Activision's Tony Hawk 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
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.
owners have the added benefit of online support, a console exclusive, allowing players to download created parks, tricks, and goals. Customization options have also expanded to the point where players can upload a digital picture to developer Neversoft so it can be converted into a facial map for a created skater.
Company 1: Neversoft Entertainment; Development Team: Jeremy Andersen, Jon Bailey, Ted Barber, Brad Bulkley, Dave Cowling, Ralph D'Amato, Peter Day, Zac Drake, Chad Findley, Alan Flores, Steve Ganem, Jake Geiger, Andy Gentile, Jason Greenberg, Rock Gropper, Eric Grosser, Kurt Gutierrez, Kendall Harrison, Gary Jesdanun, Joel Jewett, Jenry Ji, Garrett Jost, Adam Lippmann, Dana MacKenzie, Andy Marchal, Jeff Morgan, Kevin Mulhall, Daniel Nelson, Nolan Nelson, David Nilsen, Josh O'Brien, Johnny Ow, Chris Peacock, Scott Pease, Cody Pierson, Chris Rausch, Rulon Raymond, Paul Robinson, David Rowe, Mark L. Scott, Aaron Skillman, Chauwa Steel, Todd Sue, Carlo Surla, Steve Swink, Darren Thorne, Jason Uyeda, Todd Wahoske, Chris Ward, Mick West, Tao Zheng; Neversoft Support Team: Lisa Davies, Lisa Edmison, Sandy Newlands-Jewett, Beth Sanborn, Stacy Yturte Logan; Neversoft Tester: Michelle Deyo, Mike Ortiz, Jesse Shannon; Additional THUG Development: Mike Day, Jim Jagger, Brian Jennings; Story: Sean Mortimer, Neversoft; Music Supervisor: Westies, Tim Riley, Brandon Young; Intro Movie: Creative Domain; Skater: Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist, Steve Caballero, Kareem Campbell, Rune Glifberg, Eric Koston, Bucky Lasek, Bam Margera, Rodney Mullen, Chad Muska, Andrew Reynolds, Paul Rodriguez Jr., Geoff Rowley, Arto Saari, Elissa Steamer, Jamie Thomas, Mike Vallely; Company 2: Activision Publishing Inc.; Executive Producer: Mike Ward; Producer: Stacey Drellishak; Production Coordinator: Alex Garcia; E.V.P. Worldwide Studios: Larry Goldberg; V.P., North American Studio: Dave Stohl; E.V.P., Global Pub. & Brand Mgmt.: Kathy Vrabeck; V.P., Global Brand Mgmt.: Will Kassoy; Global Brand Manager: Gary Pfeiffer; Associate Brand Manager: Ted Chi; VP, Public Relations: Maryanne Lataif; Manager, Corporate Communications: Ryh-Ming C. Poon; Marketing and Licensing Consultant: Lisa Hudson, Black Sun Productions; V.P., Creative Services & Operations: Denise Walsh; Marketing Creative Director: Matthew Stainner; Creative Services Manager: Jill Barry; Creative Agency: Imagewerks, Ignited Minds LLC; Business Affairs: George Rose, Greg Deutsch, David Kay, Michael Larson, Danielle Kim; Quality Assurance and Customer Support Project Lead: Ian Moreno; Quality Assurance and Customer Support Senior Project Lead: John Rosser; QA Manager: Joe Favazza; Manager, Night Shift: Adam Hartsfield; Manager, Third Shift: Jason Levine; Night Shift Lead: Frank So; Third Shift Floor Lead: Dave Padilla; Floor Lead: Derek Faraci; Night Shift Floor Lead: Ryan Ramsey; Database Coordinator: Lee Cheramie; Test Team: Alberto Aguilar, Steve Antenucci, Michael Arellano, Ronald Avila, Hugh Bach, Clint Baptiste, Kane Burch, Elvir Caranay, Kyle Carey, Ariana Carvalho, James Cha, Josh Chandler, Hubert Cheng, Paul Colbert, Dennis Crow, Sha-hid Ealy, Greg Garber, Anthony Gordon, Randy Guillote, Jeff Grant, Justin Hannah, Michael Harris, Sasan Helmi, Alain Ho, Mark Hoffman, Michelle Hughes, Steve Hynding, Elliot Jackson, Aaron Justman, Justin Kaehler, Kris Kauthn, Casey Keefe, Jennifer Kent, Brian Kim, Brett Kinsfather, Bobak Kohan, Brian Lai, Laura Landolf, Stacey Lee, Gavin Locke, Sabino Lopez, Alfonso Magana, Charles Moore, Dave Morris, Mishelle Moross, Robert Munguia, Scott Nakamura, Jason Newitt, Mike O'Brien, Steve Okubo, Greg Olmeda, Mike Ortiz, Steve Panate, Brian Price, Derek Padula, Jacob Porter, Craig Pottruck, David Powers, Veneet Puri, Sal Rangel, Ari Raz, Kenneth Reyna, Cory Rice, D. B. Roberts, Reshan Sabaratnam, Jason Sanders, Aldo Sarellano, Craig Schmidt, Guy Selga, Nathan Shopay, David Solch, Fritz Striker, Cory Surovy, Kop Tavornmas, Ben Tapely, Robert Telmar, Natascha Thomas, Leon Torres, John Wasilczyk, Chris Wawra, David Wilkinson, BJ Williams, Marc Williams, Danny Yanez; Manager, Technical Requirements Group: Marilena Rixford; Lead, Technical Requirements Group: Siôn Rodriguez Y Gibson; Tester, Technical Requirements Group: Aaron Camacho, Robert Lara, Taylor Livingston, Marc Villanueva; Sr. Manager, Customer Support: Bob McPherson; Phone Support Lead: Gary Bolduc; Email Support Lead: Michael Hill; Information and Excalation Support Lead: Rob Lim; "Rapps On Deck" Performed By: Aceyalone; "Rapps On Deck" Written By: Edwin M. Hayes Jr.; "Viva La Revolution" Performed By: The Addicts; "Viva La Revolution" Written By: Davidson Davison, Warren, Ellis; "Armageddon" Performed By: Alkaline Trio; "Armageddon" Courtesy Of: Vagrant; "A Prototype" Written and Performed By: Anacron; "A Prototype" Produced By: Alo For Garden Music Cuts; "She Said" Performed By: Angry Amputees; "She Said" Written By: Stacey Kelvin Dee, Eric Stampey Gonzalez, John Scott Dalton, Jennifer Rebel Kirk; "Rebel Yell" Performed By: Assorted Jelly Beans; "Rebel Yell" Written By: Wylie Johnson, Ricky Falomir, Ricky Boyer; "Everyday" Performed By: Authority Zero; "Everyday" Courtesy Of: Lava Records; "Big Bang" Performed By: Bad Religion; "Big Bang" Courtesy Of: Epitaph; "Big Bang" Written By: Brett Gurewitz; "Drive" Written By: Blind Iris; "Drive" Recorded By: Ned Allen; "Drive" Mixed and Mastered By: Herc At Herc's Living Room SLC; "Don't Wait" Performed and Written By: Blue Collar Special; "2 Rak 005" Performed By: Bracket; "American Werewolf in Calgary" Performed By: The Browns; "American Werewolf in Calgary" Written By: Caissie, Harkness, Andersen, McAndless; "Imaginary Places" Performed By: Busdriver; "Imaginary Places" Written By: Regan Farquhar; "It's Alright" Performed By: Camarosmith; "It's Alright" Written By: Ben Rew, Pat Brown, Donald Hales, Jeff Matz, Chris Johnsen; "Iron Galaxy" Performed By: Cannibal Ox; "Iron Galaxy" Written By: Shamar Gardner, Theodore Arrington II; "White Riot" Written By: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon; "White Riot" Performed By: The Clash; "Impetus" Performed By: Clutch; "Impetus" Written By: Clutch; "Crazy and Stupid" Performed By: Crash And Burn; "Crazy and Stupid" Engineered and Mixed By: Marc Schleicher, Nick Zampiello; "Crazy and Stupid" Asst Engineered By: Nate Clean; "Crazy and Stupid" Mastered By: Dave Locke; "Crazy and Stupid" Produced By: Crash And Burn, Marc Schleicher, Nick Zampello; "A Better Tomorrow" By: Dan The Automator; "A Better Tomorrow" Featuring: Kool Keith; "A Better Tomorrow" Courtesy of: 75 Ark; "A Better Tomorrow" Written By: Teren Jones, Dan Nakamura; "Positive Contact" By: Deltron 3030; "Positive Contact" Written By: Dan Nakamura, Teren Jones; "Cosmic Asassins" Written & Performed By: DJ Qbert; "Cosmic Asassins" Courtesy Of: Thud Rumble; "Time To Go" Performed By: Dropkick Murphys; "Time To Go" Written By: A. Barr, K. Casey, R. Foltz, M. Kelly, J. Lynch, M. Orrell; "Annie's Grave" Performed By: Electric Frankenstein; "Annie's Grave" Written By: Sal Canzonieri, Steve Miller; "To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth" By: Entombed; "To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth" Written By: Nicklas Anderson, Alexander Hellid; "No Revolution" Written and Performed By: The Explosion; "Mississippi King" By: Five Horse Johnson; "Mississippi King" Written By: Eric Oblander, Steve Smith, Brad Coffin, Mike Alanso; "I Want It All" Performed By: Flamethrower; "I Want It All" Written By: Brian Bechtolt, Trevor King, Chris Yager, Tony Rodriguez; "Blah Blah" Written & Performed By: Frog 1; "California Crossing" Performed By: Fu Manchu, Scott Hill, Bob Balch, Brad Davis, Brant Bjork, Rodney Skelton; "Crush 'Em" Performed By: GBH; "[Gotta Get Som Action] Now" Performed By: Hellacopters; "[Gotta Get Som Action] Now" Written By: Andreas Svensson, Kenny Hakansson, Niklas Andersson, Robert Eriksson; "It Ain't Nuttin" Performed By: The Herbaliser F/ M.F. Doom; "It Ain't Nuttin" Written By: Jake Wherry, Ollie Teeba, L. Dumille; "Hung, Drawn and Quartered" Performed By: High On Fire; "Hung, Drawn and Quartered" Written By: Rice, Kensel, Pike; "The Legend of Black Thunder" Performed By: Hookers; "The Legend of Black Thunder" Recorded In Andy Slob's Basement By: Adam Neal, Noel Reucroft, Andy Slob; "The Legend of Black Thunder" Words and Music By: Adam Neal; "Remedy" Performed By: Hot Water Music; "Remedy" Written By: J. Black, C. Ragan, G. Rebelo, C. Wollard; "Embody the Invisible" Performed By: In Flames; "Embody the Invisible" Written By: Bjorn Gellote, Jesper Stromblad, Anders Friden; "Braggin Wrights" Performed By: J-Live; "Braggin Wrights" Written By: Jean Jacques Cadet; "Suffer Some" Performed By: Jane's Addiction; "Suffer Some" Written By: Perry Ferrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins, Bob Ezrin, Martyn Lenoble; "The Circle Part 1" Performed By: Juggaknots; "The Circle Part 1" Written By: K. Smith, Paul Smith; "The Circle Part 1" Engineered By: Swift; "The Circle Part 1" Assistant Engineered By: Desotee Thiobow; "A Day At the Races" By: Jurassic 5; "A Day At the Races" Featuring: Percy P, Big Daddy Kane; "A Day At the Races" Produced By: Cut Chemist; "A Day At the Races" Lyrics Written and Performed By: D. Givens, M. Potsic, C. Stewart, C. Henderson, L. Macfadden, M. Stuart, A. Hardy, J. Simon, D. Axelrod; "A Day At the Races" Mixed By: Troy Straton, Cut Chemist; "A Day At the Races" Assistant Engineer: Kent Hitchcock; "God of Thunder" Performed By: Kiss; "God of Thunder" Written By: Paul Stanley; "Lick it Up" Performed By: Kiss; "Lick it Up" Written By: Paul Stanley, Vincent Cusano; "Rock 'N Roll All Night" Performed By: Kiss; "Rock 'N Roll All Night" Written By: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons; "King Kong" Performed By: L.A. Symphony; "King Kong" Written By: Flynn Atkins, Jason Soto, Sarpong Boateng, Sharron Brooks, John Dust, Rene Palma; "Hotwire" Performed By: Lamont; "Hotwire" Written and Published By: Pete Knipfing; "War Games" Performed By: Living Legends; "War Games" Written By: Eligh Wachowitz, Thomas Woolfolk, Corey Scoffern, Derrrick McElroy; "Crusher Destroyer" Performed and Written By: Mastodon; "Loaded and Lonely" Performed By: The Midnight Evils; "Loaded and Lonely" Written By: The Midnight Evils; "Loaded and Lonely" Producer: Tim Kerr; "The Days" Performed By: Mike V And The Rats; "The Days" Lyrics By: Mike Vallely; "The Days" Music By: Jason Hampton; "The Days" Producer: Paul Stebner And The Rats; "The Days" Mastered By: Paul Miner; "Underground Up" Performed By: Mr. Complex; "Underground Up" Written By: C. Roberts, J. Ryan; "Skin Therapy" Performed By: Mr. Dibbs; "Skin Therapy" Written By: B. Forste; "Phantom" Performed By: Mr. Lif; "Phantom" Written By: Jeffrey Michael Haynes, Jamie Meline; "Transitions As A Rider" Performed By: Murs; "Transitions As A Rider" Written By: Nick Carter; "The World Is Yours" Performed By: NAS; "Run Fat Boy Run" Performed By: Nine Pound Hammer; "Run Fat Boy Run" Written By: Blaine Cartwright; "The Seperation of Church and Skate" Performed By: NOFX; "The Seperation of Church and Skate" Written By: Fat Mike; "Your World Will Hate This" Performed By: Orange Goblin; "Your World Will Hate This" Written By: Ben Ward, Joe Hoare, Martyn Millard, Pete O'Malley, Chris Turner; "Womb Envy" Written and Performed By: Paint It Black; "The Next Step II" Performed By: People Under The Stairs; "The Next Step II" Written By: Chris Portugal, Mike Turner; "Low Class Conspiracy" Performed By: Quasimoto; "Low Class Conspiracy" Written By: O. Jackson; "Your Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire" Performed By: Queens Of The Stone Age; "King of the Underground" Performed By: R.A. The Rugged Man; "King of the Underground" Written By: Ryan Thornburn, Eric Goldman, Zed Kelley; "New Noise" Written By: D. Sanstrom, D. Lyxzen, K. Steen, J. Brannstrom; "Like the Angels" Performed By: Rise Against; "(I wanna) Pierce My Brain" Performed By: Rubber City Rebels; "(I wanna) Pierce My Brain" Written By: Rod Firestone; "Milk" Performed By: S.O.D.; "Milk" Written By: S.O.D.; "Circle of Fear" Performed By: Smoke Blow; "Circle of Fear" Written By: Jack Letten; "Circle of Fear" Engineered By: Greif Hellhamme; "Circle of Fear" Produced By: Lucas, Schenk, Letten; "Mommy's Little Monster" Performed By: Social Distortion; "Mommy's Little Monster" Written By: Michael Ness; "Indolence" Performed By: Solace; "Suspect Device" Performed By: Stiff Little Fingers; "Suspect Device" Written By: Jake Burns, Martin Ogilvie; "Refusal" Written and Performed By: Strike Anywhere; "Seed" Performed By: Sublime; "Seed" Words and Music By: Brad Nowell, Eric Wilson, Floyd Gaugh; "It Takes No Guts" Performed By: Superjoint Ritual; "It Takes No Guts" Written By: Phil Anselmo, Joe Fazzio, Jimmy Bower; "Internationally Known" Performed By: Supernatural; "California Babylon" Performed By: Transplants; "California Babylon" Written By: Tim Armstrong, Rob Aston; "Black Woman" Performed By: Unida; "Black Woman" Written By: John Garcia, Arthur Seay, Mike Cacino, Dave Dinsmore; "Secondary Protocol" Performed By: Wildchild; "Secondary Protocol" Written By: J. Brown, O. Jackson; "Sailor Man" Performed By: The Real Mc Kenzies; "Sailor Man" Music and Lyrics By: Thomas Seltzer
~ Keith Adams, All Game Guide