Tony Hawk’s Underground

Activision's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series gears up for another run in Tony Hawk's Underground, a 3D skateboarding title offering the most radical departure from previous installments in the franchise to date. More freedom and greater customization features are at the top of the list in improvements, but the biggest change is the absence of professional skaters. Instead of mastering the moves of Tony Hawk or another athlete, players must guide a no-name skater looking for a break on the tough streets of New Jersey. Gone is the Career mode from previous titles and in its place is a Story mode that chronicles an individual's rise from obscurity to become "Skater of the Year."

For the first time in the series, players can actually explore their environment without the skateboard, accessing new areas by walking up a flight of stairs, grabbing and lifting themselves onto rooftops, or shimmying across ledges. Missions have expanded as well, with players able to steal a car to complete objectives and perform other tasks to help gain notoriety and hopefully land a sponsorship deal. While this Xbox version lacks the online capabilities of its PlayStation 2 cousin, players can still create a likeness of themselves using a variety of preset facial features. Customization options have also expanded to the point where players can create their own tricks, parks, skateboards, and mission goals and save them all to the hard drive.