Tony Hawk's Proving Ground (Wii)

Things have gotten a little stale, and the Wii version feels more like shovelware than something of its own, but Tony Hawk's Proving Ground is still a fun arcade skating game.
1/30/2008 12:00 AM | 0 Comments | Page 2 of 2

Like previous Hawk games, players will be treated to a stellar and eclectic soundtrack, including some tasty classic rock. But where the music shines, the professional voice work from actual skaters is laughably half-hearted. The same can be said of the writing, which is unevenly balanced.

To prolong replayability, Activision has included some supplemental features in addition to new levels. Sadly, the Wii version gets the shaft when compared to next-gen contemporaries. Only the skater editor, two-player mode and standard unlockables are on tap. The video editor, customizable skate lounge, Nail the Manual and online multiplayer are all absent from the Wii version, though included on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. Proving Ground on the Wii also lacks the Create-a-Park feature, instead using a preset park with customizable pieces, similar to Tony Hawk's Project 8.

Given the increasing number of Wii games going online, there's no excuse not to exclude the functionality here, especially when the 360 and PS3 versions, from which the Wii version was ported, include the service. Long combos, hard-to-get objects and level idiosyncrasies are sure to keep you entertained for hours, but the lack of the additional content found in other versions is disappointing and further devalues an already imperfect port.

Despite its flaws, Tony Hawk's Proving Ground on Wii is still a fun time, even if EA's Skate is more realistic. Though casual fans may be better served picking up an older version of the game (assuming you missed one) for less money on legacy platforms, Wii owners still have something to hold onto. Let's just hope for a better effort next time.

This review was based on a retail copy of the game purchased by Crispy Gamer.