Tony Hawk's American Wasteland [Xbox]

The Tony Hawk series is the most prolific franchise in console games that doesn't revolve around a ball. Since its PlayStation debut a little more than six years ago, we've been treated to annual updates to an already-great series. Each one brings something different to the table, but how long before that table breaks under the weight of so many sequels?

American Wasteland represents another chapter for Tony. Like the Underground iterations, which took up the last two years, THAW is more about you than the decorated pros that also populate the skate parks contained therein. Instead of several separate levels, you're free to play on, around, and above a recreation of Los Angeles. Grind down the Santa Monica pier, manual along the Walk of Fame, or leap off the downtown skyscrapers -- it's all here. What doesn't show up is load time, as you're free to go from one place to another nearly seamlessly.

In most ways, this is the best "new-school" Tony Hawk title. The story mode is much more palatable, as your newly transplanted character fights for street cred in LA, then attempts to build the coolest skate park ever known with his new chums. Missions of all types abound, and either increase stats, money, or further the story. The difficulty curve is skewed towards newbies, but that's just because the true pros are working out runs in other modes.

Speaking of runs, Los Angeles is a well-designed place to skate -- not that we expect anything less from developer Neversoft. It's wrought with great lines to of rails, ramps, and other objects that are both organic looking and perfect for tricking. Thankfully, you won't be riding any poor-handling vehicles like muscle cars or leaf blowers, as they've mercifully been removed.

However, the on-foot segment has been made much deeper, and you can even do some sweet tricks without a board. Also, the BMX makes up a whole different section of gameplay, and unlike Activision's old Mat Hoffman series, its controls are independent of the skateboard -- using the right analog as well as the face buttons for tricks. It's a nice change of pace, and has a good amount of gameplay in its own right.

Unlike most games out there, THAW 's story mode barely scratches the surface of what you can do on this disc. Online is a huge part of the package (though of course absent from the GameCube version), and the number of game types accessible in multiplayer is staggering. Of course, when you log on, you'll see almost everyone perfecting their runs in score attack. It's a riot to pick an area and square off with human opponents. Rankings, friends lists, and other online staples make the experience user-friendly.

You're free to create a mess of things for the game yourself: skaters, missions, tricks, boards, and tags. The create-a-skater is a bit of a drag this year, though, as you can't make yourself for story mode. Also, the face-mapping (only on PS2) seems less honed than in years past -- even though you can use the EyeToy as well. Where's the ability to make a female skater? Create-a-tag rocks, especially since you can literally paint the town red (or blue, or yellow) wherever you decide to skate.

Graphically, there isn't much new ground to cover in THAW. While the world looks great and the draw distance is nice, skaters themselves move a little stiffly when not strapped to a board. They also lack expression in cutscenes -- maybe it's because of the Botox that's so prevalent in LA.

Everyone looks forward to hearing the new Tony Hawk soundtrack each year. With Bad Brains, Black Flag, Iggy Pop, Misfits, and Gorilla Biscuits tunes, one would have high hopes for it. However, many of the anthems included are actually covers by other artists: Emanuel covers Iggy Pop's Search and Destroy, and Rise Against does Black Flag's Fix Me. Having Green Day and Motley Crue songs probably jacked up the budget for getting originals to all this music, or maybe Activision was just trying something different.

Either way, it's a good soundtrack (with Dead Kennedys, Public Enemy, Del), but it could've been better. Remember the first Tony Hawk soundtrack? Only around a dozen tracks, no HUGE bands, and it's still tops. This one, like the last few, has a little too much fat for its own good.

Tony Hawk's American Wasteland is a definite step up from the Underground brand, but make no mistake: It's still yet another Tony Hawk game. With Activision seemingly stuck on annual sequels and Neversoft's dedication to advancement, you'll see even more bugs than before. But, you'll also have a great time with it, no matter how much of the other Tony Hawk games you've played. Activision has got us to bite and chew happily for another year, but we can't promise how much longer we'll be able to make that claim.