Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2: Release Date, Trailer, Gameplay, and News

The first two games in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series are finally getting the remake they deserve.

Tony Hawk
Photo: Activision

After what feels like years of rumors, we can finally confirm that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 are being remade by developer Vicarious Visions (Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy).

The remakes of these classic titles will be bundled together as part of a collection that is set to be released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC via the Epic Games Store on September 4, 2020. Those who pre-order the title will be able to access a special demo of the infamous Warehouse level from the first game.

While some close to this project are referring to the collection as a remaster, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 will enjoy complete visual overhauls that seem to bring these games much closer to “remake” status. Not only are they being redesigned with a new graphics engine, but certain elements of classic levels are being visually reimagined. Having said that, Vicarious Visions promises they’re honoring your memories of the original levels.

“We wanted to match inch by inch the geometry [of the levels] so that those lines feel exactly the same that they were before,” says Vicarious Visions studio head Jen Oneal in an interview with IGN. “But all the assets, everything on top of [Neversoft’s handling code] is all original stuff.”

Ad – content continues below

What’s even more interesting is that this collection will slightly tweak the gameplay of the first two THPS titles. Vicarious Visions has noted that they are adding some of the refinements and abilities found in the later games in the series to this remaster of the original two THPS games. For instance, you’ll be able to pull off a revert in both games (a move that didn’t appear until Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3) and you’ll even be able to perform some tricks from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 and other entries in the series.

This collection will also incorporate analog control options as well as allow you to utilize the classic D-pad control scheme of the original installments. Generally speaking, it sounds like Vicarious Visions wants to retain the feeling of the original games while incorporating certain modern sensibilities.

One thing that thankfully won’t change too much are the original soundtracks. While Vicarious says they couldn’t acquire the rights to certain songs, other soundtrack staples such as Superman and Guerrilla Radio will thankfully be heard in the game. Additional features being added to this collection include local and online multiplayer options as well as a Create a Park feature that also benefits from online capabilities.

Needless to say, this is an exciting reveal. Yes, there’s a nostalgia factor at play here, but the first two Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater titles have held up remarkably well over the years from a gameplay perspective. There are no modern titles that really offer what they offer, so this is certainly a case of a franchise that deserves to be revived in order to fill a gap in the gaming industry.