Tony Hawk's Underground

2025-09-27
20 years ago I'd tell you the same thing I'll tell you now: Underground is the Tony Hawk series at its apex. The pure arcade-y version of Tony Hawk peaked with 2 but even it only managed to capture the feel of real skateboarding about as much as Punch Out captures what it's like to fight Mike Tyson. And while it was fun, THPS2's gameplay of choosing famous skateboarders from a menu, being plopped in a relatively small arenas, and given little tasks to complete on a timer is about as antithetical to an experience I had or would want to have on an actual skateboard as one could imagine. Along comes Underground and not only does it replace the little "levels" with full blown PS2-ass towns, not only does it do away with timers and let you just fuck around as you wish, but it gives us a story. Not just "a story" but the skater story of the dream any kid who grew up skating had at one point or another: the rags to riches story of a kid who just wants to get sponsored to the kid who goes pro and has their own label and name everywhere.

There's endlessly fun choices. Yes the soundtrack with way more hip-hop rules. Yes starting in New Jersey is a hilarious choice. Yes Chad Muska showing up in the Escalade is iconic. Yes customization for your skater being linked to what label you get sponsored by is fantastic (and turned into a weird bit of RP with me and my friend basically skating differently depending on what label we backed). In short: it's the best.

Well, except for the whole extended KISS thing. I dunno maybe that hit if you were like 30 at the time but as a 12 year old then, and a 30 year old now, I think KISS is lame as fuck. Eat my ass Gene Simmons.

???
Again, no idea if I still have this box anywhere.

My favorite Tony Hawk game by far. The story being added was so sick for me. The betrayal. The goals. Traveling around. Building up your own skate company. Loved being able to customize my own dude. Me and Adan picking our favorite skate companies to back us. I think I was all about Girl Skateboarding Company at that point.