Having skateboarded, smashed, trashed and sticker planted (not to mention graffiti-zed) throughout the United States and selected parts of the world, it was time for a change. Something new and different was warranted for the Tony Hawk cyber universe.

Hmm … let’s see – done the world, how about something location specific. Sure, still got to have mission-driven gameplay, but how about something a little more open-ended that actually serves as a barometer as to your progress in the game? And just for the fun of it, let’s diversify the gameplay, but throwing in a little BMX bike action.

The result is Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland, a diverse game that pulls off all the familiar tricks the franchise is renowned for, adds a few new wrinkles (and tricks) and pulls it all together with the classic style that Neversoft’s hallowed franchise is known for.

THAW is still about skating, pulling tricks, only this time, rather than out-trick another team, you are a country bumpkin new to the L.A. scene, ripped off and trying to get back your gear and earn some respect along the way.

To do that, you will need to impress the locals, and that means challenges, learning new tricks, earning cash for tournaments and a new “L.A.-I-don’t-give-a-crap” look, before delving into the best part of the game building the private skate ranch (a.k.a. transforming a backlot concrete mess into a skater’s dream world with ramps, half-pipes, rails and some familiar – and stolen – landmarks).

The game has all the modes we come to expect from the franchise – a story mode, classic mode and create-a-modes. Ok, there are some new ideas in this mix as well. Before players could create their own skater for the game, well this year the game takes it a step further. There are new tricks you can learn in the game (like the vert slide and Nata Spin), but if that is not enough, you can go into the create-a menu and create your own trick.

As the game plays off a story of a skater new to the scene, the game presents a free-roaming city and players can pick and choose how they wish to move through the world. You can take challenges at your own leisure, picking and choosing the tempo of the game’s flow.

Arriving off a bus into the L.A. scene, you are ripped off and have nothing left but your board. You meet Mindy, who plays big sister to you and guides you through the game’s aspects. She introduces you to the shops where you can upgrade your board or your look. The stores also have notes on the doors that offer up challenges. Completing the challenges not only means cash for the pocket, but you upgrade skills as well. Mindy will introduce you to locals who will teach you tricks. This is handled in a very straightforward manner, with on-screen prompts.

As your skills evolve, you will get into the Skate Ranch segment, which is essentially pulling off stunts throughout the city to earn pieces for the ranch.

The control scheme of the game is in line with other Tony Hawk games, relying on the hot buttons to combo, and the shoulder triggers to help land. Pull off enough tricks to fill up your focus meter and then depress the right thumbstick to hit a slow-mo focus mode, which is great for pulling off big combos and landing them. The bike handles a lot differently than the board, using the right thumbstick to pull off tricks, and the pacing is a little faster than with the board, but this is an aspect that is also a lot of fun to play and offers a break from the “grind” (pun intended) of working up skateboarding skills. 

The game is also rife with tongue-in-cheek humor, poking fun at pop culture icons. The music is mostly rock, grunge rock and fits the attitude of the game very well. Graphically the game is also strong. The camera angles are spot-on and do a good job of following the skater through all the trick combos he pulls off. The crashes will have you cringing – especially if you do a face drop from the top of a building – and the animation for the tricks is really well done.

THAW is a bit of a departure from the THUG style of the series, but this is a good thing. It still has all the elements we like about Tony Hawk titles, throws in new ideas and tricks, and creates a well-rounded gaming experience. With the Xbox Live support for the multiplayer games, this is a Tony Hawk title sure to please fans of the series.

Gameplay: 8.6
The load times are very short, and much of the city streams. The controls take a bit of getting used to – if you are a first-time player – but are generally well designed and you should be able to understand them quickly – using them practically to score big points is another matter.

Graphics: 8.7
The game’s attitude shines though in the animation of the characters. Though some of the elements seem a little off (as in did that trick happen the way intended or was close good enough to trigger the cutscene), and you can lose your avatar in the bushes and other environmental elements (rare), the game keeps everything visual about the series intact. The pop-up static illustrations used to emphasize points are great.

Sound: 8.6
The musical score is kicking - even though you may not know many of the tunes, they fit the game's style and attitude very well. The voice acting is fine, with attitude underscoring the ideas, and the sound effects as you trick throughout the city are what one would expect.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Spectacular trick attempts can lead to spectacular crashes. There are three difficulty levels to tailor the challenge.

Concept: 8.8
Xbox Live, create-a-trick, new tricks, new story – all these combine to give THAW a new direction and create another worthy successor in the franchise.

Multiplayer: 8.9
Xbox Live is supported for all those skateboard gaming fanatics who want to show off their moves on a larger stage. 

Overall: 8.8
Graphically very good, with a killer musical score, high-flying aerial tricks, and a free-roaming environment, THAW is a great title that picks up where THUG2 left off and advances the franchise with a bit more diverse gaming and all the entertainment elements expected from the series.