Play Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Online

I remember picking up Tony Hawk's Pro Skater for the Game Boy Color back in 1999, published by Activision. It was a time when handhelds were really pushing what they could do with licensed games, and this one took a different approach from the console versions. Instead of the 3D environments, it went for a 2D style that felt more at home on the small screen, a practical adaptation for the hardware.

You control one of the pro skaters, like Tony Hawk or Bob Burnquist, and your main goal is to complete various objectives across different levels. The gameplay splits between side-scrolling half-pipe sections where you perform tricks for points, and top-down exploration where you navigate obstacle courses against the clock. Key mechanics include building your special meter by landing tricks, which then lets you pull off bigger moves, and collecting letters to spell SKATE for extra points. The pacing is fast, and the controls take some getting used to, but there's a real sense of accomplishment when you finally chain a combo together. It feels responsive and challenging in a way that keeps you coming back for one more run.