Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #529 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: ACTIVISION
• Released on: 2007-11-02
• Platform: PLAYSTATION 3

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

Will THUG ever be beaten?
Since Tony Hawk's Underground 2, the series has just never been the same. Although I think Proving Ground is a slight improvement on Project 8 and American Wasteland, it is still miles behind the THUG series.

It has to be said that the graphics on this are pretty good, and the gameplay isn't bad at all, but the story and new tricks is what's letting this down. The "Nail a Trick and Grab" in my opinion is pretty hoepless and skating just doesn't seem to be fun anymore.

The map is certainly big enough and maybe a little too big. Challenges you come accross throughout the game are definetely what I would call HARD, and there are very few cutscenes, which I find brings a story together in a game, especially a Tony Hawk's one. You soon find yourself doing the same thing over and over agian, and it does get slightly tedious.

If you like to just casually skate anywhere, doing tricks and whatever, I would probably reccommed this, and for £15 it's one of the cheaper PS3 games out there. If, like me, you were a big fan of the THUG series then I wouldn't reccommed this, as it just ins't the same and not very fun anymore.

Looking Good
I played the demo a couple of days ago on a Xbox 360. However, the game story and gameplay will definatly be the same. I would get this game for PS3 as the controls are way easier on the PS3 controller because they put the left analog stick in the right place (I can only play Tony Hawk's game with the D-pad.

The graphics are amazing and the fetures such as nail the trick are looking better as now you can nail the grab and manual so you can keep a combo going in cool slo-mo.

The story looks definatly looks more promising than Project 8 as you can choose from 3 different ways to skate. Pro who goes for glory. Hardcore who just loves to skate and hit people who try and ruin the area (for skating). Rigger who can manipulate the environment and build his own pipes and rails to skate his own line.

I'm so impressed by this game I would by the PS3 just to play it (and also GTA 4). It's looking good but i would wait a few days after it comes out so you can find out what the game is truly like.

Remeber I've only played the demo but based on what i have seen I'd buy it no question.