Is the Series Going Downhill?

Tony Hawk is the undisputed lord of the virtual skateboard park. Though nearly a dozen games have been released bearing Tony Hawk’s name, my experience with actually playing the games is limited to a few brief encounters at a friend’s house. In short, I don’t know an olly from a nosegrind, and none of the many incarnations of the series have enticed me enough to learn. Then Mr. Hawk surprised me.

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Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam is one of the few times this series has taken the gameplay in a new direction. There are still tricks and missions to accomplish, but this time they have taken out the free-roaming skate park and replaced it with a straightforward run from starting point to finish line. This makes for a much faster and exciting experience as your tricks don’t always take you back and forth like a see-saw. Every move propels you forward, and what’s ahead isn’t always predictable.

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The game functions similar to snowboarding games such as SSX: Tricky. You start on top a hill in one of six locations from around the world. As you pull off tricks and combos, you build up a boost gauge that you can use for a quick jolt of speed and to reach impossible heights with your jumps. Each location offers nine different challenges. Some are pure and simple races. Other times you’ll have to collect markers or perform certain tricks within a time limit. Often, style is rated more highly than speed, so even if you don’t cross the finish line first, you can still win if you looked good while doing it. Occasionally you’ll come across a mission that frustrates you to tears, but not to worry; you don’t need to complete every mission to advance, just two-thirds of them. So even though I can’t pull off a 720 Melon in Rio, as long as I can grind for 3,000 meters, I’ll still get be able to advance to Hoover Dam.

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The biggest problem with gameplay is that it is not always clear what is considered out of bounds. While you are encouraged to explore different routs and find shortcuts, sometimes where the game doesn’t want you to go seems arbitrary. If you’re not supposed to go somewhere, I would much rather there be a wall blocking me, rather than being sent back for touching a piece of grass that I was supposed to stay off.

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One thing I’m glad to see that was kept from the original games is character customization. When you create a new file on the game, you’ll be able to create your own custom skater and board. There are easily enough options for that you will likely never see another character like your own. And the DS touch screen makes designing custom patterns for your clothing and boards easy. Your skater will start off will minimal stats, but by defeating challenges you’ll be given special missions that will allow you to increase the stats of your choosing.

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All this customization is especially appreciated because using a Wi-Fi connection you can compete with up to three opponents from your friends list or around the world and show off your awesome avatar. Wi-Fi adds infinite longevity to the game, not only because of the multiplayer, but because there are new challenges to download every week. High scorers are even posted for all to see and gaze at in awe.

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I’m also glad that the music selections are also on par with the console versions’. Motorhead and other punk/metal bands give a refreshingly real sound to a portable. Voiceovers are similarly good to hear, though some repeated lines can get your nerves after a while. The graphics on the other hand are blocky but it’s not so bad as to cause a problem. If you can grind on it, jump off it, or knock it over, it’s easy to tell, even from a distance. Short, semi-animated cut scenes give you some silly, though mildly entertaining breaks between locations. The art style is simple and cheesy, as is the story it tells, but still manages to give some purpose to what you’re doing.

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Controlling a game like Tony Hawk has never been easy for me, but that’s because there are so many tricks and variations of moves that it’s overwhelming at first. The learning curve can be tough. It takes a lot of patience to withstand falling all the time, but trust me; play the game for a week and one day you’ll just start racking up multi-million point moves without thinking about it. The only awkward thing about the controls is how they tried to incorporate the touch screen. Special moves can be set up to go off with a touch of a flaming skull on the touch screen. However, while swerving though turns and trying to stay on your board (and ahead of the pack), letting go of one hand to reach the touch screen (even for a moment) can lead to tragedy. It’s nice to see Activision trying to incorporate the touch screen, but I think they could have done something better.

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While I can’t say Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam has turned me on to skateboard games in general, it’s a fun game and worth the investment of anyone who has or hasn’t played one before. The learning curve can be an obstacle to enjoying it fully, but give it a little time and play it on easy first as the tutorials gradually teach you everything you need to know. If you don’t have Wi-Fi yet, this game makes a great reason to get it. Veterans of the series may not like the different format of Downhill Jam, but it will certainly provide them with competition for a long time.