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Tony Hawk's American Wasteland 
Release date: 19 Oct 2005
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Mygamer review
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There's always that feel-good nostalgic tingle when a series returns to its roots. Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland gives a tingle all over. The Tony Hawk series has been refocused on the very thing that made it a hit in the first place, the skating. This return of the old is skillfully coupled with new features. Some of these features were not pulled off as well as expected, but there are just the right improvements to make Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland the best in the Tony Hawk series.
One of the most recognizable changes is the game’s increased focus on skating. That may sound a little strange considering that it is a skating game, but past games in the series, most notably THUG and its sequel, have focused more on causing mayhem. THUG fans need not worry, because there is still plenty of destruction to be had, but it better utilizes the vast range of skating skills. Nearly every mission revolves around some kind of skating task; learning new tricks, getting big air, and completing huge combos. I can only remember two missions that did not involve throwing down the biggest and best tricks in your arsenal.
Learning the huge array of tricks can seem daunting, but THAW’s learning curve is just fantastic. The game’s three difficulty settings can offer a challenge for the most hardened Tony Hawk veterans, and still let those that have never played learn without feeling overwhelmed. Every mission is a natural progression from the last, making the game feel like a single fluid experience.
This felling of fluidity is a big selling point for THAW’s developers. The game boasts no loading screens, ever. Pretty cool huh? That turned out to not be completely true. Yes, players never need to leave the truly massive Los Angeles skating world during story mode, but the world is made up of four smaller sections connected with, what has been dubbed by some, loading tunnels. These loading tunnels are small pathways between sections that offer plenty of ledges and pipes to grind, and a few jumps as well. Yes, the loading tunnels give player something to do between larger sections, and they do a good job of keeping players engaged. But it is not exactly what everyone might imagine when they hear about no loading screens.
The story mode has everything a good skating game should; a huge environment filled to the brim with things to skate on, plenty of missions, plenty of destruction, and appearances by some skating legends. The story begins in classic, angst-ridden fashion. The main character has left a home where no one understands him, and has come to Los Angeles to skate where all the pros started. Thankfully the game quickly sheds the traces of drama and gets down to a fun, skate filled storyline. Once players have gained some skills and proven themselves to various groups around town they are invited to the Skate Ranch. The Skate Ranch resembles a landfill more than a skate park. Much of the game revolves around building up the Skate Ranch to be the best skate park ever. Players will use their skills to get the pieces for the park from all over town; a large piece of asphalt ripped from the street, an entire fire escape off the side of building, and a huge dinosaur head. Player will get to meet a veritable cast of skating all-stars. Players will be tested by the likes of Tony Hawk, Daewon Song, Stevie Williams, Tony Trujillo, Tony Alva, and more.
Outside of the star-studded appearances, players can make their own kick-ass skater. The Create-a-Skater feature in THAW differs from previous Tony Hawk games. The game’s main menu has the traditional Create-a-Skater mode, but the character created there cannot be taken into the game’s main story mode. When players begin the story mode they must pick between five basic characters. Those characters are just a basis for customization once in the game, as the many stores throughout LA can hook players up with new clothes, skating accessories, and tattoos. Essentially, the story mode has its own, less extensive, Create-a-Skater feature.
Custom skaters created outside of the story mode can be used in all other game modes, including online play. Classic Mode is perhaps the most interesting. It allows players to play levels from previous Tony Hawk games, especially Pro Skater. For those that miss the challenge of the old timed levels like collecting COMBO, and keeping an eye out for the elusive secret tape, Classic mode delivers. But it is left feeling small and unpolished in comparison to the broad and exciting Story mode that players will spend most of their time in. Free Skate and High Score modes do not add much except a high score challenge and ranking system, though Free Skate does allow players to skate Classic mode levels without a time limit. Online and two-player modes allow players to take their custom skaters into head to head action with games like; Capture the Flag, King of the Hill, Score Challenge, Combo Mambo, and more.
THAW also features other Create-a modes. Players can design their own graffiti tags, and bomb the city from top to bottom. Creating graffiti is easy and expansive, which allows for a large level of personalization in both graphics and text. Players will also have access to the compulsory Create-a-Park mode, where your wildest skate park fantasies can come true. Players can also create their own tricks with the simple to use trick editor.
Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland is the best reinvention of the Tony Hawk franchise to date. The game makes skating fun to learn and addictive like you cannot imagine. The exciting and fun storyline draws players in and wont let go. The massive and mostly seamless environment is filled with innovative skating platforms. The game is packed with content, some of it lackluster but the rest utterly enjoyable. And gamers can pick up THAW in a Collectors Edition that has some pretty cool exclusive extras like a making-of documentary and secret characters and levels.
Die hard Tony Hawk fans need to get their hands on this one! Those new to the Tony Hawk world -- need to get their hands on this one! Neither will regret it.
Review by Jay Jenkins on 30 Oct 2005
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