 9th game doing it.

But if you have played all the other games in the series, this won't be much of a challenge to you, but it is still a good game. But if you have never played games like this, you will struggle with the controls.

:] thanks

Just too difficult
Graphics, levels and control are all as good as any of the previous games, but the problem is with the difficulty that comes up.
The primary problem of previous games - the ease with which the game could be completed - has been turned on its head. Most of the goals are completable and are a fun challenge, but too many are nigh on impossible. The 'sick' level of completion is now most of the time beyond the reach of the skateboarder's skill, though this may be corrected by going through the game and coming back to goals. The biggest example is in the classic mode goals, to achieve sick level of which you have to complete all 10 goals in one two minute run. While this is pheasible in the first couple of levels, the scores become too high and renders the game stupid. There has also been no effort to revive the ailing create-a-skater of project 8, and I'm a bit dissapointed with that.
That is not to say it isn't worth buying, it still has plenty of challenge and the levels feel bigger than before, though not as individual and memorable.

I want the zombies back.

One for die-hard Tony Hawk's fans only
Let me start by saying that I have 7 of the previous Tony Hawk titles and unfortunately this game is probably one of the weaker in the series. Although the graphics are impressive and the handling of the board feels pretty realistic, the game play lets this title down. On the plus side, there are a few new additions from previous games - like the new skater style game play in which each task either develops your Hardcore, Rigger or Career skater style. This is not half as much fun as it sounds and Rigger in particular, where you have to place and trick off your own quarter-pipes and rails etc just gets annoying!
Then there's the problem of realism. One minute you'll be admiring the superbly realistic graphics but the next you'll be collecting imaginary balls by tricking on various objects - the game just can't decide whether to stay true to skating or be a more fun, relaxed title.
Finally there's the game's biggest flaw - the difficulty! It's just all very inconsistent - some goals are simple even for newbie's to the TH games and others seem very near impossible what with gravity and everything!
All-in-all, if you're a die-hard TH fan then give it a go, otherwise try a more user-friendly, and frankly more fun, earlier title in the series.