This article has a talk page!This page details pre-release information and/or media for Tony Hawk's Underground (PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows).
|
To do:
|
After four consecutive Pro Skater games, Neversoft thought it was time to change up the formula a bit, so a story mode was the main option.
The game was met with critical acclaim at launch, while also starting a new era for the Tony Hawk series.
Development Timeline#
2003
- May 14-16 - Tony Hawk's Underground was unveiled at E3 2003.
- Oct. 27 - Tony Hawk's Underground is released in North America.
- Nov. 21 - Tony Hawk's Underground is released in Europe.
2004
- May 20 - Tony Hawk's Underground is released in Japan.
May#
E3 2003 Trailer#
|
|
To do: |
Watch on YouTubeA trailer for THUG made to be displayed at E3 and later available on promo discs and for download on the game's website. The appearance of many assets change frequently throughout the video, making it clear that the game was still evolving as scenes were recorded.
- A few clips of the levels were recorded before they were finalized.
- New Jersey has some differences. The fence and bridge by the drainage ditch end abruptly at 1:48. Peralta's Skateshop has a different blue logo in some shots (1:58 & 2:04) while another shot (2:09) uses the final design. At 2:24 we can see that the playground layout was at one point flipped. The school also looks rather different here and at 2:37. The player can be seen climbing a ladder at the dealer's hideout at 1:59, this doesn't exist in the released game.
- Manhattan is seen without any out of bounds background scenery at 2:07 and also seems to lack the river water. The vehicle driven here in the trailer is the Muscle Car that is used for goals in Created Parks, in the final game only the Trashy Car can be driven in the level.
- Vancouver appears with temporary art at around the time-frames 0:56, 1:42 and 1:59. This version also reuses one of Pro Skater 4's skydomes.
- Moscow has differing geometry, with a huge ramp for launching vehicles from being demonstrated at 2:11. It can be seen at a different angle at 1:13 and 2:49. At 1:36 and 2:52 we can see the level without out-of-bounds scenery and with a skydome from THPS4 in the latter shot.
- Cutscenes aren't letterboxed like in the final game. One can also see game elements during them such as Goal Peds.
- The trailer showcases skating at multiple times of day. It seems to imply that the game had a full day/night cycle, in the final game there is no such thing.
- Tony Hawk can be seen wearing different clothing than the final. He is shown with a black t-shirt worn under a hooded dark gray jacket.
- Create-A-Skater mostly contains skater parts from Pro Skater 4 in the trailer.
- The Face Mapping menu closely resembles its look from the screenshot seen on the game's website. Instead of GET NEW FACE MAP the menu lists two options; DOWNLOAD YOUR FACE and the inexplicable REALLY DOWNLOAD FACE. In addition SAVE FACE is grayed out.
- Create-A-Park strongly resembles its Pro Skater 4 layout and appearance. One of the THPS4 park themes is still used at this point of development.
- When Create-A-Goal is demonstrated the Goal Complete! dialogue uses the standard interface colors instead of all green like the finished game. Also the sound effect from THPS4 is used.
Unsorted#
Pre-Release Screenshots#
Before release many screenshots of the game were provided to the press and gaming magazines. One could also view and download them on the official THUG webpage. Plenty of differences can be seen.
Story Introduction#
Prerelease |
Final |
|---|---|
 |
 |
- The Baseball-T torso piece for the custom skater looks more detailed around the neck than it does in the final.
- The deck graphic seen doesn't resemble any of the ones in the final. It's not even possible to make with Create-A-Deck.
- There is no letterbox like there is in the finished game, meaning more of the scenery is visible.
- The floor in the skater's bedroom uses a different texture.
- Bizarrely the skater's stereo lacks speakers in the final game while they appear intact in the screenshot.
- The hanging bulb above the skater's workbench has a different design.
- A baseball bat can be seen on the floor in the screenshot. In the finished game it is propped up against the shelves that holds the stereo.
- The wires hanging from the uppermost shelf are missing in the screenshot.
- The Neversoft banner is clearly visible in the screenshot. In the final game it is obscured by the objects on the shelf.
Face Mapping#
Prerelease |
Final |
|---|---|
 |
 |
- The skater's position and the camera angle is different.
- The choices onscreen are far simpler than in the final.
- The DOWNLOAD FACE option was once GET NEW FACE MAP.
- There is a SAVE FACE option that does not exist in the final.
- It seems that the skater could not be rotated while this menu was open in the prerelease build.
New Jersey#
Prerelease |
Final |
|---|---|
 |
 |
Prerelease |
Final |
|---|---|
 |
 |
- The spine and quarter pipe near the player skater's backyard were originally kickers.
- The ground texture layers haven't been blended seamlessly yet.
- The soil beside one of the houses was originally concrete.
- The row of houses at Elm Street are colored differently.
- An earlier skydome is used.
 |
 |
 |
 |
- An earlier version of the school building can be seen in the distance.
- The geometry and textures on the sewer pipe grind are far simpler.
- The row of houses beside the school originally used the same design as those beside the player skater's house.
- The road pylons were initially redder in color.
- The big factory building across the river seems to be absent.
- The Russian car from the Moscow level is present.
- The wooden kicker on the sidewalk looks much flatter.
- The house with the wooden porch foundation has a ladder propped up against it.
- The tunnel beneath the bridge once lead to a dark void instead of having the land continue past it.