Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Is One Of The Greatest Platformers Of All Time
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater celebrated its 25-year anniversary on September 29, 2024. Below, we look back at how it began, and its influence as an unconventional platformer.
The 1990s were a wild time for skateboarding. Professionals like Tony Hawk were pushing the limits of what seemed possible by nailing unbelievable stunts for the first time in history–the loop of death, a 16ft ollie between water towers, and the first 900. Little did we know that these stunts and the people behind them would become part of the foundation of one of the greatest platformers of all time: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
The 1999 classic has officially turned 25 this year. Its legacy of incredible arcade gameplay–the one that spawned eight sequels, millions in sales, and countless kickflips and heelflips–is still as prevalent today as it was when the X Games were at the height of their popularity. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater brought skateboarding to a new level of cultural significance as people of all ages, kids especially, found their way to real-world skateboarding after shredding through the digital remains of an old abandoned mall.