Tony Hawk. If you can even spell the word skateboard you've heard of him. Not only one of the greatest skaters ever, but his name is also slapped on one of the most popular gaming series to ever hit the shelves. The latest offering is no exception. With a brand new story mode that will keep you playing late nights for months, goals that will challenge you till your fingers bleed, and some of the best graphics and controls to hit the GCN. Ladies and Gentlemen I proudly introduce to you, Tony Hawk: Underground.


The story mode has to be the greatest new feature. Starting out as a nameless kid from Jersey, you have to work your way up the skating ladder. Get sponsored by a Skate Shop, join tournaments, get signed by a big skating company like Element or Birdhouse, and make a name for yourself. All the while skating across massive cities and doing extremely varied goals. From spreading around flyers for skating parties, to helping security guards catch thieves. Sometimes you even get to challenge big names in skating like Rodney Mullen or Tony Hawk to a 1 on 1 battle. Does that sound hard to you? Yes, it is. Some goals will be easier than shooting fish in a barrel, others will take every virtual skating skill you've amassed since the first Tony Hawk game to complete. The fun just never ends.


The controls are great, and in a game like this controls are a crucial point. If it doesn't feel just right, it can throw the entire game off. Neversoft has never let down in this department, so no worries there. The graphics are as pretty as can be, showing a lot of spit and polish on Neversoft's part. There are literally thousands of combinations of skaters you can create. The GCN version did miss out on the "scan your face into the game" feature that the PS2 version did however. With massive customization features however, you can create a skater that looks extremely close to yourself.

The soundtrack is great, with punk rock offerings from NOFX and The Alkaline Trio, and even the legendary KISS appears in the playlist. THUG has the largest soundtrack of the series, it will take a while before you hear the same song twice. Nothing like jamming to some punk rock while you bail out on a million point combo. Good times people, Good times.


Your not just bound by your skateboard. At any time you can hop off your board and explore the massive cities on foot. Some goals even require you to reach areas on foot, or in other vehicles. Beat up old cars, ATV's, you never know what your gonna be in next. Don't worry though, plenty of skating to be had in this game. Lots of boards to unlock as well. Not to mention the ability to create your own decks. You can customize your skater down to the last thread of clothing.

I just have one burning question. Why did the GCN version miss out on some of the cooler features of the game? The PS2 version got downloadable content, online play, and a face scanning feature. The GCN version missed out on some of the icing for the cake. Don't get me wrong, I just can't say enough good stuff about THUG, but I'm really disappointed that Nintendo didn't hold Neversoft at gunpoint to get these features added in. But these are just the gripes of someone who has played Tony Hawk Underground non-stop for the past couple of days. Another complaint I have is the massive blisters your going to get playing this game for 12 hours a day.


So grab some drinks, order some pizza, and stock up on the bandages. Because after you pick up this great title, your not gonna be leaving the couch for a long, long time.