Tony Hawk on two wheels!

With the hugely successful Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 , it is inevitable that Hoffman’s Pro BMX will be compared side by side.

Activision took the near flawless engine from it's flagship game, and put it to work again.

GAMEPLAY 8/10

Within the first minutes of gameplay, you will have a "Matrix" moment and deja vu to the extreme. You keep telling yourself, "I know I've played this before...". You will go up a ramp and magically land a 6,000 point move and say to yourself, "I know I've played this before... " . Spelling words, collecting items and tweaking my bike, is all too familiar.

Don't think you are some gaming prodigy, but in essence you have played this before. Everything is rather identical to THPS2. Everything from the menus, game layout, control, camera angles and graphics is nearly identical to its predecessor.

Now don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad thing. While, the taste for something new haunts me, I still can breathe easy knowing that this is one solid engine with some major muscle.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the THPS line of games, here is what you should expect when playing PRO BMX. You enter a level with a certain criteria to accomplish to complete the level. This can be anything from scoring 30,000 points to spelling out a word given by collecting letters. You can unlock special areas in the levels by finding the "switch" that unlocks the area.

Gathering points can be done in two ways. The first is by collecting items and money, and the second is by doing mind-numbing stunts with your bike. What make PRO and THPS so brilliant are the high-flying antics that it brings. Albeit different than EA's SSX , we are still given the adrenaline rushed madness.

Controlling your biker, can be done by simply pressing the analog controller in the direction you want to go. Performing tricks, however, is the key and what takes some practice. You can accomplish tricks by pressing, and releasing buttons in a specific order or combination once air born. Grinding, and balancing are also optional once at the tip of a jump or ramp. Overall, it is easy to pick up, but difficult to master.

Don't give up, because once you nail some moves you are going to be hooked!

GRAPHICS 8/10

Would ya look at that? That there is 'ole Tony on one of them fancy bicycles. Looks like the developers over there at Activision made a level editor for THPS2 and threw some BMX riders in it. Hey, I'm not complaining, and the graphics are still at the same level, and maybe even a bit smoother, as THPS2.

The colors are fairly drab and lifeless. Tons of grays and browns are abundant throughout each level. While hoping for some better outdoor scenes, along with some real light, we spend most of our time inside huge garages wreaking havoc on scattered obstacles.

The only other competitive BMX game currently is Dave Mirra . While many claim it's superiority, Dave Mirra cannot compete at the same level as Hoffman’s. The only saving grace that Mira holds, is the framerate issues that bother many experienced gamers. Hoffman as with THPS2, has quirky framerate problems that come at the oddest times. I have found approaching a ramp, and find a few "missing" frames prior to launching my bike.

It really doesn't hinder gameplay, but from a critical point of view it is bothersome. While on the point of the Playstation counterpart (Mirra), I will say that Pro BMX although quite different, simply blows away most aspects of the PS2 giants’ extreme game.

Other minor improvements have been made to Pro BMX, and would go unnoticed by many careless eyes. This is a brushed up version of THPS2, I was anticipating some neat-o lighting effects and a bumped up FPS. Guess we will have to wait for MTPBMX2... Uh... maybe not; at least not on DC .

AUDIO 7/10

Sound effects and BGM are done is classic "extreme" style. Heavy thuds when wiping out, and guitar driven pumping soundtracks.

The soundtrack really rocks, and wouldn't mind picking up the CD if they had one. I was talking to my wife about it, and she listened to the music as well. After another 15-minutes of playing and jamming, my wife started busting up laughing. I paused the game, and she explained to me that the songs were over a year old and so 86.

Well, I admit I'm a bit behind the times, but the soundtrack was still killer and I told my wife to crap in a hat.

That said, the rest of the sound effects were identical to THPS2, and still lacked the sound of the bike/board actually rolling. I mean, c'mon!

REPLAY VALUE 7/10

You play me once, you play me twice, I won't let go at any price... If you remember that song, you are just as sad as me. Regardless, I jumped into the game expecting a ton, but was rewarded with a better than average game.

With the weight of THPS2 on its shoulders, Hoffman has a pretty hefty weight to carry. I wouldn't really consider Hoffman’s as it's own individual game; but more on the lines of an expansion pack for Tony Hawk.

One thing considerably better is the multiplayer aspect. There actually is a multiplayer aspect. It's good fun to tell you the truth. The H.O.R.S.E. option is a blast, where you pull off a trick and the second player has to do the same. It is the same basis as the old basketball game with the same name. There is also a neat-o "graffiti" part, while you and your comrade fire it up, vandalizing the scene.

As good as the multiplayer is and adds to the replay value, it is a bit hindered by even more framerate problems.

There’s a good bit to do here, and the FMV intros are brilliant, but still you will not have the same giddy pleasure that THPS2 gave you.

OVERALL 7/10

This is a better than average title, and was a breath of fresh air for us Dreamcast owners. This GDROM will fit nicely next to you THPS2.

I doubt if you did not like THPS2 you will like Hoffman. In fact, I know you won't like it, so don't even rent it. For those of you who though THPS2 was the next best thing since Skittles than this will just be another notch in your DC gun.

Personally, I wouldn't highly recommend this game. Although, I do recommend Hoffman’s, I don't since it worthies a sound purchase.

If you have played THPS2, you have played Hoffman’s. It's really your choice here. You know exactly what you are getting into. You will find few surprises; save a few hidden bikers, and level changing is a yawner.