As if kick-flipping straight out of a vision born from a fevered dream, the Birdman cometh, again. After years of franchise mismanagement, we finally have a reason to be excited for the future of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series, and that's because its future - get this - is actually rooted in its past. Or rather, a convergence of the two. I don't know, this semi-convoluted lead up isn't really going the way I had hoped. The point is that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 are both getting remastered, so let your inner-child rejoice.
First details of the upcoming remasters first surfaced, somewhat bizarrely I might add, with Tony Hawk apparently texting people to let them know that something related to the series was about to be announced. In his message, the former pro skater told recipients "We are bringing back Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2! Original maps, original skaters and songs from the original soundtrack, plus new features! The game looks awesome and will be officially announced soon."
Shortly thereafter, Summer Games Fest went live to officially reveal the trailer, followed by host Geoff Keighley and the Birdman himself discussing the remasters, as well as the series's heritage and significance as a whole.
Aside from the shock factor of learning that two of the most beloved games from the original Playstation era are being resurrected, details suggest that these remasters are more than just a cash-grab. For starters, both titles are being developed by Vicarious Visions - a studio previously hailed for their work on the Crash Bandicoot™ N. Sane Trilogy, so there is some credence there that these remasters will be handled with care. Additionally, features from across the entire franchise are being incorporated. You'll once again be able to spend countless hours crafting your ideal skate park in Create-A-Park, but with an added bonus of being able to share it with friends online. Basically, this could very well be the definitive Tony Hawk experience some of us have been waiting for.
The real question is, will I be able to submit a low-res image of my face for use in Create-A-Skater? One can only hope.
Both remasters are being bundled together in one tricktastic package, which is set to launch September 4th for Xbox One, PS4, and PC via Epic Store.
