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Shaba Studios brings Tony Hawk to the PSP and the results are incredible. THUG 2 Remix for PSP is a pretty close port of the PSP version of last year’s multiplatform title. That game, the sixth game in the Tony Hawk series, included only mild changes to the already great gameplay. This remains true in THUG 2 Remix. However, Activision took the time between THUG 2 and this Remix and added four additional levels, making the single player even better.
Like THUG before it, THUG 2 tries to make a story out of its skating gameplay. In the game, you’ll need to pick team Tony Hawk or team Bam. Along the way, the game, via cutscenes, reveals a bit more about the rivalry of these two guys.
In the Story Mode, you’ll once again create a character and have to accomplish an assortment of goals while being helped by very random characters including Phil Margera, Wee Man, Steve-O and Ben Franklin who will give you additional goals. You’ll need to accomplish a certain amount of goals to the get the required amount of points needed to move on. New to the PSP version are four levels not included in the console versions. Atlanta, Kyoto, Las Vegas, and Santa Cruz have been worked into the story, and overall, the additions fit in wonderfully.
THUG 2 Remix also includes THUG 2’s “Classic Mode,” which is a throwback to the gameplay style of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 to 3. In Classic Mode, you’ll once again have the two-minute timer and will have to complete certain objectives in that time period. Classic Mode includes many levels from THUG 2’s story mode but you’ll also be able to play in a number of classic levels from the first few Tony Hawk games.
THUG 2 was criticized for not bringing any major changes to the actual gameplay. That remains true of THUS 2 Remix, but nonetheless you’ll find a vertical wall plant and a nata spin (which allows you to spin on top of objects like trash cans and a sticker slap (used to continue a combo) but nothing too different. You’ll also be able to pull off a tantrum move when you bail so you can begin after a fall with a few points to begin a combo, spray graffiti, which is required in some levels and enter a slow-mo focus mode, as well. THUG 2 Remix takes some getting used to in terms of controls because of the lack of shoulder buttons, and the analog nub’s inaccuracy (when compared to the PS2’s analog sticks), but Shaba Studios did a great job porting the controls given the hardware.
Like previous Tony Hawk games, THUG allows you to create skaters (which is actually a predicate for story mode), parks, and graphics which you can then import into decks, among other things. The PSP version, like its PS2 big brother, lets you use a JPG from your memory stick as a face texture (think the EyeToy functionality of the PS2 version).
THUG 2 Remix supports four-player local wireless multiplayer on the PSP. You’ll find the series’ gameplay mode staples like capture the flag, trick attack, king of the hill, graffiti and more like slap, score challenge, combo mambo and firefight. New this year is a scavenger mode where players, including you, hide coins in a level and then everyone runs around trying to find these coins. The person that has the most coins at the end of the time wins. Additionally, Neversoft added an elimiskate mode where the player with the lowest amount of points is eliminated until one remains. True online multiplayer is not included, however.
The game’s visuals are incredible for a handheld; Shaba Studios was able to accurately port the PS2 version of the game. Like the PS2 version, the environments are large and pretty detailed, and they all certainly have their own unique little charm. The character models are respectable and animate fluidly, a landmark of the Tony Hawk series. The cutscenes in this version are more cartoon-like than previous games but do fit the crazy story rather well. There are a few differences between the PS2 and PSP versions though. Most notably, the textures are blurrier on the PSP, and some 3D objects (like fences) have been reduced to 2D textures. This is something you really need to be looking for though, which is a testament to the PSP’s technical ability.
THUG 2’s sound effects vividly show the many sounds of skating very well. The soundtrack is most impressive with 53 songs from Metallica to Sugarhill Gang and all the way to Frank Sinatra. For a list of all of the game’s songs visit this news story. The game allows you to turn off songs which aren’t to your liking so you don’t have to listen to any song you don’t want to. Unfortunately, most of the voice acting from the PS2 version has been cut to fit the game from a DVD to a UMD. It is noticeable and bothersome at first, but not really disappointment.
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix is a great port of a great game. The game’s gameplay remains strong on the PSP. The four new levels, graphical fidelity, and wireless multiplayer make this PSP remix worthy of purchase, particularly if you skipped over THUG 2 last year. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Mar 24, 2005
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