Sony’s PlayStation 1, 2 & 3 introduced a good number of skateboarding games that made waves in the gaming industry – with the Tony Hawks Pro Skater setting the core foundation for the game franchise. But advancement in gaming technology has totally eclipsed the reign of these platform games bringing their stay to an expected end. However, it will be nice to have a throwback of what skateboard games looked like prior to this day and where the extreme sports game all started from.
So in this list, I will be pointing out some of the best skateboarding games for PS1, PS2, and PS3 that rocked the industry during the 90s and early 2000s.
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Best Skateboarding Games For Sony’s PlayStation 1, 2, & 3
1: 720°
720° is on the first list not because it is the best skateboarding game for the PlayStation 2, & 3 platforms, but because it was the first skateboard video game to be released. 720° was released by Atari Games in 1986 where it came in arcades. The game received an overall positive rating from critics and users.
Even though the game is now old-fashioned, it will still be remembered for setting the tone for this day skateboarding games.
Players in this game are to control a skateboarder who skates through the neighbourhood. Players are awarded with points when they perform tricks and jumps using the skateboard. 720° consists of four playable levels which include Downhill, Jump, Ramp and Slalom. Each level has its objective design.
2: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was praised with having an addictive gameplay, good soundtrack and a nice graphics. Developed and published by Neversoft and Activision respectively, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was released in 1999 for PlayStation 1 before being ported to other gaming console systems.
Players in this game will assume the role of several playable skateboard characters where they will execute several skateboarding tricks in missions and also pick objects to increase their overall game score. Perfectly executing skateboarding tricks rewards the players with bumper points and rewards.
3: MTV Sports: Skateboarding Featuring Andy Macdonald
MTV Sports: Skateboarding Featuring Andy Macdonald was published by THQ in 2000. The game features American professional skateboarder Andy Macdonald. The game was however criticised for having poor and confusing controls, choppy frames and poor aesthetics and design.
Notwithstanding, the game was praised for having a great soundtrack.
4: Thrasher Presents Skate And Destroy
Thrasher Presents Skate And Destroy is a 1999 PlayStation 1 exclusive skateboarding game developed by Z-Axis and published by Rockstar Games. Players are to assume the role of any of the six playable skateboard characters, and rally to the top as the best skateboarder. Thrasher Presents Skate And Destroy also features several hip hops from 1980s and early 1990s.
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The game was given mixed to positive reviews by critics, while the soundtrack was louded.
5: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is a 2001 skateboarding video game developed by Neversoft and published by Activision. The game comes as the third entry in the Tony Hawk’s series. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is available for both the PS1 and PS2 platforms as well as several other systems.
The PlayStation 2 version of the game received the best rating amongst other platforms of the game. Unlike it’s predecessor, Pro Skater 3 features new tricks and combos which players execute to score high points and receive several rewards. The game also comes with a good number of skateboarders.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was a major success upon release and received several awards, and was one of the best games during the early 2000s.
6: Evolution Skateboarding
Evolution Skateboarding is a 2002 skateboarding video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Osaka and published by Konami for PS2 and GameCube while featuring skateboarders like Arto Saari, Danny Way, Kerry Getz, and Rick McCrank
Evolution Skateboarding features many levels where players are to achieve certain objectives to unlock new levels. The goal is to collect several objects in the game, and perform tricks.
Even though the game featured decent soundtracks from several punk rock songs, it was given a very poor rating from critics.
7: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 is the sequel to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, while coming as the fourth entry in the Tony Hawk’s series. Pro Skater 4 is also the last to be developed for PlayStation 1. The PlayStation 2 version of the game was rated as the second best PS2 game. It was praised for introducing a much larger map than its predecessors.
Pro Skater 4 introduced a Free Skate Mode where players can skate throughout the level with no time limit placed. Players gain points by performing tricks, grinds and also collecting objects. While the game may not have a defined plot, its levels are arranged accordingly.
Several awards acclaimed to the game made it one of the best skateboarding games for the PlayStation 2 system.
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8: Tony Hawk’s Underground
Sequel to the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, and the fifth installment in the Tony Hawk’s series, Underground is rated the best extreme sports game. The PlayStation 2 version of the game received a general positive ratings from critics, as they praised the game’s design and aesthetics. The graphics, soundtracks, and sound effects were also given positive ratings.
While retaining most of the features from previous series, Tony Hawk’s Underground, attributes a custom character creation – where players can create a customised character of their own. Skaters can also dismount their boards and walkthrough on foot, making the feature the first in the series.
Players in the game can perform several tricks like the jump trick, lip trick, acid drop and wall-rides. Tricks are executed by simultaneously using match analog and button inputs.
9: Skate 3
Skate 3 was published in 2010 by Electronic Arts. The game was made for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms. Skate 3 received a positive reviews from critics, citing the game featured realistic setting and complex control scheme that made an engaging single-player experience.
Skateboarding in the game is done from a third person perspective in a nonlinear world. Skate 3 introduces two new modes – ‘Easy and Hardcore mode’. With the Easy Mode allowing the player to perform easy task and tricks, whereas the Hardcore Mode makes the challenge more difficult and confusing.
So far, Skate 3 is the third and last entry in the Skate series. The development of its successor – Skate 4 is believed to be underway.
10: Tony Hawk’s Project 8
Tony Hawk’s Project 8 is a 2006 skateboarding video game. The PS3 and PS2 versions of the game received a fair amount of positive reviews although the PS2 version was given a less positive review from critics.
Eight players make up the Project 8 team, where they will complete challenges and goals.
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11: Tony Hawk: Shred
The Tony Hawk’s: Shred features a snowboarding mode where players can explore snowy areas using their boards. All versions of the game received mixed to negative reaction from critics with the PlayStation 3 given average ratings.
However, the snowboard feature of the game brings in a new adventure and excitement to the game. The developing duty of the game was carried out by Robomodo, while the game was published by Activision in 2010.
12: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD
Pro Hawk Pro Skater is a remake of the original Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Skater 2 & 3, featuring high-definition new levels. Players score points in the game by completing tricks. Despite being a remake, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD received fair to negative ratings from critics citing certain glitches in the game. However, the soundtrack and big head mode was praised.
The game was released on the 28th of August 2012, for PlayStation 3. An Xbox and Windows version of the game is also available.
13: Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground
Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground PlayStation 2 and 3 version received average ratings from critics. The PlayStation 2 version was criticised for not having the same mechanics of the PS3 version.
Just like most Tony Hawk’s series, Proving Ground supports a multiplayer mode. The single player mode spans across 9 levels in the cities of Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia. New skateboarding tricks features like Nail-The-Manual and Nail-The-Grab were also included in the game. Successfully completing tricks awards the player with more points.
Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground was published in 2007 by Activision. An Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and Wii versions of the game is also available.
14: Shaun White Skateboarding
Shaun White Skateboarding brings in a new form of skateboarding action. Players take the role of Shaun as he tries to free himself from his captors. Completing missions and executing tricks in the game are pretty simple.
The PlayStation 3 version of the game was met with average reviews. With critics criticizing several features of the game like the difficulty, story and gameplay.
Bottom line
While the list may not contain all the skateboard games for the stipulated platforms, it carries some of the best skateboarding games that were published for Sony’s Sony’s PlayStation 1, 2, & 3. With Tony Hawk’s series forming a major part of the extreme sports game, skateboard games are now getting more and more recognition from gamers.
