While theTony Hawk’s Pro Skaterseries may be more fresh in the minds of modern audiences thanks to its longevity and recent releases like thePro Skater 1 + 2remake, it’s far from the only important gaming product the titular arena skater was involved in.Tony Hawk’s Underground 2is perhaps the greatest example ofthe extendedPro Skaterlegacy, and it’s a title that shouldn’t be lost to time.
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2is the sixth entry in theTony Hawkseries, directly following the firstUndergroundgame released just a year prior, in 2003. Both games emphasized rebellion and self-expression as central themes, leaning into prominent depictions of skater culture at the time. These games were both more mature and more childish than theirPro Skaterpredecessors, with narratives designed to appeal to older teens rather than all ages, and humor that even the most emotionally stunted adult would struggle to find funny without the mitigating role of nostalgia. As is to be expected,Tony Hawk’s Underground 2doubles down on everything that the first game strove for, and in the process, serves as a time capsule of skateboarding culture of the time, for better or worse.
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Is 2004 Skater Life Essentialized
What Makes Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 So Special
Ifthe mainTony Hawkseriesis inspired by the arena skating that made their namesake such a sensation, then theUndergroundspin-offs were entrenched in the grungy world of street-level skating, defined by the guerrilla tactics and disregard for authority that the sport’s greatest detractors associate with it.Underground 2precedes the likes of EA’sSkateseries, and is among the gaming industry’s first cracks at capturing this subculture. While it might not be the most realistic representation of what skating was like in 2004, it certainly captures its spirit.
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2plays like itsPro Skatercounterparts, but it looks, feels, and sounds totally different. Many of the game’s levels are characterized by their connection to real-world locations, replete with references to pop culture and early internet memes like the Star Wars Kid. ThePro Skatergames always had a tenuous connection to reality, butTony Hawk’s Underground 2wipes its feet on realism, with a roster that includes the likes of Bigfoot and Benjamin Franklin, who can also be discovered in the game’s levels themselves.
One word will likely come to mind whenever one reminisces aboutTony Hawk’s Underground 2: attitude. WhileearlierPro Skatergamespresent a mostly squeaky-clean image of skateboarding,Underground 2leans into the notion of skaters as rebels and troublemakers; the game is defined by chaotic antics and a bucking of the rules, its characters and narrative epitomizing what just about every pre-teen boy in 2004 thought was cool.
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2wears itsJackassinfluences on its sleeve, featuring celebrities like Bam Margera and Wee-Man in its single-player story and as playable characters.
What’s Next for Tony Hawk’s Underground 2
Sadly,Activision reportedly canceled development ofPro Skater 3and4remakes, indicating that remakes of the subsequentUndergroundspin-offs may be no more than pipe dreams. But with so few games managing to truly capture the cultural trends and character of the mid-2000s, it would be a shame for the short-lived series to fade into obscurity.
Games like the upcomingSkate 4may paint a portrait of modern street skating culture, but theUndergroundgames will always be windows into the past. If Activision ever decides to defibrillate the series, it should keep in mind this unapologetic attitude, letting it remain as a window into an era that is being increasingly looked upon with nostalgia.
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2
The 2020 fully-remastered Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater & Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 games have been combined into one epic collection, rebuilt from the ground up in incredible HD. Players can skate their way through various levels and challenges, all while listening to an awesome soundtrack.
