Skateboard classic is better than ever

Tony Hawk’s is rightly considered one of the greatest sporting games of all time; past attempts to remaster it —2012’s dreadful Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD — have failed horribly.

Pro Skater brought skateboarding to the masses, taking it out of skateparks, car parks and actual parks and into millions of homes around the world.

Not only did it feel authentic, the gameplay was addictive — the nerve-jangling tension of pulling off a move so you didn’t face plant the floor from a great height.

So the pressure was well and truly on developer Vicarious Visions to bring not just Pro Skater but its magnificent sequel — Pro

Skater 2 — to the new-generation consoles.

The result is an absolute triumph.

Vicarious Visions have neatly bundled both games together, stripping them to their bare and essential elements then layering them with tweaks and extras.

One of the greatest things I found was the ability to transfer your character between games, taking all your upgrades and progress with you.

Visually, it’s breathtaking; the skating environments rendered with rich texture and colour.

While the levels feel small by today’s gaming standards, it’s still incredible how contemporary Pro Skater feels. It will bring a heady wave of nostalgia for gamers of a certain age and offers something new for younger players.

High spots Tony Hawk’s is a nostaglic thrill ride