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Tony Hawk has a lot to be proud of. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater created the stunt sport genre last year and remained the king of the crop despite tons of clones. THPS 2 pulls to the head of pack once again with more of everything found in the first, and a brand new skate park editor that makes the sequel one of the best Playstation games ever. The high flying fun is back and better in THPS 2 thanks to a new combo system that lets players hook every skate move together. Players who get enough air can hook in 2 or more different tricks that rack up major points. And the animation is done so well that transitions look seamless. Added points are given before barely scraping or "kissing" rails, walls, and other objects. And moves are also given sloppy or perfect ratings depending on how well they're pulled off.
The gameplay is just as tight as the first, but it doesn't mean that you won't eat your fair share of cement. Little animations like the skateboard slipping under you, or collapsing over a set of stairs are awesome and painful to behold. The THPS engine handles everything beautifully with no slowdown and a great variety of textures. There's still fade-in but it's nothing that keeps you from pulling off tricks. But better than the graphics are the great sounds in THPS 2. The sound of wheels gliding over cement are crystal clear as is the bumpin' and rockin' soundtrack. Papa Roach, Rage Against the Machine, Naughy by Nature, and more contribute to one of the best game soundtracks ever. The career mode now offers cash for each objective passed that players can use to buy and customize their skater. Attributes like air time and landing can be upped with cash, as can new boards, clothes, and levels. Sure adding stuff is great, but the ultimate in customizing is found in the awesome skate park editor. Players can add risers, rails, walls, stairs, pools and more in the editor, and save it for all to play in. There's a decent amount of space to work with, but there is a limit. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 is one of the most solid sequels created. There's a lot more of what everyone loved in the first and the skate park editor provides infinite levels for die-hard fans. The two player still rocks as do the new locals to skate in. Don't wait any longer if you don't have this game - THPS 2 is the most fun and solid purchase any Playstation owner can make.
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