Tony Hawk's Proving Ground

Core Gameplay and Progression

The central objective involves advancing a skater's career by tackling goals categorized across three distinct paths: Career, Hardcore, and Neutral. Successfully completing these challenges yields in-game currency.

This earned money is primarily utilized for enhancing and customizing a dedicated skate park area within the game. As players meet specific challenge milestones, professional skaters appear, offering unique sets of challenges. Conquering these specialized tasks unlocks new skate park elements and facilitates overall progression to subsequent levels.

Unique Handheld Mechanics

This version incorporates specific gameplay enhancements adapted for the hardware. A notable feature is Aggro Kicking, which allows players to build speed more rapidly during runs.

Furthermore, certain missions introduce Gesture Tricks. These require players to physically replicate specific motions on the Nintendo DS touch screen, serving as the handheld equivalent to the console versions' "Nail The Trick" mechanic.

What makes the level design different on this platform?

Unlike the console versions, this iteration does not feature an open-world design. The level structure has been adapted to suit the hardware capabilities, resulting in redesigned environments. For instance, areas representing downtown Philadelphia and Baltimore are absent. The game also integrates elements of the National Mall into the Air & Space Museum setting. Lansdowne is cited as one of the most significantly redesigned levels to fit the portable format.

Customization and Hub Area

The traditional "skate lounge" feature found in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions is replaced here by a substantial, customizable skatepark. This area serves as the player's central hub for personalization and showcasing acquired elements.

Basic Game Information

This is a Sport genre title released in October 2007, exclusively available on the Nintendo DS platform. As a port, it focuses on delivering the core skateboarding challenge optimized for the handheld's unique input methods.