Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (Game Boy Advance)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 4.5 stars Outstanding
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 9.3 (4.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Jeff Gerstmann
• Reviewed on: 06/06/2001
• Updated on: 05/17/2006
• Released on: 05/30/2001
• Originally published on GameSpot: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (Game Boy Advance) Review

Portable ports of console games typically don't capture much of the original game's experience. Most developers focus on duplicating one or two key aspects of the original game and freestyle the rest, resulting in a pretty hit-and-miss marketplace. If Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 for the Game Boy Advance is an indication of things to come on Nintendo's new handheld, then the portable port market is in for a much-needed change. The development team at Vicarious Visions has captured the essence of THPS2 and, outside of a few necessary changes, has delivered most of what made the console versions of Tony Hawk 2 such classics. The result is nothing short of the best portable skateboarding game ever made.

The Game Boy Advance version of Tony Hawk 2 delivers the same single-player modes that were contained in the original. The game's main mode is a career mode, in which you pick one of several pro skaters, including Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Chad Muska, and a host of others. Different skaters have different sets of normal tricks, which, unlike the console versions, can't be altered by purchasing other basic tricks. Career mode starts you out with one open level and basic stats. Each level has a collection of 10 goals, and completing goals earns money, which unlocks levels and lets you upgrade your stats and purchase new special tricks. The goals are fairly standard from level to level, though each has a few unique goals as well. Each level has three score-based goals, two collection goals (collecting the letters to spell "skate" or picking up five items, like subway tokens or paint cans), a hidden video tape to grab, one goal for completing the nine other goals and collecting all the bonus cash laying around the level, and three level-specific goals. Some of the unique level goals include smashing a collection of crates, grinding a set of three rails, and finding three ways to do tricks involving a giant statue of a blue cow. Experienced Tony Hawk players should be able to complete every goal in around six hours, depending on how quickly you adjust to the game's isometric perspective. The game controls quite well--it defaults to B and A for jumping and grinds respectively, and you can use the L and R triggers for kick and grab tricks. If you can't get used to the defaults--which can take a couple of hours, depending on how quickly you can adapt--you can set the buttons to your liking.

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