Ureview by: stinkipete
Ureview points: 12
Ureviewer since: February 2006
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Reviewed On: Saturday February 18, 2006
Price paid: $40.00
| Rating: 6 | Recommends product: Yes
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American Wasteland is the latest in the series of Tony Hawk's Skatboarding games. It promises "no loading screens" and "one big level...but it aint...not by a long way.
Instead of just having one big level in a similar style to San Andreas (like we expected), the story mode is actually split up into about 7 or so areas connected by dull, uninteresting tunnels. These tunnels contain ramps and rails for you to continue a combo, but the moment you enter one your skater slows down. As you get further in, you'll notice some lovely lag as the textures and objects load. This takes away the whole atmosphere that was expected when the game was advertised, and is frankly unnecessary when you look at games like San Andreas and Spider Man 2.
Online support is even worse, where you can only access one level at a time...so much for no load screens.
Saying this, the online isn't actually that bad once you get over not being able to use the BMX online, only being allowed on 1 level at a time and the fact that you can only smash people round the head with your board in certain game types. The levels are actually pretty decent, especially the classic ones (which are bigger than the new ones:p), the skater customisation is great...especially the scale options, and the gametypes are cool too, despite it being near impossible to get enough people who are actually willing to play CTF:(.
The classic mode is great, if easy, with the levels tweaked ever so slightly and the new moves and abilities added. You can even play the classic mode online with a friend, although seen as though to do this you must have already completed it, it seems very lacking in story and completely uninteresting.
The 360 version needs a make over IMO. The main problem being that it's a straight port and hardly makes use of any of the 360 features, the marketplace being one. So what if I can buy a gamer picture? So what if I can buy a theme? I want to buy a board no one else has. I want to style my hair in a way never seen before. I want to buy new pieces for my created park. But most of all, I WANT OTHERS TO EXPERIENCE MY PARK.
Why oh why? Why can't I use my created park online? WHY? What possible reason is there for it? As a PC gamer at heart, this is where I begin to get annoyed. For almost a decade now, we PC gamers have had the ability to play a custom map cleverly created by someone else. Why should it be so hard to acheive the same, just because the box I want to do it on isn't beige and doesn't have a word processor. The tech is there...USE IT!
Anyway...
The story is actually pretty good and entertaining...the first time around anyway. In fact it's a pretty enjoyable and fun game, even though I didn;t really sell it to ya.
Scores:
Graphics: 7
Improve it...come on. It's next gen we're talkin about.
Gameplay: 9
Both SP and MP, Gameplay is great.
Online: 2
Yeah, it has online ability, but f*cking use the abilities you have!
Options/Customisation: 8
Pretty good...although they should bring back the level editor...
Overall: 6
Your online abilities disappoint me.
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| Pros: No loading screens (ish), Good skater customisation, BMX ability, interesting levels, classic mode, online support, new moves, fun to hang out on, fun. |
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| Cons: Boring corridors connecting levels, levels aren't even all in one (I'll explain later), a few lies told about just how big the levels were and online support, online REALLY needs improvement. |
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