Subterranean Skateboarding Shenanigans

When Activision announced that it had secured the Tony Hawk name until 2017, it was easy to predict some kind of pattern. Very little changed between previous Pro Skater games and the assumption was that each rendition would represent only a slight evolution in the gameplay. However, this latest version won't be known as Pro Skater 5! It's called Tony Hawk's Underground, and it marks a surprising new approach to the series.

After the more open, expansive levels of THPS 4, Underground takes the concept further down that ramp. Rather than a selection of separate levels, Underground looks like taking advantage of a full free-roaming city (almost GTA style). Tony, Bam, Bob and co. can now take the element of exploration even further. The players will be able to step off their skateboards, scale buildings, they can even drive cars! Alongside these touches of freshness, the online mode and the create-a-park mode have also been stepped up a notch. A fresh perspective on the massively popular franchise was going to be needed sooner or later and this could well keep Tony at the top of the charts.

More details should grind down the rails from E3 sometime in the not too distant.