After spending a few hours with the single player mode I got a chance to go online with other members of the media and try out a few of the multiplayer modes. First up was a mode called “Walls”. From the title I had no idea what we were in for, but basically the mode is what it sounds like. Each player has a unique colored “wall” that follows them around as they skate (the more tricks you pull off or longer you grind makes the trail stay with you for a longer amount of time) around the online open skate park and basically you rack up points for each player that skates into your trail or “wall”. This made for a unique game and personally I liked the new mode. Other online modes include free skate, trick attack, etc. but new additions such as “Walls” mode is making Project 8 more than just a single player experience, it is now entering the world of online fun.
Graphically Tony Hawk’s Project 8 is more of the same style we have become used to with the Tony Hawk series, with a little bit more polish and shine. Being a nearly final build that we played I noticed no slowdown or clipping that I was used to with the last game to come out on the 360. The environment looked “ok” but I would have been happy to see a little more thought go into the landscaping. Character models took a huge leap this year and with Project 8 they are easily the best-looking skater models ever to grace a videogame console. Facial expressions and animations were obviously upgraded this time around, which gives the entire game a more realistic feel. Being an open-world type game Project 8 did a decent job of making you feel like you are actually skating through a city, the draw distance is fantastic but once again the amount of areas that are available to skate into are limited.
At the end of the day Neversoft and Activision have gone back to the roots of the Tony Hawk series with Project 8. Not only do we get the chance to go back and skate the old-school mission style everyone loved, but also the classic control scheme enjoyed by many is back in full effect, along with some new upgrades (Trick Stick). Add all of these great features to a new innovative style of gameplay and you are sure to have a game that will attract loyal fans and new gamers alike. With the graphical side of Tony Hawk’s Project 8 shaping up nicely and the multiplayer portion of the game getting me excited, this title has quickly gone up my list of games to check out this holiday season. Stay tuned to Planet Xbox 360 for a full review once the ship date nears.
