The BEST Tony Hawk's Game? - Tony Hawk’s Underground 2

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Watch more Nostalgia Reviews:
• Retrospectives
Timestamps, click to skip ahead!
Intro Cutscene 0:00
Introduction 0:26
Story Mode 1:06
Feeling like a Skater 7:46
Soundtrack 8:50
Controls 10:15
Classic Mode 12:10
Create-a-modes 13:50
How to play in 2020 16:47
ThugPro 18:45
Conclusion 20:43
Welcome to Nostalgia Review, the flagship retrospective series for the Jwlar, produced by James Lewis.
This series will cover games, consoles, and all things geeky, new and old, that have imprinted a memory on me in some way, whether bad or good. Primarily, I will be re-visiting titles that I enjoyed thoroughly in the past, and am curious to see how they stand up in the present day. And hoping to drop in a little comedy and humor along the way!
Released in 2004 by Neversoft, Tony Hawks Underground 2, commonly known as THUG2, was the studio's 6th entry into the famous skateboarding gaming franchise, and the 3rd game of the sixth console generation - releasing on PS2, the Original Xbox, PC, and for the PSP as a later released “Remixed version”.
There was also a Gameboy Advanced port, but that is of course quite a different game.
The game released to mixed, but generally positive reviews. At the time it gave the series its lowest Metacritic score yet, of 83, perhaps foretelling the series eventually decline from popularity
The story follows straight after the first Tony Hawks Underground, with the last game's main character impressing some local fans back in his hometown until the A-team swoop in kidnaps him.
Just as with the first entry, Underground 2 aims to place you, the player, into this fictionalized skating universe. Where the Pro Skater games aim to make you FEEL like a pro. The Underground games make you feel like your one of the boys, a close friend to the pros, but a unique person themselves.
YOU are the star of the game, instead of whatever pro-skater you pick at the start of a stage.
THUG1 was a departure from the Pro Skater games when it came to its main mode, adding a serious tone and a compelling narrative with a clear villain and an actual story that had genuine emotions and a level of thought put into it. THUG2 instead returns to the more gamey and juvenile tone of the Pro Skater installments, which can be seen in the graphical style itself, people not only act more cartoonish but look it too.
This van hitting the playable character and kidnapping him is a great analogy for Neversoft turning their back on the seriousness they had introduced, and instead of returning to the form of the classic games.
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Review/Critique - One of the BEST Tony Hawk's Games
#TonyHawk #Thug2 #jwlar

[@nezzivancic3644]

I enjoyed Thug 2, don't get me wrong, but Thug 1 felt more important to me. I never expected that level of storytelling in a "sports" game and it absolutely enthralled me. Thug 2 was fun, but I never felt that level of importance.

[@Sophakingreal]

The thug series is by far one of my favorite games. I just got it on pc and started playing again. I’m gonna get this next lol

[@dougr8646]

They were shadows of their former selves

[@Bittamin]

@@Sophakingreal these games made my whole childhood damn it was so good. The music 😫😫❤️

[@WastedDad]

Agree

[@alanocallaghan5472]

THUG had a real story and still the arcadey gameplay of the previous ones. THUG2 was just ridiculous, felt like they totally jumped the shark. Still fun but definitely lost the magic of the previous one

[@saiyansnake]

The "Hooooold up, wait a minute" song in German was my JAM!!!

[@CampfireStoriesForBedmonsters]

Yeah... controversial or not, I absolutely agree that this is the best Tony Hawk game out there. Having replayed older entries recently, this one stuck with me the most for just being immensely fun. Just as much as when it came out.

[@deathmachinestar]

What about THUG1?

[@BigDaddy-tj6sx]

American wasteland is the best

[@dmoqppsoysc]

@@deathmachinestar sure the story is better but once you played once you care more about replay value and gameplay wich thug2 is better

[@dannysha6458]

@@dmoqppsoysc couldn’t agree more, once I got done THUG1 I was like okay cool. But once I got done THUG2 I would still just go map to map skating and just taking in all the things going on

[@ST3PH3NGT]

This game was hilarious as a kid and the soundtrack got me into punk music.

[@mattmaas5790]

I spent so much time designing goofy skate parks for the my robot character to ride on.

[@septicsoldier1324]

This game gives me nostalgia to the point where I got it again on the GameCube, because it was introduced to me when I was younger by my brother on the PS2 and kicked started my eventual love of skateboarding despite the fact that I don’t skate 😅

[@creditwhereitsdude7544]

Thank you. Said he didn't give the shouts out to the gamecube release lol

[@HDBattlefieldVideos]

My favourite will always be THPS4, but the underground games sure had there merit! Great vid man!

[@lukecudicio7670]

A man of culture I see!

[@mackclodfelter7220]

It was also on the GameCube too…

[@MikeMiller23]

Great video. It’s personally my favorite. My brother and I always played this one more and the soundtrack and comedy just made us appreciate the game way more. It’s easily the best one and I believe we deserve a remaster of Underground 2 AND 1

[@morbidtotty8375]

For the longest time American wasteland was my favorite but after replaying all the games as an adult, thug 2 is absolutely my favorite. The maps are so good and unique, the secret characters are absolutely ahead of every game in the series and it just feels that all of the tricks are featured in full force

[@averageskater900]

ps2 is just such a great console. To work well on a modern TV you kinda need an upscale or use an old CRT TV. I love the graphics and artwork in these 2000's games.

[@FooodSandwich]

THUG 1 had a serious story, but still plenty of silliness in many of the "filler" objectives, like when you have to help out the Tampa police and then you piss off the mayor and steal a cop car. I love THUG 2, but I wish it had been given a different name because of the massive tonal shift from its predecessor.

[@Jwlar]

True, they should've tried to tie the name in with Jackass or Bam's show more, rather than tieing it too THUG.

[@sninjabeast68]

Love the video my man great job! Love the trip back to the past, nostalgia is a doubled edge sword but I still love retrospectives well done.

[@theonewithnoname1922]

Thug 2 was the best part in my childhood. I remember coming back home and turning on my ps2 to play thug 2

[@tastyfiddle]

even to this day, this is probably one of my all-time favourite games. my brother and i played it constantly for years when we were kids, making characters and making up little stories for them, and then when i finally played the story mode i played it over and over. still do every now and then. it may not be considered to be the best tony hawk game (or even a good one, from some of the opinions i've seen), but it's definitely my favourite, and i will always love it even if i've outgrown the kind of humour it has.

[@rubenlucas4629]

Incredible video, this was my treasure game back in the classic ps2 slim days, i spent hours on the characterization menu, getting lost in the soundtrack, both having fun and struggling with certain specific missions, it's an all around perfect crafted game. Even the aboriginal austalian man was represented as being isolated, literally having to break a wall to access him, and he was living in a mystic beautiful nature filled place, a beautiful yet humorous depiction. Wee Man gets fun and makes fun of the fact of being small, bam's a wild card, phil is fat, everyone gets made fun of, it's precious. My genuine love attachment of a game ❤️

[@stcarlosss6248]

Used to play thug 2 online every day after school as a kid. Still love the game today and play it from time to time when I get nostalgic.

[@StarsAndSticks]

man keep up the good work, I've been binging your content

[@flubbell1676]

I would love to see a remaster but it wouldn’t be the same, I doubt they’d bring bam and a lot of the characters back. Also there’s no way they’d have shrek be playable again

[@gingerale4231]

This was my first game ever as a 6 year old and it opened up a whole new world for me. Seeing the cover for Thug2 gives me chills cos it brings me back to childhood so clearly. I ended up getting thug1 later on but Thug 2 will forever be special to me

[@1337fl0w]

played the game online on the ps2 back then... good times. it was unlike any other online game. you had a community. not just matching up with random people

[@ki11atj49]

I don't care if critics didn't like it as much Tony Hawk's Underground 2 was my favorite Tony Hawk game and still is Actually had such a fun cool story would be cool if they did a Tony Hawk Underground 3

[@powderedwater67]

I LOVE my old tags. still got em. Glad they're on their own save block.

[@DreLouieVlogs]

Broo I’m 26 black skater… this brought back so many feels. Like a warm hug feeling. This seeing the X-games for the 1st time, Viva la bam, mike valley tutorial that was on demand, is what got me started. Way before KZbin lol Back when times was smooth. where’s my 90’s baby!

[@khaos616]

I loved the thug and thaw series.. they were the highlight of the tony hawk games

[@Muhffnz]

Thanks for this, worked just fine for me. I've missed this game.

[@darraghmcconville9032]

Really great review! Nice introduction to your channel. Gonna subscribe and wish you the best going forward

[@Jwlar]

Thank you!

[@darraghmcconville9032]

@@Jwlar thank you for the video! Adored this game as a child. Tonight I'll see about downloading it from no link in particular. Btw have you watched Pretending I'm a Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story?

[@playstationskate345]

great video!! subbed (: your hard work will pay off soon ((:

[@sjajsjsja4523]

Nahhh it's gotta be 4. All the old-school charm and flavor of the originals-except now with open levels-tons of new trick types, great maps and music, all without the goofiness of the Underground games. I love THUG (and all the games up through THAW) too, but 4 nailed everything.

[@brunoballak]

amazing vid, u got a new sub

[@BeegBenzo]

nice review! just started replaying this

[@Jwlar]

Awesome, thank you!

[@THEBIGMS]

Great video, weird that it got recommended just after I finished playing thug 2 though lol

[@ayeitsPeace765]

Grew up playing thps1 and thug2 and thug2 will always be my favorite

[@SA_STiiiZY]

Same for me except it was THUG 2 and THPS 3 for me lol

[@cutediz]

Ever since thps3 I ignored any story or carrer mode. I played online.THUG2 was last entry in the series where controls were satisfying, but not ridiculus like in thaw where you pretty much could fly around the levels without much effort. You could do that in thug 1 and 2 too, but it felt more balanced. Tricks were also too easy to pull off in thaw. You could probably do a triple kickflip from the ground in thaw etc. Levels selection was great. It included some of the best levels from older thps games like LA, Airport and School. New levels were also good. Some classics are Barcelona, Aussie and New Orleans. Some people (including me) preferred less cartoonish style of earlier games, especially thug1, but overall it's still very solid design and art. The new levels feel less empty than in earlier games, there tons of tiny details everywhere that fills what was previously usually just empty and flat space in older games. Really, really solid graphics for its time.

[@EthanChase]

This is amazing, the amount of effort put into this video is astounding, amazing job, and this is the best tony hawk game, the nostalgia is in great amount in this video, it’s overall a awesome video :)

[@Jwlar]

Thank you!

[@vetleallum2965]

I recently added this game to my ps2 collection and i cant wait to play it again.

[@Speyde]

The funny thing is in this era was NFS Underground 2 release too. These two games were my childhood

[@Jwlar]

Oh man yes! Such a great time to grow up playing games.

[@DannyK1992]

My favorite Tony Hawk game and the game that introduced me to series I also had to play a bootleg 'ripped' version without the soundtrack and without the sound of the cutscene because I couldn't find a normal version

[@crimson.mo20]

Can you please do an American Wasteland review! That was one of my favorites along with Thug 1&2! Love your commentary on these 2

[@Ghostcharm]

Hey man seriously underrated content you’re making. Keep it up. I’m on the same grind and all it takes is getting the snowball rolling. Really though, extremely high quality stuff can’t wait for more buddy.

[@Jwlar]

Thank a lot man!

[@Xgamesvidoes]

Awesome review mate! :D

[@Jwlar]

Thanks you!

[@itsbreadbin]

Recently finished my Livestream series of this game on my YT channel, and I completely agree that THUG2 is the best Tony Hawk game ever made. The controls are buttery smooth and super satisfying, and the story mode is basically just Jackass the game lol. I hadn't played this game since I was 14 years old before recently streaming it, and it mostly holds up despite the vehicle characters handling very poorly and the game's graphics looking kinda ugly now. The vehicle characters honestly feel very gimmicky and aren't really all that fun to use, but I get the devs were trying to broaden the game's audience and do something different. Excellent video!

[@TheIronRafael]

I love it that despite the fact that all the games are great, people will still have a preference for one of them over the others. My favorite is THUG 2, by the way. Just goes to show how insanely creative and fun this series was. RIP Neversoft and Vicarious Visions.

[@WheresSeamus]

If you were around the time the jackass viva la bam environment was at its peak, THUG 2's story would have hit the spot perfectly.

[@darrellschroeder7111]

This was my first game got it the day I got my ps2 in 04 its probably one of the games I had the most hours on I had 2 copys growing up cause I burnt a ring into my first disc bought a used copy from game stop in 09 or 10 and still have that one and dust it off every once and awhile

[@brentpeavler466]

On the Xbox Version, If you have a CD burned on your console you can use that burned CD soundtrack in THUG2.

[@mattmas6628]

This is a great video essay very high quality

[@Jwlar]

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

[@azumanguy]

Adore that point you made about „levelution“ in THUG2 :D

[@joshtaylor9884]

Can't forget the GameCube version.

[@TobiRevBlackFire]

"TONY NO", *bf3 refernece*, *praise without too much bias* *ramranch* Aaaaaaaaaaaand, subscribed. Time to watch the rest of your stuffs.

[@Baguette_sarrazin]

i spent hours on THUG2 on gamecube, a masterpiece !

[@ogloc4478]

I feel like if you’re mid 20s you’re going to lean toward this game but for those around 30-35 we are going to put thug 1 above 2 and some of us put thps4 above at least thug 2 if not both thug games, but for sure those 3 games were the best for this franchise

[@MeyerBen27]

I like to call my cat Lucy, "Little mochi mogul Mar" or "little floopy meow mar", she's got dozens of nicknames

[@Sam-np2qd]

i remember picking this game up from the video store and basically never returning it. or renting it out the moment i returned it. eventually, the disk got so scratched up that they just told me to keep it lmao.

[@bobelnr.2226]

This was my first game and i loved it

[@Pekter]

Love this game, thanks to the modders that keep it alive. Specially the gamespy emulator that revived so many games of that era

[@gonzalez878]

I share the sentiment that this is the best Tony Hawk game. It just feels amazing to control and the levels are perfectly crafted. For me it's a close one between THUG 2 and THPS 4.

[@yates525]

THPS 4 and THUG 2 are the least memorable games for me growing up. For some reason I just can’t remember them well. But THUG 1 and THPS 2 are two of my favorite games just due to the sheer amount of hours I put in to them.

[@robertdoherty821]

If you played on xbox you could use your systems playlist. So you could still have custom music and not miss out on cutscenes

[@mittensthecatfurry]

Underground 2 is the one that introduced me to gaming 12 years ago. I've been on this planet for fifteen.

[@adrenaliner91]

Since THPS4 there is a native widescreen mode on consoles. And there was a 1+2 before this 2x on Xbox, unfortunately US exclusive.

[@charlesisbell6561]

You could play your own music in this game, if you had a Xbox you could download songs to the hard drive, I had 100s it was a setting you could go to play my music and it would shuffle the tracks

[@rise8604]

My favorite of the ps2 games, maybe #2 favorite of all Tony Hawk games

[@CaliJose209]

Wish we had a thug 1+2 and pro skater 3+4 remake. The 1+2 remake is great and it's sad that they didn't make them. At least good thing for samsung dex and Emulators.

[@schassismx3115]

Thug 1 was the best title imo. Story, level design, and innovation it had was next level.

[@pistachiodisguisey911]

I'd say the tony hawk 1+2 of it's day is thps2x on the og xbox, remake of the first 2 games

[@thomasmiller2986]

I had on the og Xbox and you def could play your own music from the console in the game

[@Pieces2Weight]

Perfect sequel

[@AlryFireBlade]

I loved the Freak Outs as a kid. As an Adult, yeah it isn't speacial. But it is Part of the Game, and I won't have them removed, because they aren't bad for the Game. Use them if you like them, or don't. Because they aren't worth that many points, there is no punishment for ignoring them, and I think this is good.

[@danielhooper502]

thug2 is literally my favourite game of all time

[@thatonezeldaguy250]

I absolutely agree, thug2 is peak

[@pplcallmeButters]

Thug 1 was easily the best, never had a tony hawks game live up to that story again

[@danielfishburn7042]

Thug 2 was the last really good one and to me it was the best. The combination of jackass vibes and Tony hawk vibes was great.

[@rpeters330]

you need more subscribers

[@Kaapoman2K]

In game thug 1 is better but thug 2 is so much better soundtrack. I like remix version more them console version. My favourite Tony Hawk game is Tony Hawk´s Skateboarding.

[@Evanz111]

This showed up as a pre-roll, thanks KZbin!

[@tacocatandy]

Neat

[@fatguywhobreathesfire6488]

I had it on gamecube

[@metallicarabbit]

12:56 untrue, these levels are higher-poly and use different higher quality textures from their PS1 counterparts

[@binkbonkbones3402]

I legit heard that one second from ring of fire

[@Tiger_Woods]

It had a good story I played it on GameCube

[@ConsumeYourSoul619]

7:25 What did you mean by this? An aboriginal character included in the Australia map is "insensitive" How so?

[@Jwlar]

The way he is portrayed - he is hidden away in a zoo enclosure, seemingly insinuating that he is an animal. I think the joke worked in 2004, but maybe not today. Of course if they were to remake the game, they can of course include an aborginal, but maybe hide them in a place that is less likely to raise eyebrows.

[@ConsumeYourSoul619]

@@Jwlar There is literally a giant sign that says "outback tours" ? I think your grasping at things that aren't there. Regardless, i liked the video, surprised it doesn't have at least 10x the views.

[@Jwlar]

@@ConsumeYourSoul619 Thank you. I don't disagree, I think the whole cancel culture thing is silly too, but let's be real, people would complain about this if THUG2 released this year.

[@johnnyblingg]

Maaaaaaan this game is the skate version of Street Vol. 2, in terms of significance.

[@timgonzales2891]

The last one I played was thug 1. Idk why I never tried thug 2 honestly.

[@LkwFan91]

Just bought a PS2 again for playing THUG 2.

[@jhereklast7851]

I got the ps2 network adapter for Everquest. Never got the eye toy.

[@matheussoler7570]

I would like it sooo much a video about the thug2 remix version for psp

[@fatfurie]

THUG Pro wouldnt be THUG Pro without underground 2.. but my fav is still 4.

[@jonathanparker1774]

I would have to say Underground 1, 2 or American Wasteland have a three way tie for the best game. All three have great elements and bad elements but if you took the stories and combined them with the gameplay and core skating tricks and actions take away the weird non vehicles each game introduced, examples leaf blower in THUG1, wheelchair/gocart in THUG2, BMX in THAW.

[@lepep6737]

Thug 1+2 are like the Diamond and Pearl of THPS and THPS 1+2 are like Red and Blue

[@Jwlar]

Wow, great analogy, so true!

[@cazmoe4325]

I beat this game like 50 times and can do it another 1000 till I die , but before I die imma snap my disk in half , break my Xbox and tv so I can enjoy it as a ghost with my ghost setup

[@iLex97]

Not being able to spin with the triggers was a big upset for me on this game. All the way up until this point you could

[@edgarrrrr1]

buen video

[@johnnyappleseed9568]

This was also available on GameCube my guy

[@FishCantRoll]

one of the best video game soundtracks period love this game so much, easily the best tony hawk game. hot take but Tony Hawk's American Wasteland is second best imo

[@DE-GEN-ART]

thug2 remix is the best portable tony hawk gamme

[@theforgottenera7145]

For years I was saying pro skater 4 as a European only recently have I played thug2 the USA version which is incredible and I see why it is the best game it is not even similar to the European version

[@mittensthecatfurry]

Vicarious visions better not fucking TOUCH any of this game's cultural insensitivities. I WANT TO SEE THIS GAME IN ALL IT'S INSENSITIVE GLORY IN A REMAKE!

[@bullish3584]

Thug 1&2 need to be remade just like THPS 1+2.

[@dakotawinston7677]

You’re not wrong. THUG 2 is the shit. Especially Remix on PSP.

[@DannyK1992]

I wonder if you can nose slide then flip to dark slide #Deck_Dogz