Review: Tony Hawk's Underground 2 (Xbox)

Platform: Xbox
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Neversoft Entertainment
Release Date: October 2004
Genre: Extreme Sports

This is a rushed, mediocre effort that could have been much better if it had spent more time in development.

The Tony Hawk series has recently been declining in quality as of late, and Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 was the game to lead the downward spiral. This is a rushed, mediocre effort that could have been much better if it had spent more time in development.

After a disappointing fourth entry in the series, Tony Hawk’s Underground really seemed like it turned the series around for the better in 2003. It had a great story mode that warranted a few play-through sessions, a terrific soundtrack, and brand new game play elements that brought the series up a notch. However, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 takes the series back a few steps with boring yawn worthy level-design, a mediocre story mode and a total lack of any online play whatsoever.

Instead of continuing the last game’s interesting story, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 attempts to cash in on shows like Viva La Bam and Jackass. While many of you might think this would make for an extremely funny, out of control storyline that mimics those shows, it actually makes for a goofy and mostly annoying story that is only occasionally funny and joyful to play (unlike how the first Tony Hawk’s Underground’s story line was entertaining the whole way through).

The level design is also sorely lacking. Neversoft (the game’s developer) really dropped the ball on this aspect of the game. Many would argue that the level designs in the Tony Hawk games are one of the most important parts of the game. Even locations such as New Orleans, which you might think would be fun to play and full of character, are generic, boring metropolitans that you’ll definitely not want to replay after you’ve completed all the level’s missions (or enough to pass).

Tony Hawk’s Underground 2’s second portion, the Classic Mode, is a mode where you complete goals in a timed matter just like the original three games in the Tony Hawk series. While old-school Hawk fans may be stoked to hear that this mode has returned, they’ll be turned off after an hour or so because it’s extremely boring and tedious to play through. While the original three games had well-planned goals and extremely great level design to the make the timer based-modes fun, none of that applies here, as the level design is awful and the goals feel half-assed at best. This mode does not warrant a play through of any kind.

On top of all that, this game fails to truly take advantage of the Xbox’s power and strengths. Although it contains the typical custom soundtrack feature, the graphics wouldn’t look out of place on an average Playstation 2 game and there is a total lack of any Xbox Live online play.

A big reason why the Tony Hawk’s games are rapidly dropping in quality is that this ill iteration was released exactly one year after the original Tony Hawk’s Underground. With such short development time, it’s no wonder why the games are being released with such a dramatic shift in quality. Instead of releasing well-planned, extremely thought through games, Activision is simply churning out sequel after sequel and ruining this once-great series. Unfortunately, the gaming mainstream is eating these sequels up and they’re selling great, so it’s unlikely the company will have to worry about releasing a top-notch game in the series again.

At least Neversoft got the soundtrack right. A great soundtrack has always been a series trademark, and with artists like Faith No More, Less Than Jake, Dead End Road (whatever happened to that band? The only song I can find off them is “Sin City” which is included on this soundtrack. It’s a great song though), The Doors, Ministry, Sugar Hill Gang, Metallica, Ween, Rancid, and Johnny Cash (among dozens other various artists) the great soundtrack will get you through even the most boring parts of the game without a problem. Of course, even if you aren’t a fan of the artists featured on the soundtrack, you can always use your own music as this game supports the “custom soundtrack” feature.

Unfortunately, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 does very little else right. While it may have a few redeeming qualities such as the series’ trademark game play, a terrific soundtrack and a few great story mode moments (such as a hilarious grand finale), it also includes an average story mode, an awful classic mode with mundane tasks, horrific level design, and low replay value (you can’t even play the game online). Even die-hard series veterans may have a tough time playing through this one.

Rating: 5.8 (out of 10)