Thankfully, developer Neversoft has decided to take the series in a new direction, and the resulting game looks like it'll be a return to the franchises' roots, where the skating was just as important as the story. Make no mistake, however, there's still a major focus on story, and it looks like the best we've seen in a Tony Hawk game. The game begins when your nameless character steps off a bus coming from "Middle America," only to get beaten down by several gutterpunks. After dusting yourself off, you're approached by Mindy, the creator of an underground skate 'zine called "American Wasteland." She befriends you, and you're off on your adventure.
The first thing that Mindy teaches you about is how to change your look. Unlike the previous titles, American Wasteland doesn't let you create a character from scratch. Instead, you'll begin the game as a mulleted redneck who looks like his time would be better spent creating pounds of bathtub meth than cruising the streets of LA. As you explore the city, however, you'll be able to enter everything from barber shops and tattoo parlors to clothes stores and skate shops in an effort to change your look. There's a ton of options to choose from, and you'll quickly be able to switch in real-time.
The biggest change from previous games, however, is the environment you'll be able to explore. While the other titles jumped from city to city, Wasteland drops players into LA and keeps them there. Don't worry about getting bored, however, as you'll be able to explore the massive city's different neighborhoods, each one more different than the last. You needn't worry about load times, either, since the entire area is streamed from the game disc as you play. You'll see a load screen every time you turn the game on, but that's the only time.
