|
The little brother of the next-generation versions. Project 8 reminds me a lot of THPS 3 on PlayStation. By then the series had pushed forward to the PlayStation 2 and THPS 3 tried to incorporate as many of the next-generation features as possible with the PlayStation hardware. Project 8, on current-generation consoles, retains the solid gameplay that the Tony Hawk series is known for while incorporating some of the new additions like “nail the trick” and focus mode. As expected, some of the other features—namely motion capture and the streaming world—didn’t make the cut on the current generation consoles.
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, the game gives you skill points to improve your character. It works but it would have been nice to use the automatic system found in the next-gen version.
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. These features were introduced in the next-generation version of the game and it’s nice to see that Shaba Games incorporated it into the current-generation consoles. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of the motion capture system. Project 8, on current-generation consoles, uses the same animation system as the previous games, which still looks good but not great.
On the Xbox, the game has support for two-player split-screen mode. You’ll find the typical Tony Hawk modes here like Trick Attack, Graffiti, Horse and Free Skate. Compared to the next-gen version, Shaba Games cut a few modes like Walls where pulling off tricks causes walls to come up from the ground and crashing into these walls means game over. Inexplicably the game does not have an online multiplayer component. The Tony Hawk games have had online support since Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 on PS2 and last year’s American Wasteland supported online multiplayer on the Xbox.
Project 8’s graphics are similar to the current-generation Tony Hawk games. The skater models are solid and the animation system is good despite having the quirks associated with the Tony Hawk games. The environments share a similar level to detail. The game has you skating around in a number of urban and suburban areas but unlike the next-generation versions, it isn’t one huge streaming world. The game does support 480p and progressive scan.
The game’s audio is great, and strikingly similar to the next-generation version. 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 good port of the next-generation version. It keeps the solid gameplay and manages to introduce “nail the trick” and focus mode to the mix. As expected there are some concessions. The graphics are noticeably worse, the motion capture animation system is gone, the streaming world is gone, and inexplicably the online multiplayer is gone, too (even on Xbox!). If you own an Xbox 360 (or are getting a PS3) there is no reason to get Project 8 on current-gen consoles. With that said, Project 8 is as good as skating can be for the Playstation 2 or Xbox.
-- Jose Liz & -- Adam Nunez, PGNx Media
---- Nov 8, 2006
|
