In the real world, there are various extreme sports to keep everyone’s adrenaline rushing. Snowboarding, BMXing and the most exciting, cross country Skiing! No seriously. One of the most popular extreme sports is of course skateboarding, but how can a piece of wood and four wheels be so intense both in the real and virtual world? Well the truth is, skateboarding games have been very popular for more than ten years. Before the famous skateboarder Tony Hawk released a game, there was a game called 720, mainly for the seven hundred twenty degree turn some skaters were able to accomplish. That was back on the NES, but in 1999 Tony Hawk made history be becoming the first person to ever land a 900 degree twist in the air. After this, Tony Hawk was one of the most famous skateboarder’s in history and quickly received a video game in his honor less than a year from his groundbreaking 900 trick. The games quickly took off being one of a kind offering and addictive and well design gameplay experience. Now after seven long years, Tony Hawk, Neversoft and Activision have successfully launched eight titles into the ever so popular franchise, not to mention various ports and off site titles onto handhelds. While they’ve successfully captured the skating genre for the past two video game generations, how will they fair in the next-generation? The game obtains various new features that may please gamers and skaters but will it be enough to recapture a true innovative struggle?

The story in Project 8 is a little different from other projects but does include some similar aspects Neversoft never fails not to include. At the beginning of the game, you will have to make your own character during the story mode. You are an unknown skater looking to make it big, and the opportunity of a life time just landed in your lap. Tony Hawk appears on TV with some breaking news! He is looking for the best of the best in order to make his upcoming 8th project. You, a punk in a fancy looking neighborhood must work his way up a 200 skater rank in order to skate with the pros. Previous games of the series only recently adapted to a storyline aspect. The first couple games really didn’t include a story other than move from one stage to another skating within a timeline and collecting and completing goals. While this may be still in Project 8, it has significantly changed. Starting with underground, the games slowly put in a more free roam style gameplay, allowing you to venture wherever you please (as long as its unlocked) and completing mission in that area with its own set time. This is basically the entire storyline. You will complete hundred plus missions in order to work up the list to be apart of Project 8. On the way though, you will meet various pro skater and you will have to complete their exclusive challenges (and with some they have their own achievements). You will meet lots of pros during your adventure but it isn’t much of a story, but then again, the series has never been fully based on that. It’s all about pulling off Sick moves.



In Project 8, there is a fair amount you are able to accomplish. When you log into a career, you will be able to create your character. First you select the closest idea of a character you wish to create, then you will be able to modify him with hair, accessories and clothing and of course you are able choose the colors of each modification. You then select your characters name and you’re on your way. Like said before, you start in a fancy looking neighborhood where you are trapped in and the only way to get out is completing various missions people give to you. There are four different kinds of objectives you can choose from. The first kind of competition that will let you move up the ranks the fastest are ones that include a short cutscene explaining what to do. Here there are actually two types, there are random people who need your help, like school nerds or mascots and the next type are bigger ones from pro skaters where they ask you to complete various maneuvers and techniques in order to get past and unlock achievements. The second kind of competition is taking photographs of specific moves; here a woman will ask you to complete three kinds of moves, an amateur, a pro or a sick move. Each skill will move you up a rank and help you score big stokes. These are fairly easy but the sick level does get harder as you move along the game. There is also a video shooting mode where you talk to a guy and he’ll record you completing moves all put into a video. This is a bit harder because you will have a time limit and then he will ask you to complete combinations that may take awhile to do. Doing more combos will build up and you will earn you once again one of the three levels. As said just a couple seconds ago, it’s fairly hard keeping up with him and completing 45+ combos to earn a sick rating. Now in each area you unlock there will be people all around the blocks asking you to do various objectives. Here they reinvent the “Classic mode” where you are given two minutes to complete as many goals the person gives you. Here you will have to collect items, score big points, and hit massive combos and much more. The sick rating is indeed sick as it involves you to complete ALL ten goals in one run, which is pretty darn hard unless you are indeed a pro. Luckily as you complete them they will stay completed. There are lots of others you can find such as races, competitions both by judges and beating others in score, and finding people around town. All these modes will keep you busy and they will be the main part of the game as you move up in the world but they are you will find most of them very repetitive and will get old fast.