Tony Hawk's Pro Skater: Every Game Ranked Worst To Best
8. American Wasteland
Not to be confused with Tony Hawk’s’ American Skateland - which released on the same day for the Nintendo DS in designated regions - American Wasteland is uncontested to be the best of the games that came after the golden age, but even with that insignificant title, the game is exceptionally underwhelming.
Although this first metaphorical nail in the coffin has its merits, it was the last one to include the seminal classic mode and a new story mode simultaneously.
Akin to a hybrid of Pro Skater and Underground, the combination feels reminiscent of Frankenstein’s monster. As a concoction of parts that shouldn't have ever been interconnected, as at no point do they feel natural enough to justify their existence.
It features a couple of stages that are varied in style and even fairly memorable, but between the destitute PS2 version, which totally dissected a lot of what made the game fresh and the genuine, but still ultimately tepid, Xbox 360 version, a few inconvenient consistencies remain.
The idea of certain tricks being unlockable isn’t anything new, but in the past, it was only a handful of special tricks. Whereas American Wasteland practically locks you out from doing anything until progressing further, which kind of defeats the object of playing.
Why did they think anyone would be enthused to play a trick-based sport game with no actual tricks!? It’s an idea as stupid as it is stupefying.