Pros: Excellent graphics & definitely challenging!
Cons: Not even one!!!

Not since the introduction of Tony Hawks Pro Skater have I ever taken an interest in Sony Playstation! Now that the long wait is over and Tony Hawks 2 has arrived, I'm kind of wondering when I'll be sleeping again!

I already had my copy reserved because I knew that I'd love it ever since my addiction to the first Tony Hawks game. This game was worth waiting for and definitely worth the money that I spent on it which was $44.95.

I'll first give you a quick rundown of what's new in this version as opposed to the first one and then I'll give you some insight as to what you can expect when you start playing it!

New Skaters

They've added three new skaters to this game in addition to the 10 from the first one! The three players are Steve Caballero, Eric Koston and Rodney Mullen and each one is unique is his own way! They even have an option where you can create your own skater giving him the clothes and features that you want him to have!

New Features

1. There are two different styles for each player which are "A" & "B" which from what I can see only changes his or her appearance!

2. The next feature is for "Buying Stats" such as more speed and things along those lines. You earn money as you complete each part of each level which can be used to change the players ability by purchasing the things you want to change!

3. The best feature that I've seen on this new game is the "Buy Tricks" features which is exactly what it sounds like! As you build up your money, you have the option of making him or her more talented thus allowing you to do more things to meet the challenges in the upper levels and competitions!

4. The last new feature is the "Skate Shop" which allows you to change your board for one that's available or buy one to fit your needs! I haven't used this feature that much as I've used my money mainly to buy better skills for my skater!

One of the other options that is on this game is the ability to create your own level or choose from the many different ones that are available in the list! Also, each level has many different tricks that you can do and if you go under options, you can see if you missed any special moves! As with the first game, you can compete with each other as it does have a two player option and free skate is available if you just want to practice without a time limit!

Game Levels

1. The Hangar-Mullet Falls, MT
2. School 2-Southern Cali
3. Marseille-France (1st competition)
4. NY City-New York
5. Venice Beach-California
6. Skatestreet-Ventura (2nd competition)
7. Philadelphia-Pennslyvania
8. The Bullring-Mexico (3rd competition)
9. Empty Park (can not be played in career mode)

Each of the regular levels has three scoring levels to earn money on and they are: high score, pro score and sick score! In addition to that, each regular level has you finding the five letters to spell S-K-A-T-E and each one has a hidden tape as well!

As you reach the higher levels, you'll find each of the above feats to be more difficult and the scores needed to collect more cash gets higher and higher! Once you've found all the hidden cash and completed everything on the level, you'll earn money for that as well. For each feat you perform, you finish 10% of the level with the goal being 100% for completed all 10 different things that you are to do!

Now, even though I've already made it to the final competition, I'm going to refrain from telling you everything that you have to collect on each level! I'll save that as a surprise for when you play the game but I will tell you that this game is more challenging than the last one and some of the moves are amazing!

I'd like to talk briefly about a few other things that most people look for when buying a video game and those are sound, graphics and play! For those of you that have already experienced the thrill of the first Tony Hawks game this information may not come as a surprise to you!

While playing the game, you can listen to a variety of songs that I believe are geared to get the blood pumping with most of them being a carbon copy of what's on the first game! Although they're good, I prefer to play with the sound down or off! Also , it should be noted that there are some words on different levels that some parents may deem as inappropriate!

I found the graphics to be good but not great although the bull in the last competition seemed almost real! One of the low points as far as the graphics go was on the first level when the helicopter takes off because it shows only the top half of it and I honestly think they could've done better! I'm not saying that the graphics are bad but rather that I think in several instances there is room for improvement!

The play of the game is basically the same as in the first version with most people being able to grasp it in a couple of hours of play! Some of the new tricks that you can buy may throw you at first but you have the option when you buy them of specifying what buttons you want to push to be able to do them!

I think it's only fair to warn you that this game is very addictive and you'll find yourself playing it every chance you get unless you're like me and have children! In that case, expect them to be fighting over who gets to play next and who is the best at it! In this household, it's my 9 year old son although the other children put me to shame as well!

I would highly recommend this to anyone that wants to have some fun and take your mind off of things! It's a great game to play with many challenges and fun for the whole family so don't walk.....RUN to your nearest Playstation dealer and pick up your copy today!

ENJOY!!!