Tony Hawk's American Wasteland [X360]

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.