Yesterday, legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk celebrated his birthday, but his present was one he excitedly shared with fans all around the world! The skater was thrilled to announce that Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2, two beloved entries in his famous, long-running game series, were getting a combined remaster in the form of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2.
#THPS is back! Original maps, original skaters, and songs from the original soundtrack… plus new features. Thanks to all the fans of our series for keeping this dream alive. https://t.co/uqEeD0kjWc
— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) May 12, 2020
News regarding the project slowly trickled out throughout the day. First, Hawk sent a message to fans who had signed up for his texting service, indicating that a Pro Skater-related update was coming later in the day. A few hours later, the official Twitter announcement arrived, followed shortly after that by an action-filled reveal trailer.
https://twitter.com/Nibellion/status/1260228966893453317
The game is scheduled to release on September 4, 2020. It will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (via the Epic Games Store). The remaster was handled by Vicarious Visions, which was also responsible for the well-received remaster of many other fellow classic PlayStation titles, including the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy.
The remastered edition of these two classic Pro Skater titles will feature the complete lineup of skaters from the original versions. Play as Eric Koston, Bob Burnquist, Elissa Steamer, and more (including Hawk himself, of course!) as you challenge exciting parks and ramps and learn to master each skater’s unique individual move. Perhaps you’ll even be able to pull off Tony’s very own legendary 900!
In addition to the skaters themselves, all levels from the original titles will also be returning. The original Tony Hawk Pro Skater was a landmark title for the PlayStation, becoming one of the first games to demonstrate the console’s capability for stunning 3D graphics truly. Already, the trailer alone shows off that the remastered versions of these levels have remained faithful to the original’s truly revolutionary status, making the most of cutting-edge 4K quality.
A question which many fans immediately had was whether or not Pro Skater 1 and 2’s legendary soundtracks would also be returning. While it’s not yet sure if every single track will be returning, due to the genuine possibility of licensing issues, the answer is definitely “yes.”
Simon Ebejer, the COO of Vicarious Visions, announced that the studio was able to obtain the licenses for the “vast majority” of the original games’ songs. So far, the trailer — set to the fan-favorite track “Police Truck” by the Dead Kennedys — mentions several returning artists, including Papa Roach, Naughty by Nature, Goldfinger, Rage Against the Machine, and more.
But faithfulness to the original classics isn’t the only thing to look forward to in the upcoming remaster. Tricks and styles introduced in later Pro Skater titles, including Lip Tricks, Wall Plant, and the beloved Revert, will be coming to Pro Skater 1 and Pro Skater 2 for the very first time.
Vicarious Visions has also confirmed that the Create-a-Skater and Create-a-Park modes have been revamped, allowing for total customization of both your playable character and private park. Use the in-game editing suite to create the skate park of your dreams – and then head online to share it with all your friends! Both online and local multiplayer modes – brand new to the remaster – will make sharing your skate park even more fun than ever before.
Also, Ebejer has confirmed that Vicarious Visions has focused on creating a seamless play experience that allows gamers to enjoy both games without feeling like they are “starting over from scratch” after completing Pro Skater 1 and moving on to Pro Skater 2. It remains to be seen precisely how Vicarious has melded the two games together into one singular skating experience, but it promises to be lots of fun!
The remaster’s announcement was more than just a celebration of Tony Hawk’s birthday — it was something that fans of the series have been waiting for for many years. After 2015’s Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 received poor reception due to weak, un-challenging levels, boring, ugly design choices, and an abundance of technical glitches. It received several “Worst Game of the Year” ‘awards’ and remains to this day one of the lowest-rated titles for both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Could this remaster be what is needed to revitalize the series? It remains to be seen — but, as of right now, there’s quite a lot to be hopeful about. Tony Hawk himself seems beyond excited, so that’s a good sign!
Preorders for digital versions of the game are currently available, with physical preorders expecting to begin soon. A Collector’s Edition, in addition to exclusive digital content, also comes with a full-size Birdhouse skateboard deck autographed by Tony Hawk himself. Fans who preorder the game will get access to the Warehouse Demo when it becomes available (official release date for the demo has not yet been announced).
Do you share Tony Hawks’ excitement for the Pro Skater 1 and 2 remaster? Do you think it will bring the series back from disaster after the unfortunate experience of Pro Skater 5? What do you think about Hawk deciding to make the initial announcement via text message? Let us know!
