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The series’ true next-generation debut is impressive indeed. The Tony Hawk franchise gave rise to extreme sports games, but managed to outlive them all. With each passing iteration, Neversoft has been able to change things just enough to make the game compelling to long-time fans while retaining the top-notch gameplay that the series is known for. Expectedly, that got harder as the series matured. Tony Hawk’s Project 8 is a huge step forward for the series and reinvigorates it for the next-generation.
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 takes a step back from the story-focused Tony Hawk’s Underground, its sequel, and American Wasteland. The game does have a diminutive storyline that involves Tony Hawk looking for the best 8 amateurs to assemble a team. Coincidentally, this happens to be the 8th Tony Hawk game. This means that you start as a no-name skater, pull off some moves to earn a #200 rank, and eventually move your way into the top eight and ultimately to the number one spot. Although Tony Hawk is front-and-center in the story, you’ll find other pro skaters like Bam Margera, Paul Rodriguez, Jr., Bob Burnquist and even Ryan Sheckler. Aside from the career mode, you’ll find free skate and creater-a-skater modes.
To make it into the top eight you’ll have to show that you have what it takes. The game has spot challenges which require that you pull off a certain move in a given location. These challenges are automatically begun when you execute the required move near the location that the challenge takes place in. You’ll also find puzzle challenges, which give you a start point and end point and task you with arranging set pieces in order to link a combo for the entire duration. The game also has bail challenges which require you to accumulate insane hospital bills by having insane bails. You’ll also find classic 2-minute goals similar to the first few games incorporated right into the game. Each of the game’s challenges has an amateur, pro, and sick ranking. Achieving the amateur ranking for a challenge won’t be very hard, but pulling off the challenge and earning a sick will test even the Tony Hawk faithful. As you pull off these tricks, your stats increase allowing you to complete more difficult moves.
As expected in the Tony Hawk franchise, the game introduces some new gameplay mechanics. Project 8 introduces “nail the trick,” by way of special “nail the trick” challenges or simply hitting both sticks while in the air. In this mode, you enter a slowed down mode where the camera focuses on your feet and the skateboard. Each stick controls a foot and hitting the sticks in different directions kicks the board differently. You have to time each kick carefully to continue linking the combo. The game also introduces a focus mode which also slows down time but lets you pull off the standard Tony Hawk moves. Having more time to plan out your moves is a huge advantage and mastering focus mode will do wonders for your high score. Every move in the game looks great and links up perfectly.
A big part of the game’s fluidity is due to the new use of motion capture. Neversoft actually built a motion capture studio in their development studio and had the game’s pro skaters come in to record their special moves. Even the board was motion captured during this time period so you’ll notice that it moves around with uncanny realism as you execute the various moves. While the animation system in the past was great—and one of the series’ top selling points—it pales in comparison to the realism provided by the mo-cap. The mo-cap animations are beautifully linked together resulting in a cohesive skating experience.
As expected the game includes Xbox Live support for up to eight players. The multiplayer modes include Trick Attack, Graffiti, Score Challenge, Combo Challenge, Combo Mambo and Walls (where pulling off tricks causes walls to come up from the ground and crashing into these walls is game over). The game has online support for “nail the trick” but not focus mode. Multiplayer works well over Xbox Live thanks to the lobby system. Any of the game’s areas can be chosen as a lobby where people can free skate in between actual matches. The game also supports split-screen multiplayer for up to two players. While not quite as impressive as playing online (“nail the trick” is gone, for instance) it’s still quite fun.
Project 8 is easily the best looking Tony Hawk game to date. The skater models are stunningly realistic thanks to the face scanning technology that Neversoft incorporated. As I mentioned above, the animation system is nearly perfect, linking every move together with great smoothness. The environments share a similar level to detail. The game has you skating around in a number of urban and suburban areas, all of which are interesting locations. Project 8 takes place in a sizeable city and every portion of it is available for your exploration. No load times, no tunnels, you just have to skate there. Technically, Project 8 looks even better when played in high-definition but the graphical update is readily apparent in SDTV too.
The game’s audio is just as good. The sound effects are as amazing as always and you’ll even notice that the skating sounds change depending on which surface you’re skating over. The varied soundtrack includes over 50 songs so you’re bound to find something you like.
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 is a great next-generation debut from the Tony Hawk franchise. The presentation is stellar, the focus on gameplay is appreciated, and the new gameplay features like the “nail the trick” mode make this easily the best Tony Hawk game to date. It’s perfect whether you’re a longtime fan who was wondering how the series would continue or if you’re new and want to give it a try. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Nov 8, 2006
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