For the first time ever, Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland gives players the freedom to experience continuous skating and BMX biking action without leaving the game or waiting for load times as they explore and choose missions in a massive, living Los Angeles skate world. In a plot-twisting story that pays homage to the roots of skateboarding and 80’s punk style, gamers play a young rebel skater who makes his way to the mecca of skateboarding where he must prove himself to Tony Hawk, local pros, and legendary skaters and participate in the construction of the ultimate, trick-filled skate park.
Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland now includes Online Play, New Tricks, Bigger areas, more missions and tests to prove yourself worthy to be a professional skating legend. New on the board tricks include the Bert slides, Natas spins handstands, and one-footed grinds and manuals. New off the board tricks include wall runs, wall flips, and charged jumps.
As you progress though the game and gets points, you can use the Xbox Live Marketplace to buy your character new outfits, boards, and accessories. The game features new multiplayer modes including a two-player co-op classic mode for the first time on Xbox Live.
The game mainly focuses on the Southern California area. There are many amazing sights in LA and the surrounding, including actual parks, famous landmarks, and other man-made areas not actually designed for boards. There are no more “levels”, just new areas to explore in California as you progress though-out the game. You can take subways to other areas of the towns and cities you’re in.
New features to the game are the ability to ride BMX Bikes, not just your skateboard. The bikes have pegs and you can still do all the types of tricks you can think of in them, but remember, it’s a skating game, and you might need to skate for most of the main part of the game, but keep in mind biking has its own rewards too.
Graphics have improved greatly, along with the maps. Every city has landmarks you’ll recognize like maybe the Capital Records building you pass while grinding. Xbox 360 will bring all these features into one in the new Tony Hawk installment. We are looking forward to it as a launching game for the 360.
