Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 was one of the most successful video game remakes ever, and it was even the fastest-selling game in the series, which is an incredible feat considering the franchise was 21 years old at the time. The game introduced loads of new fans to the series, which has led to a huge demand for more Pro Skater, and fans keep getting teased with sequel rumors.
The first two Pro Skater games are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to intricate level designs and exciting hidden locations, and Redditors have given their two cents about which one they think is the very best. There are over 100 levels in the series, and there is hardly a bad one amongst them, which makes the debate a much tougher argument.
School II — Pro Skater 2
Bigcheeser1234 thinks School II is the best map in the entire series, and they hilariously note, "I wanna enroll in School II." The Redditor isn't alone, as the level is one of the most beloved amongst all fans of the series and one that made players realize what Neversoft was capable of.
There are so many different areas of the level, including a secret garden with not much in it, but it's simply the satisfaction it gives players when they figure out how to get there. And then there's the frustrating security guard who runs players over while yelling profanities at them. The character was made even better in the remake, as Jack Black plays the security guard in the 2020 release.
New Orleans — Underground 2
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 is a very different game from any other in the series, and even though it's a sequel to Tony Hawk's Underground, that's in name only. The 2004 game follows two teams, the skaters and the Jackass crew, as they cause as much destruction and havoc in each major city as possible. Jackass has a weird spin-off game of its own, but Underground 2 captures what the show was about while combining it with skateboarding.
Twofacetwo thinks that of all the levels in the series, New Orleans is the best, and at the very least, it's certainly the most unique. The Redditor posits, "It was so visually interesting with so many great spots. Plus the jazz band at the dock was just great to listen to." Along with the music and New Orleans' distinctive look, there was a supernatural element to it, and seasoned fans will know there near impossible to reach the secret area on the level.
Mall — Pro Skater
The original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is notable for two levels that are completely downhill, giving players a rush of speed. The first of the two levels is the appropriately named Downhill Jam, and the second is Mall. The level sees players speeding through the abandoned shopping center, which is covered in dirt and glass, and there's ivy growing on the walls.
Bmcelroy thinks it's the best level in the series and argues, "The updated aesthetic to it in 1 + 2 cemented it. I'm not a big Downhill Jam-type level guy, but the lines are super fun and tasty." Gamers who have been playing the game since it first came out will know that, if players are skilled enough, it's possible to grind from the very top of the level to the very bottom, which makes it easily one of the best levels in Pro Skater 1.
Manhattan — Underground
Where Underground 2 is very much a globetrotting event, as the two crews go international and obnoxiously destroy European cities, the first Underground keeps it domestic, and even fairly local. The game keeps the story in North America, rarely straying away from the East Coast, and Mikerailey reckons Manhattan is the very best level in the series.
The Redditor explains, "Manhattan is a masterpiece of grind lines. Lots of great level design in THUG." It's easy to see how fans would be enthralled with the map, especially if they played it back in 2003. The level is so much bigger than anything that came before it, there's no time limit, and it was the first time players could ever hop off their board.
Kyoto — Underground 2: Remix
Allegiance10 thinks Kyoto is the best level, explaining, "I love Kyoto because of the insanely high grind lines." When it comes to maps in the skateboarding series, Kyoto is a deep cut, and arguably the deepest cut of them all. The level was never a part of any of the main series games.
Instead, it was a part of the PlayStation Portable game, Tony Hawk's Underground 2: Remix, and as an extra on the classic mode of Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. The reason for it not cutting the proper console game is unknown, but it should have been on there. The level is just as good as New Orleans or Barcelona, especially when Godzilla is unlocked and wreaks absolute havoc.
Warehouse — Pro Skater
In 1999, gamers were already addicted to Pro Skater before the game was even released, and that's because of the free demo, which was the full tutorial/first level, Warehouse. For that reason, Warehouse is more iconic than ever, and longtime fans know the level better than the back of their hands.
Jk1rbs loves it for the way it eases players into the game, and they specifically remember, "Getting the secret tape in the hidden room is one of the most memorable moments from the series." The secret tape was in a hallway high up above a halfpipe, and it was the first-ever true feeling of achievement in the series when players reached it. And nothing was better than reaching the tape while listening to one of the best punk rock soundtracks.
Alcatraz — Pro Skater 4
Bo-Duke deduces that "THPS4 is my favorite and Alcatraz is my favorite from THPS4, so, I guess Alcatraz?" It would seem that the developers working at Neversoft were big fans of San Francisco. The city was one of the best levels in the first game, and it later reappeared in Pro Skater 4 too, along with the separate level, Alcatraz.
The prison, which sits on a rock in the middle of the sea, is a dream for skaters, especially because of all the hills and rails, and the map does the real-life location justice. And as Pro Skater 4 was the first time in the series where players weren't limited to two-minute runs, they had all the time in the world to explore Alcatraz at their leisure.
Skatopia — Underground 2
AngelGodinez15 believes Underground 2's Skatopia is the very best level in the series. The Redditor doesn't care about gimmicks or any kind of novelties. There are no epic, hidden locations in Skatopia, nor are there any kind of exciting unlockable extras or any kind of landmarks. Instead, it's very much what it says on the tin, a utopia for skaters.
The level features every kind of ramp under the sun, but, as it's also the final map in Underground 2, it's also the hardest and most frustrating. The very final challenge in the game has players racing from the top of the map and to the bottom, and they have to combine it all into one combo.
Hollywood — American Wasteland
Neversoft might have been stretching the truth when it marketed Tony Hawk's American Wasteland as an open world. While all the areas were tied together, they were connected by long narrow stretches of roads that were hiding the load screens. However, when considering each location as a huge, sprawling environment, the game does a great job.
Firedoge723 believes that Hollywood, the location where American Wasteland begins, is the best level in the series, calling it, "Such a good one." The level is a great depiction of the real-life location, and it's just as vibrant and colorful too. And fans could have been playing it for years without ever finding the extremely well-hidden terrace rooftops.
Cruise Ship — Pro Skater 3
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 goes out with a bang, as Cruise Ship is the final level, and according to ZeitChrist, it's the best of the whole series. The Redditor claims, "I can combo around that entire ship, so much fun!" Impressively, every level in the Tony Hawk series is based on a real location (albeit a couple of exceptions like Skatopia and Skate Heaven,) and Cruise Ship is no exception.
It might look like a run-of-the-mill cruise ship, but it's based on a Carnival Cruise Lines ship. And it only gets more detailed, as there are hilarious announcements made intermittently by Captain Jennings, and there's even a museum on the ship.