It's a cold soul that doesn't have time for the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games, I'll tell you that for free. I mean, what's not to love? Addictive high score-based gameplay set across massive maps packed with secrets? Brilliant. Scores of insane unlockable characters, including Spider-Man and Shrek? Inspired. Detailed character customisation and the ability to build your own skate parks? Love it. And the music? Oh man, the music.
If you can find me a better franchise based on a sport, I'll eat my shoes. And if you come to me with FIFA, I'll make you eat my shoes. For four incredible games (and one mess that we don't talk about), Tony Hawk's Pro Skater was king. Whether you grew up with the series, or discovered it later in life, it was a properly brilliant experience all the same.
This is why I'm so excited for a brand-new documentary that's all about the beloved franchise, and stars the man himself. Tony Hawk, not Shrek, just to be clear. Pretending I'm a Superman is the work of Ralph D'Amato, a Neversoft producer who was with the franchise from the first game in 1999 all the way through to 2006's Project 8.
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D'Amato has teamed up with Swedish filmmaker Ludvig Gür to create the documentary, which premieres at the Mammoth Film Festival in California tomorrow (February 29). The project started life as an Indiegogo campaign in 2017 that unfortunately didn't find much success, before eventually finding independent financing elsewhere.
You can check out the trailer for yourself below, or watch it right here.
Pretending I'm a Superman follows the rise of Pro Skater, and the positive impact the series had on the wider skateboarding industry as the success of the series helped establish the sport in the mainstream. Longtime fans will no doubt be aware that the name of the documentary is a reference to a Goldfinger song that appeared in the first game, and is most likely now stuck in your head. Sorry.
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Expect in-depth interviews with Tony Hawk himself, as well as a number of fellow boarders. Rodney Mullen, Steve Caballero, and Chad Muska - who all appeared in at least one Pro Skater game - all feature. Even if you haven't played a Pro Skater game in years and have long since hung up your wheels, this should be a welcome chance to bask in some nostalgia and remember a simpler time: A time when Activision actually published good Tony Hawk games.
Featured Image Credit: ActivisionTopics: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, PlayStation, Activision