One of My Favorites

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is a skateboarding video game for Dreamcast, Playstation, and Nintendo64.(This opinion focuses on the Dreamcast version, though.) It is a one or two player game with a split screen (horizontal or vertical) when playing with a friend. It is rated T for teen with the only blood(or violence) being the bails(when you fall).

To begin pick a character. If it is your first time playing, you will have to play the Warehouse level first. This is a good beginner level. Each level has five(5) tasks which if completed you get a tape. Tapes unlock various things. You only get two(2) minutes to do these. Contests have three(3) heats. Each heat is one(1) minute long. Try to get as many points as you can. You can win the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place medal.

The controls are easy to get the hang of. You can use the analog stick or the D-pad(i prefer to use the D-pad,because it is easier to do tricks). Hold the A button to ollie(a small jump) which is the key to all tricks.All tricks are done by moving the D-pad or analog stick around to do tricks. When landing a trick hold A. The Y button controls the grinds. The X button controls grab tricks. The B button controls the kick tricks.

Below are the characters you can choose from.-
Tony Hawk was born in Carlsbad, USA. He has been a pro for sixteen(16) years and is 6'2. He is arguably the most influential skateboarder of all time.

Bob Burnquist was born in Brazil, but moved to Encinitas,California. Burnquist has been a pro for seven(7) years and won the first contest he entered. His height is 5'11 tall.

Kareem Campbell was born in New York City, but was raised in Los Angeles. Campbell has been a pro for six(6) years, and is 6'0 tall.

Rune Glifberg is originally from Copenhagen, Denmark. He now lives in Huntington Beach, California in the USA. He has been a pro for seven(7) years and is 5'11.

Bucky Lasek, also from Carlsbad, and has been a pro for nine(9) years. His height is 5'11.

Chad Muska,originally from Las Vegas, now lives in Los Angeles. His height is 5'10, and he has been a pro for five(5) years.

Andrew Reynolds is from Huntington, California. He has been a pro for only three(3) years, but that is all he needed to make it big. He is 6'12 and his nickname is Turtle Boy.

Geoff Rowley was born in Liverpool, United Kingdom, but moved to Huntington, California. He has been a pro for five(5) years, and is 5'8 tall.

Elissa Steamer was born in Fort Myers, Florida. She has been a pro for only one(1) year, and is the first girl to ever have a pro model skateboard with her name on it. She is 5'4 tall.

Jamie Thomas was born in Brazil, but moved to Encinitas, California. He is 5'10, and has been a pro for six(6) years.

Unfortunately, there is no information on Officer Dick or Private Carrera.

Unlike games on other systems, the graphics are not choppy, but very smooth. I especially like that the characters look somewhat real which means you actually feel like YOU are doing the boarding.

There is a variety of music from rock to ska. If you don't want to hear the music you have the option to turn the it off. The sound affects let you hear the sound of grinds. If a person bails, you can hear them grunt. I give the sound affects a great big thumbs up.

There are over 25 non-special tricks(some tricks are only done by certain characters) such as: 360 Shove It, Heelflip, Madonna, Method, Benihana, Nosegrind, and a Boardslide.

There are six(6) levels:
Warehouse (in Woodland Hills)- This is an abandoned warehouse that is full of ramps, pipes, rails, and gaps. This is a good level to start out on.

School (in Miami)- This is a deserted school with dumpsters, rails, lunch tables, and, pools. This is a great level for practicing any trick.

Mall (in NY)- The Mall is filled with gaps, huge stairs, ramps, and rails.

Downtown Minneapolis- This is a huge level with many ramps,many rails, several pipes, a few cars, and a couple of pools.

Downhill Jam (in Phoenix)-This level is set in a river gorge with a lot of rails, a few pipes, several gaps, and several ramps. It's a short course, but look at the speed you gather!

the Streets (San Francisco)- The Streets are filled with a lot of rails, several pipes, a bowl or two, and several ramps.

And three(3) contests:
Skate Park (Chicago)-Try to get a lot of points in all three heats on the pools, rails, pipes, boxes, and ramps.

Burnside (Portland)-Get points in the bowl, on the rails, or in the pipes.

Roswell (Mexico)- This contest is filled with pipes, ramps, a pool, and a few rails.

I have been playing Tony Hawk for at least a year and I have to say it's one of my favorite games. It's challenging, aggravating (but in a good way), and addictive! I give this game a 5-star rating for great sound, realistic graphics, and the pro skaters!!!