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Arguably one of the finest PlayStation games ever made, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (THPS) makes the jump to 128-bit and there is a great deal to be excited about. While fans of the PlayStation hit won't find any exclusive Dreamcast modes or anything terribly new in this port, THPS is still the best skateboarding game on the market almost a year after its original PlayStation debut. As a veteran skateboarder who has been a fan of the "wooden toy" for more than 15 years (I started skating at the tender age of six), Pro Skater is simply the most enjoyable skateboarding game I have ever played. With the Dreamcast version, skateboard fans and gamers alike can perform a virtual version of Tony's amazing 900 and finally see it in all its high-res glory!

Presentation/Graphics : 88
As visually appealing as the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 versions are, the Dreamcast takes Tony Hawk's Pro Skater to the next level by offering crisp high-resolution graphics, improved lighting & special effects, tighter animation, and more detailed skaters and environments. As you play through the game, you're treated to nine finely detailed environments that range from an empty schoolyard complete with grindable lunch tables to the mysterious Area 51, which features killer metal half-pipes and some creepy aliens to boot! The action runs at a constant 30 frames per second, and although there is still some fog to hide pop-up, the little that remains is less intrusive than previous versions. However, during the two-player split-screen modes (Trick Attack and Graffiti) the amount of fog increases so the frame-rate can remain consistent. This is for the best, though, as the split-screen modes are just as smooth as the one-player game.

Pro Skater also has some of the coolest replays ever to grace a video game. Players can view a complete replay that shows their skater's entire run from a variety of camera angles, or jump right to the highlights, which only show the most spectacular tricks. During the game, a camera click sound effect will alert you after you have performed a sick maneuver worthy of the highlight reel. While viewing a replay, you can also pause the action and advance it in slow motion.

Unfortunately, I expected more graphical refinement from this port, since we're dealing with a 128-bit system here. My biggest complaint about the graphics is with the skaters themselves. Though Treyarch has increased the polygon count and amount of detail for this port, the 10 pro skaters have a very PlayStation-esque look, which doesn't compare favorably with the excellent character models found in other Dreamcast games. In addition, the same collision detection issues, clipping problems, and bugs that existed in the PlayStation version exist here as well. For example, sometimes when a skater falls in the water on the Downhill Jam course, he or she may go through an additional crash animation after reappearing on dry land. This doesn't happen very often, but it does eat up precious seconds when playing the Championship mode. Also, I found certain "breakable" objects not to be very breakable at times: While skating in the Downtown level and attempting to launch through a glassed walkway, my skater failed to put a dent in the glass even though he approached it head-on with liberal amounts of speed. Again, this is not a common occurrence, but it can interfere with your game plan when it does occur.

If I sound like I'm nitpicking about the graphics it's only because Tony Hawk's Pro Skater deserved a complete graphical makeover for its 128-bit outing instead of the obligatory resolution upgrade, in which low-poly skaters and bugs/collision detection problems have been left intact. That being said, the high-resolution graphics do indeed impress and are definitely a step above the PSX and N64 versions -- but not by the huge step that the pre-release hype would have led you to believe.

Presentation/Audio : 86
Unlike the graphics, the music and sound effects remain unchanged. As a result, all of the songs and sound effects from the original PlayStation version are accounted for -- nothing more, nothing less. The music, while varied, does become repetitive, especially if you have already played the PlayStation version to death. (Ironically, I have yet to grow tired of the funky instrumental menu music.) Still, among other mostly punk-rock acts, the game features excellent tracks by Primus, Dead Kennedys, Vandals, Goldfinger, and Suicidal Tendencies. Some of the bands featured in the game, like the Dead Kennedys and the Vandals, have provided punk-rock beats for an entire 80's generation of old-school skate punks, including myself. Nevertheless, I eventually opted to play the game without background music, which allowed me to fully appreciate the near-perfect skateboarding sound effects and each of the level's unique ambiance.

If there was one sound effect that I wish Treyarch had improved, however, it's the sound the skaters make when they bail. All of the male skaters make the same exact sounds when they fall, while the two female skaters, Elissa Steamer and Private Carrera (secret character), let out sounds more indicative of pleasure during a certain, um, "activity" than of a painful fall.

Interface/Options : 92
A stylish-looking menu system greets the player after the entertaining opening movie that shows the real-life pros in action. The menu system is very easy to navigate and causes the optional VMU to beep in a rather unique way after game data is saved and loaded. In fact, the VMU fun doesn't stop there. Throughout the game the VMU taunts or praises you depending on how well you execute your tricks, and it even displays the score you receive for each trick. These VMU effects are a nice touch, but unfortunately there aren't any VMU mini-games included.

Among other things, there are options to adjust music & sound effect levels, enable and disable trick tips and score display, and turn VMU beeps off. You can also adjust the control layout and disable auto kicking to suit your skating style better. Pro Skater is Jump Pack compatible, so for those of you who own such a device, you can feel every grind, bail, and rough surface in the game. Of course, if your hands start to get numb after extended play, you can disable it in the options menu.

The violent shakes and tremors of the Jump Pack aren't the only things that will cause painful hands, however, as the Dreamcast controller's letter-indented buttons and uncomfortable triggers take a toll on the hands as well. Moreover, I found the tiny digital pad and coarse top of the analog stick to complicate matters further, but I eventually adjusted.

Speaking of controls, the control scheme couldn't be simpler. The D-pad or analog stick controls the skater's movement, as well as forward and backward leaning; the L & R triggers turn the skater 180 degrees while in air; and the four buttons control individual trick functions (ollies, grinds, grabs, and flips).

After flipping through pages of the manual, I discovered some erroneous information supplied for the default trick controls (p. 15). Fortunately, the control layout found in the beginning of the manual includes the correct information, so make sure to make a note of that. Also, and this is being incredibly technical, I'm sure a few skaters who appear in the game have celebrated a birthday, possibly changed residences, or even added another year to their lustrous pro careers since the PlayStation version was released almost a year ago. Yet, the stats remain unchanged from the original PlayStation version, which is unfortunate considering how most other sports games receive updated stats for each new or revised version.

Gameplay : 95
Okay, so maybe the graphics didn't receive the full Dreamcast treatment and the sound effects & music have been left unchanged; luckily, it's the gameplay in THPS that is the real star. Whether you are a fan of skateboarding or simply a gamer looking for an entertaining game, THPS will surely satisfy you with its superb gameplay. You see that cop car over there? Grind it! How 'bout that huge gap between the two buildings? Well, quit staring at it and clear it using a trusty launch ramp. In other words, if you see it, you can probably skate it! In fact, EA Sports' own "it's in the game" slogan would fit Pro Skater perfectly because just about every type of skateable surface can be found, including a huge assortment of half-pipes, rails, and pools in which to wreak havoc.

As much player interaction as the environments provide, it would amount to very little if the trick engine wasn't solid. Well, I'm pleased to report that Pro Skater's trick engine and combo system are as solid as ever on the Dreamcast. The idea behind THPS isn't simply to simulate a realistic skating experience, but instead, as Chef Emeril Lagasse would say, kick it up a notch. While all of the tricks are based on actual skateboarding maneuvers, the way in which they are executed and strung together goes way beyond anything that can be done on a real skateboard. This is not to say that the tricks look unrealistic, but the sheer amount of death-defying maneuvers and number of tricks you can link together in midair would make Mr. Hawk turn green with envy.

Tricks are very responsive and easy to pull off, using simple button presses and direction pad combinations, combined with proper timing, to perform a wide range of stunts. And the more 180 and 360 degree spins you add to your tricks and creativity you use when riding through environments (i.e., using ramps to clear gaps, jumping on top of moving cars, executing flip tricks while grinding long rails, etc.), the higher your score will be as a result.

Another area where THPS excels is in its excellent selection of modes. Here's a rundown of each mode: