Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2 Reveals PS5 Features

There is no denying how successful the remakes of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 have been for Activision. It didn't take long for it to ship 1 million copies, making it the fastest-selling game in the series, so it made sense for Activision to announce enhanced re-releases for the new PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. Those two versions are set to release in only a couple of days, and now the game's official Twitter account has shared what features fans can expect, at least for the PS5 version.

Most of them are to be expected. For example, support for the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers on the PS5's DualSense controller, a feature Sony was pushing heavily pre-release and perfectly demonstrated with Astro's Playroom (which is bundled with every PS5). PS5 owners will also enjoy faster loading, 3D audio, and the ability to use the Activities feature, meaning they can jump straight into specific missions and the like, which is perfectly suited for a game like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.

Cross-gen progression is also touted, so anyone who upgrades from the PlayStation 4 version can import their save data and continue their progress instead of starting over from scratch (hopefully it'll be an easier process than for Avengers). But perhaps the most exciting detail concerns improved visuals.

Activision promises 120 frames per second at 1080p (provided users have a compatible monitor) or 60fps at a native 4K. That second one is particularly enticing since some PS5 titles like Demon's Souls and the upcoming Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart don't offer both 60fps and 4K resolution at the same time. Users instead have to choose between the two, sacrificing graphical quality for a smoother framerate or the other way around.

It should be noted that while those who own the PS4 version of the game can upgrade to the PS5 version, unlike other upgrades, it won't be for free. PS4 owners will need to pay $10 for it as the upgrade will also include the exclusive content from the Digital Deluxe Edition. Anyone who purchased that edition, however, will receive the upgrade at no additional cost. This also applies to the Xbox Series X/S version.

There's currently no word on the Nintendo Switch release of the game, which was announced alongside the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions, with only having a tentative 2021 release window. Fortunately, what footage has been shown so far suggests that Switch owners won't need to worry about having an inferior version of the game, even if it will obviously lack the features present on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Vicarious Visions have done a superb job of developing one of the biggest game releases of September and breathing life back into a franchise that was on the brink of collapse. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is a massive success and the best selling game of the series thanks to its faithfulness to the original and some classy new tweaks.

However, though it seems like THPS1+2 is a home run, a slam dunk, or a 900 (Tony Hawk’s signature vert trick,) there are quite a few instances where Vicarious Visions have under-delivered, as some of the new additions feel hollow and only there to pad out the game, rather than to serve any substantial purpose.