[Update: On August 25, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2's launch trailer released, which can watched below:]
Don't look now, but the aughts are back in gaming, and forces of nostalgia are strong, and the big sales of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro had Activision ready to get back into the skateboarding business. Now, after a long wait, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is just around the next bend.
Since announcing the game's existence, Activision has gone on a full-on media-blitz trying to remind people why the original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was such a hit. This is partially the studio doing damage control after they released Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 several years ago. That was an abysmal contract-fulfilling video game that felt like it shipped half-finished, but many have forgotten it in the intervening years and still yearn for a return to the classic. Those that bought a burrito and got into the demo early seem to be pleased with the offering, and the rest of the gaming populace will them in just a couple of weeks.
To keep the hype train moving, Activision has released a new launch trailer for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2. It features a summary of all the features previously announced, including classic parks, a roster of both returning and new pro skaters, an ambitious track editor, the soundtrack we all , and an online multiplayer suite featuring classic modes from the original games. There are also a few shots showing improvements in classic elements of stages from the past. The bull circling around his arena from Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 and the alien in Roswell make memorable cameos.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 is launching on September 4, 2020, with versions for both modern console and a PC release on the Epic Game Store. The original games released at a time where a PC port of a console game was not only unexpected, it was often a buggy mess that wasn't worth dealing with. Considering the fun some modders have had with PC releases of later games (specifically the Tony Hawk's Underground Pro project), fans should be eager to see what new madness they can bring to this new rendition of the original classics.
The launch trailer for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 offers a great comparison shot between the PlayStation originals and the modern glitz and glamour of today's graphics. Where there was once suggestion and blurred textures, there is now no detail left unrendered. It truly looks impressive, continuing Activision's unlikely roll of treating these gaming giants with the respect they deserve. There are plenty of games veteran fans would love to see rebooted in the same way from Activision's more distant past, but there aren't many people who will complain about Tony Hawk coming back in full force. Let's just not remake the swift decline into off the board action this time around.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 4, 2020.
Source: YouTube