Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
In short: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is a sports game released in 1999 by Neversoft, available on PlayStation, N64 and Dreamcast. Our score: 9.5/10 (highly recommended).
An iconic skateboarding game that revolutionized the genre with its realistic physics, trick system, and licensed pro skaters. It offers a deep career mode and addictive free-skate exploration.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, released in 1999, is a seminal skateboarding video game developed by Neversoft and published by Activision. It single-handedly revolutionized the extreme sports genre, setting a new standard for arcade-style sports games. The game thrusts players into the shoes of legendary professional skateboarders, including the iconic Tony Hawk, as they shred through intricately designed environments. Its innovative control scheme allowed for a fluidity of movement and a dizzying array of tricks, combos, and grinds that felt both intuitive and deeply satisfying to master. The game's robust career mode challenges players to complete various objectives within time limits, unlocking new levels, skaters, and gear. Beyond the career, the free-skate mode offers endless opportunities to explore levels, find hidden areas, and perfect lines. A cornerstone of the game's appeal lies in its meticulously crafted level design, each offering unique challenges and opportunities for creative skateboarding. From the bustling streets of New York City to the abandoned warehouse, every environment is a playground waiting to be conquered. The game's physics engine, while arcade-like, provided a sense of weight and momentum that made landing tricks feel impactful and rewarding. The ability to link tricks into massive combos, chaining grinds with airs and manuals, became a defining characteristic of the series and a key to achieving high scores. The cultural impact of Tony Hawk's Pro Ska…
Game details
- Developer: Neversoft
- Publisher: Activision
- Release year: 1999
- Platforms: PlayStation, N64, Dreamcast
- Category: sports
Our review
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is a masterclass in arcade sports gaming. Its revolutionary trick system, intuitive controls, and addicting gameplay loops make it an absolute joy to play, even decades after its release. While the graphics might show their age, the core mechanics and level design remain timeless. The career mode provides ample challenges, and the pure fun of free-skating and chasing high scores is unparalleled. A must-play for anyone interested in gaming history or just pure, unadulterated fun.
Pros
- Revolutionary trick system
- Addictive gameplay
- Iconic soundtrack
- Excellent level design
- High replayability
Cons
- Graphics are dated
- Limited story mode
FAQ
- Is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater difficult for newcomers?
- While easy to pick up, mastering the advanced tricks and combo system takes practice. The game's intuitive controls make the learning curve enjoyable, and even beginners can have a blast relatively quickly.
- What platforms was Tony Hawk's Pro Skater originally released on?
- The game was originally released on PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Dreamcast in 1999, with later ports to other systems.
- Does the game have local multiplayer?
- Yes, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater features an excellent local split-screen multiplayer mode, allowing two players to compete in various challenges or free skate together.
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Last updated: 05/10/2026