Tony Hawk Underground (Platinum) for PlayStation 2

Tony Hawk's Underground(a.k.a. T.H.U.G.)? Is it true? Can you really create a skater and use him in a Story Mode? Can you really create a trick? What about a deck graphic? YES! It's all true. Brand new features have entered the world of Tony Hawk video skateboarding. Many people have heard from their friends that T.H.U.G isn't what people say. If you've heard something bad about T.H.U.G, don't believe it. The graphics have stayed consistent since the last Tony Hawk, and sound has improved.

New features include Story Mode, where you create a skater, and "star" him in a game where you have to make your way to the top from skate punk, to top pro. You are friends with a guy named Eric Sparrow, who ends up "stabbing you in the back" later in the game. The goals in the game are different from THPS4. It is the same because you can go up to somebody and talk to them, but they don't tell you to do the same old "Collect S-K-A-T-E" mission. It's different. There are now missions where you can drive a car, and walk instead of skate.

Tired of all those old deck graphics? Me too! A new feature includes create-a-deck. Here you can design your very own deck graphic. You can choose pictures for your layer, tiled layer, and 4 different pictures. Don't want a picture? You can also choose from letters too. Another new feature includes Create-A-Trick. Here you can design your very own special, grab, grind, lip, of flip trick. You can choose an original trick from the game and add to it. You can change the duration,how fast your skater performs the trick, and how many tricks he does in one. You can choose up to six.

The graphics in this game have pretty much stayed the same since the last Tony Hawk game (THPS4). There have been a few new add ons. Sometimes, after you complete a goal, there are short cut scenes where you see your skater talking to someone or you can watch something. Now, mouths move when skaters talk during cut scenes, or mission briefing. Many things have been added to make the picture more realistic than ever. There are about 3 new skaters in this game. New and more realistic details have been added to the skaters previously there since the beginning.

The sound has changed too. Obviously, the music is new and improved. You can choose what you want to listen to by choosing what you want on your playlist. There are three categories of music: punk, rock, and rap/hip-hop. Also, while you skate, the sound has changed a lot too. It now sound like a real skate sound when you grind, or land a trick, or perform a trick.


All in all, T.H.U.G. is the best Tony Hawk game ever. It could be the best skateboard game ever. With its brand new features, I'll say that you'll play this game as long as you can without stopping, until you wear the disk out.