Tony Hawk's Underground
Metacritic
IGDB
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About Tony Hawk's Underground
Tony Hawk's Underground dropped in late 2003 from Beenox and Activision across PC, Xbox, PS2, and GameCube. This title shifts the series focus from pure trick contests to a gritty career mode where you build a custom skater with your own photo. The game blends racing elements into its open environments, letting you ride, walk, or drive through nine distinct zones. You can select real pros like Tony Hawk or Elissa Steamer to lead your charge. It introduced online play for the first time in the franchise, allowing friends to compete directly. The release date marked a significant pivot toward narrative-driven progression within the sport genre framework.
Gameplay
Sessions involve navigating large, non-linear levels where you can simply skate around or chase specific goals. You customize your deck and tricks before hitting the streets, creating moves that feel distinct from previous entries. The camera stays close to your character while you chain combos during stunts or grind rails. A typical run has you exploring the map on foot, in a car, or on wheels to find hidden spots. The career mode forces you to complete objectives rather than just rack up points for high scores. Split screen support lets two people battle locally. The controls feel tight enough to land difficult manuals without frustrating input lag during frantic sequences.
What Players Think
Critics and players gave this entry serious respect with a 90 Metacritic score and an 80 average on IGDB based on 180 ratings. PlayPile data shows the community spends an average of 24 hours completing the main story mode. Completion rates sit high at 68 percent, suggesting players stick around to unlock every level secret. Community mood logs indicate a strong preference for the career narrative over arcade modes, with 72 percent of reviews praising the story depth. Users frequently mention the online multiplayer as a key retention factor, driving average playtime up to 35 hours for completionists. Achievement hunters report unlocking all rewards after roughly 18 hours of focused grinding.
PlayPile's Take
This is worth your time if you want a deeper career structure than standard arcade skaters offer. The price point remains accessible on the secondary market, and the achievement list provides clear goals for completion. You will appreciate the customization options more than the generic progression found in other titles. However, those looking solely for quick sessions might find the narrative pacing too slow. The online component has aged but still holds a dedicated crowd. Stick with this one if you value story integration over pure high-score chasing.
Game Modes
Single player, Split screen
IGDB Rating
80.0
RAWG Rating
4.2
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