This is a sub-page of Tony Hawk's Underground (PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows).
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All three console releases of Tony Hawk's Underground were developed by Neversoft, with the PlayStation 2 generally being the main focus for initial development. The game was later ported to Windows by Beenox Shift using the Xbox version as a basis.
Main Menu Screen#
PlayStation 2 |
GameCube |
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Xbox |
Windows |
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The selection of options differs depending on the platform. The background art has slight changes between releases, with the PlayStation 2 version having additional details on the ground and in the skyline. The skater model lacks a shadow on Xbox, likely an oversight due to the differing shadow code. This was fixed in the Windows port.
Visuals#
PlayStation 2 |
GameCube |
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Xbox |
Windows |
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Texture filtering is far more aggressive in the GameCube release, blurring most distant and angled surfaces. A small amount of textures were also scaled down for the console. For the Xbox version skater shadows were drastically improved, this was carried over to the Windows port and the game's launcher allows the user to choose between them or simpler 'blob' shadows. With the launcher there are four choices of screen resolution; Low (640x480), Medium (800x600), High (1024x768), and Very High (1280x1024). One can also enable 'Full-Screen Anti-Aliasing' for further visual improvement. 'Enable Distance Clipping' is a setting for low-end computers and culls objects that are far from the camera, in addition 'Enable Fog' can be enabled to decrease draw distance. A slider is provided to adjust the distance of both options.
Controls#
Across each version the method of inputs for some maneuvers were changed to accommodate for each system's controller layout. The Windows port reuses the Xbox control method.
Trick/Action |
PlayStation 2 |
Xbox |
GameCube |
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Get On/Off Board |
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Spine/Hip Transfer |
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Acid Drop |
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Soundtrack#
- The Xbox release features Custom Soundtrack support, allowing the game to use any playlist of songs stored on the Hard Drive.
- In the Windows port the song Suffer Some by Jane's Addiction has been removed for reasons unknown. Another difference is that the KISS song God of Thunder is available from the start instead of Rock and Roll All Nite.
Multiplayer#
PlayStation 2 |
Windows |
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The PlayStation 2 version of Tony Hawk's Underground is the only console version of the game to include online multiplayer, with the later Windows port also offering it. Through GameSpy players could join servers and play a variety of modes with up to 8 skaters and 1 observer. Users could also make a GameSpy account to track their stats and add friends (or homies as the game calls them). Text chat was also possible both on the lobby screen and during gameplay. On the PlayStation 2 this could be done either through an on-screen keyboard on the pause menu or by plugging in a USB Keyboard. Official PlayStation 2 services closed on July 26th 2007 after Neversoft's FTP server was compromised. Windows support lasted until the GameSpy platform was shut down on May 31st 2014.
The online menu had various changes with the port to Windows. The PlayStation 2 version has options for sharing and downloading created parks, goals, skaters and tricks through the online menu. This was not carried over to the Windows port. The 'Download Face' option was also omitted as the port handles face mapping differently. The 'DualShock 2' image was changed to the generic joystick graphic seen on the control options screen. The color of the internet graphic seen at the top left was changed from amber to red.
While online play is sadly missing from the Xbox version it instead makes use of System Link, supporting up to 8 players. The GameCube version has no online or network connectivity. All versions of the game feature 2 Player local splitscreen.
Download Your Face Feature#
PlayStation 2 |
Windows |
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PlayStation 2 |
Windows |
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Another PlayStation 2 exclusive feature in addition to online play is the option to 'Download your Face'. Those who were connected to the THUG Online server could send a JPEG of their face (taken with a digital camera) to a specific email address that would then provide a password to be inputted in the game to retrieve the image. The player could then make further adjustments like how the face is mapped to the skater, changes to the image's tone, saturation and luminance and then match the surrounding skintone.
The feature was re-implemented into the Windows port where images are instead handled through the use of the game's launcher and can then be chosen from a menu in-game.
MTX Mototrax#
A playable demo of the then upcoming game MTX Mototrax can be accessed from the options menu in the PlayStation 2 version. It features the option to play a one or two player single race exhibition on the McKenna Rock track. The only riders available are Travis Pastrana for player 1 and Kenny Bartram for player 2. As the race starts the loading screen states "Finish 1st in the Race and you get a special password for a cheat in: T.H.U.G.". The passcode that is displayed is 'Holeshot'. When inputted into a page on the now defunct 'mtxmototrax.com' website the cheat 'digivid' is provided which unlocks all movies in THUG.
The Xbox version instead features a FMV preview of the game, and the GameCube and Windows versions do not feature any in-game previews at all. Underground's GameCube instruction manual interestingly includes an advertisement for MTX, but it's GameCube release was eventually cancelled.
Screen Mode#
The PlayStation 2 version features a Screen Mode menu, allowing three choices: Standard 4:3, Widescreen 16:9 and Letterboxed 16:9. The Xbox and GameCube versions do not feature this menu as they handle output settings through other means. The Xbox and GameCube versions both support 16:9 and 480p. GameCube additionally allows PAL60 output while Xbox supports 720p output with the use of either an official High Def AV Pack or a third-party component AV Cable.