Tony Hawk's Underground is Special

Through the 2000s, the Tony Hawk video game series was a sales juggernaut for Activision, being a fun arcade experience that anyone could pick up and play with ease and a gateway into the world of skateboarding and skate culture for a generation. While many would consider one of the Pro Skater titles to be the peak of the series, I always saw the first Underground title as the zenith of what these games could be. But these days, the franchise is falling into disuse, and as the years go by gaming culture may ultimately lose one of the greatest pillars of the medium's popularity in the early-21st century, just as we all lose aspects of our lives to the ravages of time.
Twitter: / lorddrubie
Patreon: / andrewbluett

[@jesseleblanc8445]

The bam stuff hits hard man, viva la bam was a huge part of my childhood

[@MkadinA01]

Playing playstation, watching MTV and playing outside. Those were the best days back then

[@DxReaper120]

You forgot the alternate ending. There's one were you walk away with the tape and another were you knock Eric out.

[@denl0213]

Yes, you get it when you have a savegame that is already finished.

[@Kazuma_Drake]

​@@denl0213nah just a second playthrough

[@ogloc4478]

He’s just a couple years too young to know this.

[@Kazuma_Drake]

​@@ogloc4478 he probably is you had to be a kid at the time

[@jinjowatts]

Man I loved the one where you knock him out... Had no idea it correlated to difficulty mode so I was always on the edge of my seat to see what would happen.

[@katrinadeerkop9881]

Surprisingly melancholic look at time and art that is lost and can only be recreated through incomplete looking glasses and the weight of proceeding knowledge that has added sad context to an otherwise innocent time capsule of youth.

[@katrinadeerkop9881]

Holy shit, that sounded pretentious.

[@Dfeneck]

Don't frown because its gone, smile because it happened. Our generation shares memories of a time that cannot and will not ever be replicated, and that's pretty special to me.

[@Darlos9D]

It summed up my exact feelings of nostalgia. I was never a skater myself but I was definitely the right age at the right time, and had many friends who were. So, maybe we're both pretentious XD (or, more likely, you just nailed it)

[@midnightstrike3625]

Buy a PS2. There are so many great games for it. THUG is in no way lost art - these games are still here. Gamecube emulation is also pretty great for it.

[@gromexecutive]

That feeling stays with us. And it will die with us. It will be a nostalgia forgotten. It's not a sad thing though. It's life. Life goes on. Nostalgia will find itself elsewhere.

[@brandonharris9160]

This game is gonna be 20 years old in 2 weeks. I am in tears

[@kinsan89]

Idk why, but that melancholic ending is so... cathartic. I recently watched the documentary "Tony Hawk: Until The Wheels Fall Off," and it gave me the same vibes near the end. Skateboarding may not be what it once was, nor will it likely ever be that way again. Same with the video game industry. We have our memories and love to look back on and to hold on to

[@MkadinA01]

I'm a full adult with kids now and haven't played this since it came out but I will NEVER forget the betrayal and vindication of this games story and that rat bastard "friend". It hit at the perfect time of my life where skating and ps2 were all I had to worry about. And the customization affected many board purchases through my life.

[@JustABegginer]

I recently played thug for the first time on an actual ps2 and let me tell you I was missing out. It took me back to the old days of me being a kid and just playing a good ass game. I can't even put in words properly how it was like an experience, the mood, the feel, the soundtrack of the game made feel joy again in life

[@T.G-HLL]

When I was about 5 or 6 I played the shit out this beautiful game I’m 25 now and would love to go back to that time 💯🔥

[@PortalMaster2112]

What I would give to play this game for the first time again. Envious!

[@lavenderllamamusic]

For some reason, I kept losing copies of THUG. Which is unlike me. Since I was a kid, i was always good on taking care of my things, especially video games. Putting them back in their proper cases and whatnot. I think I lost some copies after one of our moves. Right now, I have a PS2 case of THUG, but when I open it, that's not what's in there. Last time I played it, I played on PC

[@MR.__G]

@@PortalMaster2112I still remember opening it on Christmas and breaking night playing. I was literally in my own world, couldn’t have been more perfect

[@Thrashman-ye4cf]

Same man. I bought an OG Xbox a few months back and of course this was one of the first games I bought again. The nostalgia was insane. I really give a lot of credit to this game for shaping my music taste as well. Specifically my love for hip hop.

[@gam3xhazard89]

Tony Hawks Underground will always have a special place in my heart. Give THUG 1 the remaster it deserves!!

[@IHAVENOPANTS]

This is the best THUG 1 retrospective on KZbin hands down, seriously great production value. This struck a huge nostalgia nerve for me

[@dopesiiick]

This game will be 20 years old in October

[@EnglishInfidel]

Damn

[@Yami_Industries]

bro the fact there wasn't remaster or anything announced is saddening... i bought a second copy of thug 1 in the players choice case because thats what i had as a kid manuals and all and the gamecube version doesn't cost as much on the used market as something like gales of darkness or the original copy of wind waker or twilight princess

[@Honsyhawk]

How have you not gotten a bigger following here? Your content is fantastic!

[@spyrospy9941]

The most underrated channel I have found :D I guess it is just a grind for that one video that blows up, the FF4 video may have a big chance since it is a really popular game

[@pattol666]

It will happen, this content is great , im subbing now so thats one more so far

[@WavesNGames]

Holy freaking crap, this was such a solid breakdown of the history and THUG. Your music choices and editing brought a ton of feeling to the script. Well freaking done sir!

[@RETIREDAMATUER]

Chad muska is currently putting a skate park in my area and also his hometown Lorain Ohio , he seriously is such a good genuine man

[@jamesbarkley3834]

First time viewer I have to say this was fantastic big fan of Tony, hawk underground. Glad there’s a community that share my same views.

[@LikeMadCops]

The fact that this game has so much love from an entire generation of gamers but has so little hope of being remade is heart wrenching. THUG updated would be insane now a days.

[@TUBESTEAKNIG]

It's by far the best TH game IMO. It had a legit story mode that felt like a movie.

[@honkingantalope]

No its not, real skaters like American Wasteland that was the best one ever made.

[@WeenkerIV]

@@honkingantalope Lol

[@02rtjawn]

Feels like yesterday. But its 18 years since me and the neighborhood skate kids lives revolved around skateboarding, video games and having fun. Actually thought about getting rid of my skateboard since my dad passed 2 weeks ago. Things that once meant everything now just bring back memories.

[@MichaelEMJAYARE]

Your skating history is exactly the same as mine. I couldnt ollie, riding a board felt like a death wish - so I filmed and loved it. I spray painted a HIM heartagram on my board. I wanted to be Ville Valo so bad. Now im a fat fuck 28 year old and hopefully going to actually try sometime within the next year, pads and all.

[@bobby3519]

Wow the relevance is crazy I just started underground yesterday! this was a great video 👏👏

[@Katastrophe9009]

The THPS games were a huge part of my childhood. Chances were, about %50 of the time, there was a Tony Hawk game in the disc tray/slot at any given time. THUG was and still is the best in the series in my opinion. It felt like the natural progression, for years, we've been playing as pros in the games, but now, we could make ourselves in the game and become one. It was the first game in the series that felt like more than just another yearly update, as Activision was becoming known for doing. THUG2 and THAW are great for their own reasons, but the original THUG captured the amateur skateboarding culture which was missing from the series.

[@Justdont11]

This made me smile:) thanks for this nostalgia trip!

[@ohheck1443]

THUG is pretty sick. Thanks for making this to bring it to more ppl

[@loC2ol]

This needs WAY MORE views. Great content man! Keep it up!

[@bangfuldzn8994]

this video deadass had me tearing up, seeing the z boys stuff when you talked about stacy peralta, literally had me in the feels.

[@GregSmith-hp3xi]

Awesome video , just pulled this out to play after almost 15 years. Awesome game and brings back so much nostalgia. Love the Hawaii level

[@AMARIIILO]

Absolutely loved this video! I actually live around the same area as you, so seeing that skatepark in the beginning was super funny. THUG is one of my most beloved video games from my childhood, me and my brother have beaten it multiple times and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Your video encapsulated that nostalgia and charm perfectly, please keep making videos like this cause you got a gift for it.

[@Martin-kn6vc]

I had it on my brother’s GameCube when I was a kid. I fondly remember sitting on his bedroom floor playing it on his small CRT TV then going out to skate afterwards. I recently played the emulated PS2 version last month and I got teary-eyed, because it’s still as good as I remember it being as a kid, and the memories came flooding back.

[@VijiogFrito]

beautiful video on such a nostalgic video game for me. i related with pretty much everything you talked about. thanks for making this

[@fireant353]

A phenomenal video, like always.

[@tylerconley8761]

you know what brother.. this was a surprisingly enlightening monologue into the inner sanctum of your person that I was, and have been unaware of for years now. I would have never taken you for a skateboarder or someone of that variety in the long time i've known you, as it appeared you had vested interest in other things obviously.. but its incredibly blissful to hear someone else talk about things they hold nostalgically close to their soul. I love your final fantasy videos because as its one of my favorite game series ever, its ALSO one of my favorite THINGS, ever.. and i can close my eyes anytime and recall how i felt as a little kid playing through those worlds, and hearing those soundtracks.. meeting those heroes and considering them my real friends..my mentors who would guide me into being a powerful and strongwilled person, who would never falter in the face of fear and adversity. I cherish the feelings and memories those worlds gave to me in my youth and hearing you speak so lovingly on something you consider so innate to who you were and are, i teared up man.. this is your best video, by leagues, and its not the editing.. or the script.. brother its YOU! speaking YOUR truth through the lenses of YOUR human experience and how these worlds gave you something that you carry with you even today.. be it swords or skateboards, you learned something and felt something and you explain it so vividly clear here. i genuinely hope you do more content like this Drewbs.. this was incredibly beautiful and i hope that you never feel sorrowful for loving the things you love. dont let anybody tell you that the things that shaped you, arent worth it. they are. love ya man.

[@AndrewBluett]

Just wait for my Halo 2 video next year

[@tylerconley8761]

@@AndrewBluett excited

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

Gorgeous light in that end shot. It's the way I remember sk8ting; i remember the light.

[@LatiNoble]

What a great essay! You are a very strong and inspiring writer. If skate, XL or sessions had an update with a story mode like THUG, it would be monumental. What I would really love is an RPG aspect that required you to manage worn out equipment and clothes. Bumming hand me downs from the homies. Getting free stuff at demos until you get flow from companies. Different clothes would have perks to ad pop, speed balance, flick, catch and rotation. Mini games to do odd jobs for the skate shop. Events like KOTR and the like.

[@ClydeMachine]

Neat secret I discovered un umpteen playthroughs of THUG: When you are confronted by Eric over the tape at the end, you get the skate challenge as he waves the tape between the two of you. When you finish the story and fire up a new game, and play through the story again, this scene changes where Eric says "winner takes the tape" and then taps the tape on your chest - to which you respond by punching him in the face and taking the tape in one swift motion, leaving him knocked out on his car. The final skate challenge is skipped and you go right into the lost footage. Each time you complete the story it alternates between giving you the skate challenge and skipping the challenge. :D

[@darthtravis28]

This game is so nostalgic for me, it brings back very good memories. I played it now and then on PC where you can add your face to the character. Amazing game, silly but kinda real story. Good job man

[@MrSyrupWill]

Great video it really did touch me especially talking about element and Bam Margera, I was a big fan.

[@chesterfarrington9853]

OH MAN YOURE IN BRADENTON!! I used to skate that bowl like 3 days a week when I lived there back in 2020. Love that park

[@cWalkerTHPS]

I‘ve they didnt decide to develop more of a freestyle arcade than a downhill race, i wouldnt be commenting here. Thank you! Great History Throwback

[@max_johnithan]

This is so well done. Anyone who has grown up alongside these releases feels the same sentiments you do, myself included. I'll always favour THPS 3 & 4 as they were my gateway games, but I can't forget the new challenges THUG brought in.

[@sven_bender]

Great review mate, very heartfelt - particularly that part about Bam.

[@nak6608]

Loved the video. The first THUG was my favorite game growing up. I loved the rags to riches story. It felt like I was actually going pro in skateboarding.

[@hotcofi2969]

I collect old consoles, and whenever, and i mean whenever i plug in my xbox, you bet your sweet ass im throwing in some Underground. Listening to my ripped Pink Floyd and Chili Peppers while skating around the world is just... Nothin beats it man. Nothin.

[@Squiggles95]

One of my favorite game series of all time. This was my introduction to the series back in 2003. My cousin let me borrow it and I was hooked. I was a skater in my early teens because of this game. I remember being SO HYPED when I would see the commericals for THUG 2 and THAW. Such great times... Take me back

[@Jobo9fi]

18:59 Glad I’m not the only one who likes “She Said” by Angry Amputees

[@thoughtsontape4283]

Beautiful video bro. I miss this era so much

[@MrKennyWilliams]

The abandonware PC Version of THUG is missing the FMVs because it is based on a pirated version that removed the Cutscenes for Space Saving reasons. I think you can simply readd them if you have the original file names Which due to the help of the net ain't hard to do...Might even be able to find Hi Quality versions

[@lavenderllamamusic]

Everything you touched on really resonated with me. Seeing that American Wasteland menu screen took me back to 2008, when I had played it (revisited) at around 11 years old. I had just gotten into Green Day and I got really excited to hear Holiday in THAW's soundtrack. When I originally played the game in 2006, i had no idea about Green Day, i wasn't into music. At 11, it was awesome. Being able to skate as Billie Joe Armstrong was so cool to me. Seeing this just took me back to the entire feeling of that time. The way my room looked, still had my CRT TV, coming home from middle school. THUG is still my favorite iteration, hands down. I love a good rags to "riches" (or rags to humble riches) story mode and the customization. Also realizing how the music of these games (along with GTA soundtracks) really shaped my taste.

[@Katurayev.A.89]

You know, I still have my slim ps2 and Tony Hawks Underground. Though watching your video on this game, you're right, that this game on ps2 is looking fuzzy as far as graphics but plays well still and it's also my favorite Tony Hawk game to this day. I do feel sad that this game is uncertain as far as remastering on the current gen-consoles. I'd love to see this game being remastered. In fact it needs to be remastered. Well I hope they do.

[@theDatatsushi]

super well made video, really brought me back to the good old days of firing up my gamecube and playing through the thug games. My music taste was really shaped by both thug 1 & 2 as well as guitar hero. Miss those days!

[@prowlingmonkey]

I really liked the cup noodle sidequest in FF14. Fun little side adventure that went along with the idea, that I liked about the game, of being a fantasy road-trip. Seeing the sites; experiencing what the world has to offer before settling down. My favorite use of product placement in a game is Pikmin 2.

[@loco81cris]

Activision did dirty on the franchise, I was introduced to it with 1+2 and kinda fell in love with it, then emulating 3 and playing it 2 times, and now I just finished underground for the first time. You did a good video on the subject, I got a little annoyed with the volume of the music being too loud, but the video itself and the script are pretty good, I hope both the franchise and your channel get the recognition they deserve

[@bassboosthq2673]

lmao the advertising for mcdonalds in both thug1 and two

[@daynmitchell7543]

Great video! Yeah this one has always been my favorite in the series. But it's also the first game I got for my ps2 for that Christmas

[@UnderageToddlers]

I love this game so much, it still holds up. I told myself I was gonna do a playthrough once a year after I played recently

[@user-qi4jf9eu6n]

Great video dude, love the balance between objective review and document and personal nostalgic retrospective

[@c.s.-lebenskunst3171]

Love it that you put Avrils skater boy melody in it ❤. My story was the same: underground 2 brought me in, then I picked up the older ones :). Good times :)

[@MrFullBeard]

I remember when I got underground for my 12th birthday. I played it so many times. What a trip down memory lane. Thank you ❤

[@xVenova]

are those skate park shots filmed in bradenton looking into palmetto? i grew up there with thug1 myself and its a very un-talked-about place. my favorite memories are from that area. the mini skate park was implemented about a year before i was forced to move out of that area. never got to check it out. you can reply to this question with anything and then delete it if you feel like im doxxing your location. great video.

[@jonathanshimer1815]

The background music is fucking immaculate

[@gnosissignal9830]

Bro, you rock. I found this video just as I'm about to make my very first KZbin video, on T.H.U.G. Such an incredible breakdown. I'm gonna be sure to shout you out as an inspiration! (Also, I always chose Element in Story Mode, because of Bam. Respect.) This is one of the greatest games ever made. Regardless of age.

[@notaspire]

if we could get one more underground with an amazing story i would be happy

[@abhrntcrtre]

i have a shaun white birdhouse poster on my ceiling from when my uncle was a kid it was so cool seeing that little jumpscare of him skating there for the birdhouse video btw the poster is him airing between 2 half pipes

[@chrisjordan3493]

Loved this game as a kid too! Great video!

[@lakaiordie101]

Amazing content, and the writing is incredible.

[@nbdxSkywalker]

This was so good. Why am I crying omg

[@PolybiusArcadia]

thug was the one game i had for all 3 consoles at the time. I got it for GC first, then I loved it so much that I got a ps2 online adapter to play online, which was mind blowing at the time, then I ended up getting it for the xbox because it was truly the best running/looking. Now I sometimes play the THUG Pro mod on PC with my friends. It doesn't have story mode, but it does have online mode with maps from most tony hawk games

[@MrNazgoul]

Great video, really well said.

[@Butterflywings011]

Man.. This game takes me back to when I was a kid, I was a huge fan of the Tony Hawk games, THUG, aka Tony Hawk Underground, was honestly one of the best games, out of all the ones I played. I remember buying the second Underground game, and honestly was disappointed, yes it was fun, but it didn't have that gritty feel that the first game did, and the story of the first game was better too.

[@danielmendez1893]

This was beautiful, thank you.

[@ponchothereject832]

Great skatepark. For the sake of your privacy I won’t say where it is but I live in the next “big city” over from there and used to make hour drives just to skate there. Instantly recognized it

[@luvtjay9607]

Bro this was a beautiful video essay

[@nvxvHa]

No the sk8er boi accordion cover in the background that’s brilliant

[@jinjowatts]

This game was so important to me growing up. THUG 2 was also great but even as a kid I knew where the heart and soul of this franchise flourished most. THUG 1. THPS1-4 were all amazing stepping stones in their own right.

[@gotDIBS]

❤Been replaying this over Xmas... Love it

[@Spectacularfrogs980]

The end of this video is really just a prime example of corporate greed, you cant play these amazing old games anymore because the developers want you to pay top price for these new "games" that hardly have any content let alone actually being finished. this reminds me of many franchises where people have to resort to pirating because its not sold anywhere such as nfs midnight club gta and its sad for me that all of these old retro great games that i can enjoy are lost to these big companys that arent what they used to be.. some companys do still have titles released such as id softwares classic doom game which is great and i hope in the future we can see more classic games living once more or maybe developers should take inspiration from what they have done many years ago.. This is a great video and im defiantly subscribing to your channel because your work is great! Amazing video bro!

[@louks9068]

This was the only game i played for years. Funny me and 2 of my buddies builts a mini ramp in my back yard at 15. Only thing we messed up on was making,it too short ramp to ramp

[@Flughundi]

I always loved watching the older kids play THUG. I only played it myself a few years ago but the nostalgia was real. Now I started skating last week and I can already ride around fairly ok! Also started a new playthrough in THUG, it just feels right.

[@Xenorion]

21:17 I still got the Fat Ps2 with my original Safecard and original Safes from ProSkater 3 / 4 and Underground 2

[@icrashout]

This game is just amazing

[@ThraxxPackk]

Dude the first photo, of the skate bowl, that's my hometown park!

[@selfaware7617]

Yes, this is the fifth retrospective of the best skating game ive watched this year. Great job!

[@selfaware7617]

That choice for the QOTSA song fits so well with the narrative of the story from the song's title itself

[@AndrewBluett]

QotSA is my favorite band and I love "MIllionaire", but I kinda disagree just based on tone. From that album, "No One Knows", "First It Giveth", "Go with the Flow", and "Another Love Song" I think would have fit a bit better in that way, but "Millionaire" is definitely my favorite song off Songs for the Deaf. Though it may be tied with "A Song for the Dead" and "A Song for the Deaf".

[@selfaware7617]

@@AndrewBluett I could see the player character actually feeling towards Eric that "You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar, But I Feel Like A Millionaire" With only the title fitting the story in that sense. I agree a different song could altogether fit lyrically but any other song wouldn't have a fit there in that case

[@USAirsoft]

Huh, I may know your news reporter friend in San Antonio

[@dapoopsmith]

I live right by that skate park. Shout out riverwalk

[@Nirvas76]

Jesus, i spent so many hours playing this on my ps2 Great, great memories ❤❤❤ This were the times For me , one of the greatest and easiest skate games to play Great, really great memories

[@lesliehoekstra5676]

Bam is doing better than he was a year ago. He's skating again!

[@Bonelessphantom]

Would absolutely love more tony hawk reviews🤘

[@MR.__G]

You’re absolutely right about timing. 2 huge things that had an impact on my childhood was wrestling & the tony hawk series. The peaks of both were during that time.

[@Anxietyoffline]

what was that last song? Great video!!! I also grew up playing this on Ps2 on a CRT. I miss those days. THUG holds a certain allure the rest could never capture. I tried booting up my ps2 and playing recently but the laser is dead. Id love to give this game one more play thru one day.

[@midnightstrike3625]

Good thing I kept my PS2 and never sold any of my games. I can play this whenever I want, and your video made me want to play it again.

[@jvallely_]

As someone who’s last name is also Vallely I just wanna thank you for pronouncing it correctly. Made my day.

[@keyvontobias4454]

Hey you might not see this but we are the same i was a 2001 baby and i was in love with hiphop music. I now consider myself a music lover of all genre because of this game and THUG2 was also my first and i have beat it too many times to count. Never skated but fell in love with everything about it so this video feels like you watched my childhood and made a video❤

[@RoyalCam9]

Great video❗️🙌🏾🔥 New to your channel & im going to subscribe! I miss THUG 1 & 2, hopefully they remaster it for next Gen. I used to play that game for countless hours

[@TheOriginalBirdman]

It features me, the greatest skater of all time!

[@ReSpark141]

i loved Underground so much i got a Plan B board, had it for years until it got stolen, i miss that board :(

[@Nothingforever192]

20 year anniversary!

[@pushon10]

lol the accordion playing sk8er boi is funny as hell

[@SirThomas_II]

At the 12:00 mark I had the STRONGEST urge to go listen to the THUG soundtrack so I paused the TV and got my phone. Over 30 minutes later and it's almost 5am. I'll resume the video after the nostalgia trip 😂

[@khrissyboy69]

You did such a good job

[@napalmkitty6686]

Hey just curious what do you think of philly from thps2 and the setting for proving grounds?

[@ludokresh05]

George Powell wasn't really a homemade skateboard maker. He was a laid off aerospace engineer who revolutionized the way skateboards and wheels are made.

[@hodler6119]

8 bit Powerman 5000 was awesome nice touch