Tony Hawk might be one of the greatest skaters of all time, but you probably aren't. So if you're struggling with your kickflips, caspers, grinds, and manuals, glance through our tips for the latest and greatest in this classic series.
by Mike Smith
WATCH TONY HAWK'S PROVING GROUND VIDEOS
1. Mind the Nails
You've probably noticed by now that when you drop into one of Proving Ground's "Nail the..." modes, you get that nifty slow-mo camera. What's not quite so obvious, though, is the way that camera view can make judging your landing difficult. You can't see ahead of yourself during a manual, for example, so how do you know when to quit? Be smart: scout out a landmark before you hit the Nail mode, and when you pass it, you'll know when it's time to land your trick and claim your points.
2. Skate Check... gently
Although it's fun to ram punks as hard as possible, it's not actually necessary. (At least, not once you've got the achievement points for catapulting one 150 feet.) A slow tap is just as good as a flat-out smash, and it's much easier to actually hit the fools when you're moving slowly. Some tasks require you to clear complex, thug-infested areas inside a tight time limit, so remember the old adage: don't count your chickens until they're hatched. No, wait. More haste, less speed.
3. Keep your Aggro under control
Aggro Kicks are easy to learn but hard to master. Don't be in too much of a hurry to move on to more exciting moves. Spend a little time working on the rhythm until it's natural and unconscious -- this'll stand you in good stead later in the game when you'll need fast movement to be second nature. On the Xbox 360, you'll find the timing a little easier, thanks to the little nudge of vibration you get through the controller. But don't fall into the trap of using your forefinger for both the bumper and trigger -- keep the trigger covered with your middle finger instead. You'll need both.
4. Don't be narrow-minded
Proving Ground doesn't let you get your teeth into its more advanced moves until you've tackled its storyline for a while. So while it's easy to get focused on piling through the plot as quickly as possible, don't be afraid to take detours, check out challenges, and work on your technique. Every move you do will improve your skills, so every little detour you feel like taking has the potential to turn into an opportunity for an upgrade. Even when you're hustling from city to city, those curbs and tram-lines are perfect to work on your grinds.
Posted: 19 Oct 2007
