In many ways, if you played the last game in this popular skateboarding series, Tony Hawk's Underground, then you've already played the new one, not surprisingly titled Tony Hawk's Underground 2. Most of the gameplay has remained the same, the graphics have improved ever so slightly, and the types of goals are a lot like its predecessor. Basically, it's more of the same, wrapped up in a slightly more sophomoric, mean-spirited package, thanks to the ubiquitous prescence of MTV bad boy Bam Margera. That's not a bad thing, of course, as the game is still the best way to get the ollies out of your system without risking a broken ankle.

While the last game was an engrossing, Rocky-esque story of a skater (created and played by you, of course) making his way from the suburbs of New Jersey to the top of the skating world, THUG 2 takes a decidedly different approach. As the game begins, your skater is tossed into a black van, taken to an abandoned garage, and threatened by a bunch of madmen wearing hockey masks. Not surprisingly, those madmen turn out to be Bam and Tony, and they tell you that you've be chosen to join them on the Worldwide Destruction Tour, in which their two teams will span the globe, causing mayhem and behaving like, well, Jackasses.


After Tony chooses you for his team, you've got a chance to hone your skills by training in the old garage. While most of the moves and tricks are the same, there have been a few additions to spice things up this time around. The biggest (and most useful) new trick is the sticker slap, which allows you to jump against a wall, slap on your team's sticker, then push off to reverse direction. This really comes in handy when riding a rail, as you can continue your combo by reversing, racking up major points by heading back the way you came. You'll also use it at times to break through walls or glass, depending on the goal at hand.

For those moments when a sticker simply isn't a big enough mark on the world, you can hop off your board and whip out the cans of spray paint for a little fun with graffiti. Chances are good that you won't really use this very much, except for when it's called for in the level's goals. For all of the budding taggers out there, you can also create your own graphic, using a tool that will allow you to layer different elements on top of each other, tweaking the colors, sizes, or orientations with a series of sliders. It's a fun tool to play with for a while, but you can have a great time with the game without even touching it.

The last big change allows you to "focus" on the tricks at hand when your Special meter is filled up. By simply pressing a button, everything will slow down, making it easier for you land tricks perfectly or keep your balance when sliding on a rail. Again, this is a nice little addition, but I found that I really didn't need to use it during the game, except for those moments when a goal required me to utilize it. While it might help newcomers keep their combos going longer, experienced players probably won't need the aid.