We’re very excited for the upcoming Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 remaster. Rather than a mere re-issue of the iconic PlayStation 1-era games, this is a complete facelift for current-gen consoles. Even just from the trailer, the idea of revisiting some of the games’ classic arenas with updated graphics seems too perfect for words. One of the questions about the new game was if the echoic (the aural version of iconic) punk/metal/hip-hop soundtracks would make the jump as well. Those early 2000s tunes were instrumental in our enjoyment of the games. The good news is, a lot of the songs will!
On Friday, the game’s official Twitter account posted a photo of a stack of CDs with familiar band names on the spines.
What lyrics come to your head first? 🎧 Skate to songs from the era-defining soundtrack #THPS https://t.co/pwW052ooSY pic.twitter.com/9D73rg7w8W
— Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 (@TonyHawkTheGame) May 15, 2020
They’re calling it “The Hawk Mix” and it’s an 18-song amalgam of songs from the first two original games. It’s not everything, but it’s a darn fine representation of the music from those games. We need that music. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater wouldn’t be the same without them. And along with the list of bands, there is now an official Spotify playlist from the remaster which we can listen to in the months until September 4.
Among the indispensable tracks from the original games is Goldfinger’s “Superman”; for many, including myself, this was the song we associated with the first Pro Skater. It showed up on one of the demo discs that every PS1 player got when they bought the system in the early days. Along with PaRappa the Rapper (“Kick, punch, it’s all in the mind!”) and the confusing-ass first level of Armored Core.
Activision
Other standouts include Millencolin’s “No Cigar,” Bad Religion’s “You,” and “Guerrilla Radio” by Rage Against the Machine. This is the soundtrack to my high school years, no question. And sure, it also includes bands that have not aged as well. Papa Roach is something of a punch line these days, but “Blood Brothers” was a necessary track in Pro Skater 2.
While I wish songs like Public Enemy and Anthrax’s “Bring the Noise” or Alley Life’s “Out with the Old” had made the cut, this still gives a now-35-year-old dude a major flashback. Playing these games in a couple of months is going to be sick, rad, tubular, and undeniably dank.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2 will launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 4, 2020.
Featured Image: Activision
Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Twitter!