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The second “real” Tony Hawk game on the Nintendo DS is still a bag of fun. Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground doesn’t drastically change the series nor does it provide it attempt to revolutionize it. Activision and Vicarious Visions have approached Proving Ground on the Nintendo DS much like they approached the other versions: simply deliver a great game.
On the DS, Proving Ground’s story is loosely based on the other consoles. Whereas the other consoles have you choosing between being a Career, Hardcore or Rigger skater, on the DS you’ll simply have to choose between the first two. As expected, the Career skater wants to build an empire and get as much camera time as possible while the hardcore skater simply cares about nailing the best tricks. The story doesn’t play as vital role here as it does on consoles, but it does manage to string everything together very well.
In terms of gameplay, Proving Ground doesn’t do a whole lot differently. The game still has the structure introduced in Project 8, where every task can be unlocked for Amateur, Pro and Sick rankings. As expected, the higher the ranking, the more demanding the task will be. Completing the tasks in higher rankings gives you more money, which you can use to get additional objects in the Skater’s lounge. The game includes a Gesture Trick system that lets you use the touch screen to execute moves, although this ends up being a bit of a gimmick. The Aggro Kick, which gives you a landing boost if timed correctly, makes an appearance here after debuting with the console versions.
The game’s multiplayer mode has been fleshed out during the years. There are a number of online challenges including rather interesting ones like Balloon Burst, in addition to the standard competitions. The game includes many leaderboards and the ability to exchange clothes, walls and boards with other players online. Interestingly, the game also includes Voice Chat over Nintendo’s Wi-Fi Connection.
This time around, Vicarious Visions dumped the pseudo cel-shading of the last two Tony Hawk games on the DS in favor of more realistic textures. This has resulted in a look that more closely resembles the console versions of the game. The levels look a lot better this time around and you’ll take pleasure in skating around Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The stages are also considerably larger than they were in Sk8land, which was very impressive for a DS game. The character models don’t look quite as hot without the cel-shading, but the animation and 60 frames per second guarantee keep the game looking sharp. In terms of audio, Proving Ground rocks some solid licensed songs that fit in wit the game nicely.
Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground is a solid complement to the console versions and the best Tony Hawk game on the Nintendo DS. Sure, you’re not getting the Rigger Editor or Video Editor, but you do get to skate around in three cities with fundamentally fun gameplay. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Oct 22, 2007
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