Along with that new (but maybe not as fresh as it could be) story mode option to the world of Hawk is a redefined character design interface. You can now model almost every detail of your character, from hair color and length, to tattoo size and placement, to body size and stature. If you don't like Vans and want to skate with a pair of Etnies, change your skids too. You can make your character a close likeness of yourself (even more so with the face mapping for PS2) or something completely off-the-wall, fitted with a pirate hat and green skin if you so desire (I desired). Because THUG is centered around the story mode, the create-a-skater feature is well equipped and even allows you to change the look of your character at anytime. Now, finish your character off with just a name, 'cause you get no recognition; you're just a nobody skater, for now.

Ah, New Jersey. Home to drug dealers, pollution, and some sweet skate spots. This is your hometown, where you really have to thrash the skate scene to get a little recognition. To do that, you must complete different and challenging goals (Okay, the goal thing is not new, but did you get to drive a car in any previous Pro Skaters? No!). Upon completing a certain amount of goals in each level, the storyline continues to unfold: at home in Jersey, some trouble happens thanks to your best friend and you must flee Jersey before the drug lords catch up with you. Not a bad deal for you- though you have to leave due to some unfortunate circumstances, it sets the pace and puts you on the road to becoming a professional skater.

On the road, you will see some great cities and locations. The levels are much larger and seemingly subsidized by skate spots, though they may somewhat overlap each other. Each rail you grab tends to drop you off into a spot to tear it up, and at your disposal are some new and always insane tricks to impress the local skaters, gaining recognition and stature all the while. Gaining sponsors like Stacey Peralta (you know, the same Peralta from Powell-Peralta back when Tony Hawk was skating with the Bones Brigade) is one of your main goals; you can't get in the jams without some clout. Once you win your first tournament, you will even have the option to pick a new sponsor. Whatever team you pick, you will head to their stomping grounds to prove yourself on the team. With over 27 chapters in the story mode, the game is fairly long, though a THPS veteran should be able to cruise through it in around 10 hours (with the difficulty set to normal. Yes, there is now a difficulty selection, 4 to be exact). The downside is that scripting and visuals could have been better, considering the emphasis on the story mode and characters. There are no incredible twists and turns in the plot, nor are there any impressive visual spectacles to marvel at. The goals and competitions are very much like previous installments, often times having nothing to do with the story line.

THPS games are well known for the good quality graphics, but have never been amazing (excellent graphics seemingly sacrificed for outstanding gameplay and control). While resolution is indeed higher on the Xbox, the PS2 version no doubt produces THUG with the same standard as its predecessors, only slightly increasing visual appeal with crisper and less pixilated textures and a smoother frame rate. One noticeable feature (or lack thereof) returns, being what I like to call the "good from far, far from good" textures of the characters. Once you get close up to other characters (usually being the pro skaters, having smaller roles in THUG), you will be slightly disappointed to see that they still are unattractive. Not quite enough polygons went into use here.

Maintaining the excellent control of the series was definitely not overlooked and a new aspect, allowing you to jump off your skateboard in mid-combo (or anytime, by pressing R1 and L1 simultaneously), was added. You can now run to a nearby ramp or jump and grab a rail in mid-combo before the timer runs out, allowing you to string so many trick combos, you may not even be able to figure them all out (some goals even require you to not use your board at all, but to run along rooftops). Though most veterans will not find as much of a use for it (the classic combo system is infused in my blood), it does make for more interesting combos (just watch the main menu idle-controller demos when they come on, it's insane!) and allows you access to some locations you would not normally be able to grab. Bottom line: any THPS veteran will feel right at home with game control, but just as nicely, a beginner will have no trouble learning to thrash.

One thing is for sure about THUG: you are highly unlikely to get bored with the soundtrack. How do 72 songs by hit Punk, Hip-Hop and Rock artists sound (ranging from the 70's to present)? You get cuts from the likes of NOFX, Kiss, Sublime, The Clash, Jurassic 5, Nas, and Jane's Addiction, all separated by type, allowing you to turn off a specific genre. That is double the amount of tracks of any of the previous Pro Skater games.

Going hand-in-hand with the increased focus on the create-a-skater feature is a better and more refined level creator, allowing more complexity with the design of your level. You can even make goals and edit the text for each. They did not stop there with the self-designing features. Also added is a create-a-trick feature. Though this was a good idea, you are limited to existing animations and it automatically scores your trick by complexity. I found this feature to be sub-par on the user-friendliness and it really slows down the fast paced feel the rest of the game produces. Not much fun there.

Another aspect I cannot let go untouched in THUG is the 2-player fun. You have the option of a vertical or horizontal split screen and a couple of fun types of play. If you have a few friends over, plug in that other controller and hit up a game of "Slap!" (Caution: Hollering "BAM?bitch slapped you fool!" numerous times to your friends may offend them) or "Firefight." Playing Firefight is by far the most fun I had playing this game. You can shoot fireballs from your skateboard by doing an ollie (or hitting a launch) than tapping up and square (to shoot forward) or down and square (to shoot behind you), shooting as many as you can get out with the amount of airtime you get. The winner is the first to ten points (counted backwards by tens, starting at 100 points each). The action is ridiculously fun and extremely competitive; my friends and I did not even realize how much time passed as we shot fireball after fireball at one another.

THUG is the best game in the series to date, but not by a whole heck of a lot. It still maintains the crack-like addictive gameplay and replay value, and gives you a more personal feel with a story mode. If you are addicted to the series, then you probably already bought the game. If you're new, THUG is a good place to start. There are very few titles that consecutively produce quality sequels and this is one of them. That said, you still will not be missing much if you want to save a few duckets and pick up an older copy like THPS3 or 4 (unless you are really into online gaming, where you will get your chance only with THUG to show your skills off to the world).