J-Chiptunator's recent activity
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Comment on CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎♂️🛹 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 in ~games
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CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎♂️🛹 REMOVE CARTRIDGE ⏏️ Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
So I've heard that (at least some of) you have, trounced every park's leaderboard, cleared all goals (including the cash ones), and racked up 3 gold medals from the occasional competition stages....
So I've heard that (at least some of) you have, trounced every park's leaderboard, cleared all goals (including the cash ones), and racked up 3 gold medals from the occasional competition stages.
If that's true, then congratulations! You're basically legend-level; Tony Hawk himself would be impressed.
But what if I told you there's more to do after a full Career Mode clean sweep? Shocker, I know. Here are two hints:- Land a successful trick in every gap on every Career Mode park (ideally in Free Skate)
- Spend an absurd amount of time 100%-ing every skater's Career Mode
Sounds simple, right? But it's also... an absolutely herculean task. I won't blame you if you reach for the cheat codes hidden there to skip the grind. And for anyone on the N64 or GBC versions of Pro Skater 2: tough luck, as no such things are available there to my knowledge.
Now the real question: where are you going to rest after all that? Blow your remaining hard-earned cash on some old, shady place you found on your dinky desktop out of pure desperation? Don't worry, u/CannibalisticApple will walk you through those sketchy mansions and manors on the next CGA month.
Until then, drop your feats and thoughts about your journey to becoming one of skateboarding's champions.
Later, gators!
Schedule
Month Game Host October 2026 Spooky Mansion Adventures
Alone in the Dark
5 Days a Stranger
Maniac Mansionu/CannibalisticApple November 2026 Mother 3 u/kfwyre December 2026 Sonic the 3D Hedgehog
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure 2u/J-Chiptunator January 2027 Resident Evil (REmake) u/sotix February 2027 Another World u/CannibalisticApple March 2027 The Grue That Binds
Border Zone
Twisted!
Zorku/balooga April 2027 Crystalis u/zod000 May 2027 The Genesis of Treasure
Gunstar Heroes
McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure
Dynamite Headdy
Alien Soldier
Light Crusaderu/J-Chiptunator 8 votes -
Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: October 2026 - April 2027 schedule in ~games
J-Chiptunator (edited )Link ParentI'd certainly like to host both Sonic the 3D Hedgehog and The Genesis of Treasure. For the former, it'll be a bit trickier, since I'll be traveling in Japan by the time this goes live, so I came...I'd certainly like to host both Sonic the 3D Hedgehog and The Genesis of Treasure. For the former, it'll be a bit trickier, since I'll be traveling in Japan by the time this goes live, so I came up with a workaround.
Since I'll be abroad between November 10th and December 8th, I shall cook up that Insert Cartridge thread well in advance and send a copy of it to u/kfwyre. That way, my writeup won't go to waste in case I forgot or couldn't find a Wi-Fi within my area. Bonus points if I receive and configure my Black Base Ayn Thor properly before I embark on a plane with it, so I can play both Sonic Adventure games during my long, long return flight.
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Comment on CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎♂️🛹 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkA little late of an advice, but nonetheless relevant if you want to fully complete Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 without being shred to boredom. Unlocking everything the game has to offer involve...A little late of an advice, but nonetheless relevant if you want to fully complete Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 without being shred to boredom.
Unlocking everything the game has to offer involve landing a trick on every gap with any character outside the hidden levels, as well of completing each and every goal and earning all 3 gold medals for each skater (including your custom-made one).
While reasonable with just one or two characters, the process of unlocking everything will feel much more tedious than challenging. What I'd recommend in order to get the most out of the game, is to pick one skater to 100% Career Mode, complete the remaining gaps in Free Skate Mode and then enter a cheat code to unlock the remaining stuff.
Yes, most versions also comes with a cheat code that will cut a lot of that fat when done on the pause menu. However, you'll still have to do every aforementioned gap, with the exception of Pro Skater 2x on the OG Xbox.
Unfortunately for owners the N64 version, you aren't spared from having to go through all characters' goals in Career Mode and successfully find every gap, unless you import a 100% save file.
Cheat codes
- PS1: Hold L1 and enter: X, X, X, SQUARE, TRIANGLE, UP, DOWN, LEFT, UP, SQUARE, TRIANGLE, X, TRIANGLE, CIRCLE, X, TRIANGLE, CIRCLE
- PC: Hold [Numpad 7] and enter [Space], [Space], [Space], C, V, [Cursor Up], [Cursor Down], [Cursor Left], [Cursor Up], C, V, [Space], V, B, [Space], V, B
- Dreamcast: Hold Left Trigger and enter A, A, A, X, Y, UP, DOWN, LEFT, UP, X, Y, A, Y, B, A, Y, B
- OG Xbox: Hold Left Trigger and enter: START, A, WHITE, UP, RIGHT, DOWN, A, Y, B, A, B, Y
For the GBA version, the only things you unlock by 100%ing each character's Career Mode are cheats that can be toggled. Just make sure to use it after completing everything else in the game, as some can spoil the fun.
The code for that: Hold R, then enter B, A, DOWN, A, START, START, B, A, RIGHT, B, RIGHT, A, UP, LEFT -
Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 voting topic in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentAs much as Crystalis is an intriguing game, please ensure no Single Game/Arcade Special is allotted more than 5 votes, or the ballot won’t be tallied.As much as Crystalis is an intriguing game, please ensure no Single Game/Arcade Special is allotted more than 5 votes, or the ballot won’t be tallied.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 voting topic in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkThe Genesis of Treasure (5) Sonic the 3D Hedgehog (5) The Grue That Binds (3) Mother 3 (3) Ratchet & Clank (2) Wizball (2)The Genesis of Treasure (5)
Sonic the 3D Hedgehog (5)
The Grue That Binds (3)
Mother 3 (3)
Ratchet & Clank (2)
Wizball (2) -
Comment on Nintendo - Customer appreciation sale in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentI haven't seen a single price drop on any of the Nintendo-published Switch 2 games since the hardware launch back in June 2025, too. Maybe a year and 3 months wasn't long enough for Nintendo to...I haven't seen a single price drop on any of the Nintendo-published Switch 2 games since the hardware launch back in June 2025, too. Maybe a year and 3 months wasn't long enough for Nintendo to consider having such sales.
After all the years I spent watching for sales since March 2017 for their Switch 1 games, I found out that these can start occurring at least 6 months after their initial release date and if their current secondhand market value sits at around 30% of MSRP or lower. And when they do, they only cut 30% of its MSRP.
The Switch 1 version of Metroid Prime 4 Beyond is part of the sale, since its Complete-In-Box condition fetches nearly half of its initial MSRP according to PriceCharting. Meanwhile, Kirby Air Riders goes for $44 USD (vs $70 USD MSRP), and hasn't seen any temporary price slash yet. Both of these titles launched nearly 10 months ago.
The only Switch 2-related product that's actually part of the sale is Nintendo Switch 2 Camera, but that's not what people are generally interested in. Also worth noting is that some webcams that aren't designed for the device in mind can still work well with it, like my Logitech C922 Pro.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 lobbying topic in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkSonic the 3D Hedgehog In the late '80s and early '90s, Sonic defined 2D momentum platforming: levels that mixed high-speed runs with careful platforming, using downtime to balance the pace and...Sonic the 3D Hedgehog
In the late '80s and early '90s, Sonic defined 2D momentum platforming: levels that mixed high-speed runs with careful platforming, using downtime to balance the pace and reward speed buildup.
When 3D arrived in the fifth console generation, SEGA's big challenge was translating that design philosophy into three dimensions. Needless to say, this was a lot harder than it sounded.
Amid executive tug‑of‑war between SEGA of America and SEGA of Japan, Sonic X‑Treme was meant to launch on the Saturn. It never did. What Sonic Team produced leaned more toward labyrinthine layouts and a fixed, front‑facing camera (closer to fan game Sonic Robo Blast 2) than the seamless, speed‑first experience fans expected.
That transition finally clicked in 1998–99 with Sonic Adventure on Dreamcast: the first proper 3D Sonic not hobbled by late, rushed 3D hardware. The generous draw distance let you see far ahead, making it actually possible to plan moves at speed.
What I love most about Sonic Adventure and Sonic Adventure 2 (more than later entries) is how they deliver both freedom and speed without sacrificing tight, compact level design with some breathing room. Unlike the on‑rails Boost games, the inconsistent Lost World, or the sprawling Frontiers, you aren't locked into predetermined lanes. You can veer off the main path, explore a bit, and often find hidden shortcuts and rewards through keen discovery or mastery of character's physics.
And that's just from playing as Sonic and Shadow, the standout characters in both games. Sonic Team kept things fresh by adding more characters with very different roles:
- Gamma (SA1), Tails and Eggman (SA2): Bulky mechs that trade agility for ranged firepower. Shooting enemies along your line of sight is often required to progress.
- Knuckles and Rouge: As mobile as the hedgehogs, but focused on hunting three hidden items per large stage using an in‑game proximity radar. Gliding, wall‑climbing, and hint monitors keep the search from dragging.
- Amy (SA1 only): A chase stage where you flee a big robot without Sonic‑level speed, but can gain height with hammer swings while running.
- Big (SA1 only): Essentially a fishing minigame. It's intentionally slow and clearly the least engaging of the cast.
On top of all that, Sonic Team included a surprisingly deep pet‑raising sim: the Chao Garden. You could:
- Use a VMU or GBA to take your Chao "on the go" or raise it in a smaller, portable garden.
- Win battles and minigames, feed fruits, and train stats.
It's rare to see that much care poured into what could've been throwaway side content, especially by today's AAA standards.
To further seal the deal, Jun Senoue's score ties everything together. Both games, especially SA1, have a cool, dreamy, energetic vibe that perfectly captures that early‑2000s "bold new future" feeling.
Put it all together and you get a duology whose charm and earnestness left an optimistic and lasting impression on my younger self for years after finishing them. Will they stand the test of time? Maybe. But what they set out to do, and largely achieved, is what matters to me.
The Genesis of Treasure
A little over six months ago, I posted a brief overview of why nearly all of Treasure's high‑energy, inventive Genesis/Mega Drive titles, the ones that helped the studio step out of Konami's shadow, deserve your attention. Since that post was easy to miss, I'll bring those writeups back here:
Gunstar Heroes
Treasure's debut title, Gunstar Heroes, regularly appears on lists of the best Genesis games, and for good reason. While it takes cues from Contra with its run-and-gun gameplay and classic power-ups, it also pushes the genre forward through clever stage design and inventive mechanics rather than relying solely on punishing difficulty.
At the start, you choose between two characters: one can shoot while moving, and the other can aim freely in eight directions. You also select one of four weapon types: rapid-fire, laser, homing, or flamethrower, and later combine them for stronger or hybrid attacks.
The arsenal doesn't stop at guns. You can perform sliding kicks, body slams, and even throw enemies (or your co-op partner!) for explosive damage.
The early game lets you tackle four opening stages in any order, each with its own unique twist. The Strange Fortress, for example, features a creative board-game sequence where dice rolls determine what type of challenge or mini-boss you'll face next.
Despite the Sega Genesis's technical limitations, Treasure found ingenious ways to push its hardware. By stitching sprites together and using rotation effects, they created massive, articulated bosses that felt alive. One of the most famous is the humanoid form of the Seven Force boss, an impressive showcase of both creativity and technical mastery.
If you only have time for one title from The Genesis of Treasure Arcade Special, make it Gunstar Heroes. It perfectly captures the balance of challenge, spectacle, and inventiveness that defines Treasure's best work.
McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure
If you thought Grimace's Birthday, that charming free Game Boy Color game from the 2020s, was the only good McDonald's console title, think again. Back in the early '90s, McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure proved that even a corporate mascot could star in a genuinely fun platformer.
Commissioned by Sega, the project gave Treasure a chance to show off their game design chops under a familiar brand. It was meant to be a safer, attention-grabbing debut, but Gunstar Heroes' huge success quickly made that safety net unnecessary.
What sets this seemingly standard platformer apart is its clever HP system. Throughout the journey, Ronald McDonald can spend some of his health gems to unlock new areas or even damage bosses, adding a light strategic layer to an otherwise straightforward adventure.
While it's much easier than Treasure's usual fare, it still delivers the studio's signature mix of lively setpieces, imaginative stages, and tight mechanics. It's the perfect entry point for players who found Gunstar Heroes a bit too intense, offering a gentler taste of Treasure's creative spark.
Dynamite Headdy
This is Treasure at their most chaotic, colorful, and completely unrestrained. Dynamite Headdy bursts with theater-inspired visuals, hyperactive sound design, and wild gameplay that never lets up.
As the name suggests, Headdy literally fights with his head, tossing it in eight directions to attack enemies or latch onto nodes for platforming tricks. Throughout the adventure, you'll collect more than a dozen alternate heads, each granting unique abilities like the powerful Hammer Head, the Vacuum Head that pulls in enemies and items, or the Invisible Head for stealthy moments.
The real magic, though, lies in its variety. Nearly every stage introduces fresh mechanics or visuals without ever feeling disconnected from the core gameplay. Whether you're in a side-scrolling shooter segment or an offbeat platforming challenge, the game's consistency in physics and control keeps the mayhem manageable.
Take one standout sequence: during a tense fight with Trouble Bruin, Headdy must keep attacking while restrained by his foe's grip, a claustrophobic twist that still feels true to the game's logic. Moments earlier, you were navigating a swaying 3D-like platform section, showcasing Treasure's boundless imagination within Genesis hardware limits.
With its dazzling creativity, strong level design, and dynamic pacing, Dynamite Headdy is a highlight of The Genesis of Treasure Arcade Special lineup. For the best balance of challenge and fun, stick with the Japanese version; it avoids the artificial difficulty spikes added to the Western release to deter rentals.
Alien Soldier
Arguably the toughest game of the bunch, but also one of the most exhilarating. Alien Soldier takes the intense 2D run-and-gun formula of Gunstar Heroes and distills it into a near-endless parade of boss battles. Most stages are just a short prelude before you’re thrown into another showdown against one of 25 strikingly designed foes, ranging from the cool to the downright grotesque.
At the start, you choose four weapons from a set of six for your bird-like super-soldier. Each has different ranges, spreads, and strengths, and taking duplicates increases ammo reserves. You can swap weapons mid-game whenever you find a pickup, and matching icons refill your ammo while boosting capacity.
Survival hinges on mastering two key mechanics: the counter and the teleport. The counter (performed by double-tapping the shoot button) absorbs enemy projectiles and converts them into health pickups, occasionally deflecting attacks back at the boss, a lifesaving move since most bosses fill a third of the screen and can shred your HP bar in seconds. The teleport lets you zip across a quarter of the screen in an instant; when your health is full, crashing into a boss during a teleport deals heavy damage at the cost of some of your life.
For your own sanity, it's worth switching from Superhard to Supereasy mode in the Options menu. You'll get unlimited continues and a password save system. It won't make the fights themselves much easier, but at least you won't have to start all over every time Alien Soldier humbles you.
Light Crusader
Did you know Treasure also made a top-down, isometric dungeon crawler for the Genesis? Light Crusader is the oddball in their otherwise explosive action catalog, and all the more interesting for it.
You play as Sir David, a knight investigating a sprawling underground crypt linked to mysterious disappearances in a nearby town. The sparse storytelling does its job, leaving most of the focus on exploration and gameplay.
Unlike many isometric games of the era (like Landstalker) that restrict movement to four diagonal directions, Light Crusader lets you move freely in all eight. Sir David feels nimble, with snappy walking speed and long, floaty jumps that make navigation smooth and responsive.
Combat, however, can be awkward. His short sword forces you to get uncomfortably close to enemies, relying on hit-and-run tactics unless you use your limited stock of magic. Fortunately, the spell system adds some depth; you can combine up to four elemental spells for unique effects, like mixing fire and earthquake to create a devastating meteor strike.
The game's physics engine also adds charm and personality. Pushable blocks follow gravity and can fall off ledges, and yes, you can cheekily shove around townsfolk too.
While Light Crusader doesn't rank among Treasure's best-known titles, it's a fascinating experiment that proves the studio's willingness to step outside their comfort zone. It's a solid, imaginative dungeon crawler that shows even Treasure's lesser-known works were brimming with creative curiosity.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 nominations topic in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentSonic 3D Blast is a bit of a misleading title, not gonna lie. Despite the name, it isn't a true 3D platformer; it's a top-down/isometric platformer that uses pre-rendered 3D sprites (similar to...Sonic 3D Blast is a bit of a misleading title, not gonna lie. Despite the name, it isn't a true 3D platformer; it's a top-down/isometric platformer that uses pre-rendered 3D sprites (similar to Donkey Kong Country) instead of real 3D environments.
That's why I haven't included it in the Arcade Special so far. The two games already in the list each take a fairly substantial amount of time to finish. If both of them ends up in the top 6, I'd encourage players to beat either Sonic Adventure 1 or Sonic Adventure 2 whenever that month arrives, depending on whether you prefer more oddity or more refinement.
That said, both Adventure games have fantastic soundtracks in their own ways. The first one, in particular, has a cool, dreamy, and energetic vibe that really captured my early-2000s feeling of a bold, new, and energetic outlook on the future, something I couldn't ignore for the rest of the decade.
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Comment on Colossal Game Adventure: September 2026 nominations topic in ~games
J-Chiptunator (edited )LinkNomination: Sonic the 3D Hedgehog Sonic Adventure Sonic Adventure 2 Despite playing a lot of these two 3D platformers from the GameCube era, I never reached the true endings for both. The CGA...Nomination: Sonic the 3D Hedgehog
Sonic Adventure
Sonic Adventure 2Despite playing a lot of these two 3D platformers from the GameCube era, I never reached the true endings for both. The CGA event would be a great chance to give them a proper whirl, and it could spark some interesting discussion about Sega's early, notable take on 3D Sonic gameplay in light of later installments.
Also, you can still buy these two games on Steam, and mod Sonic Adventure DX to smooth out many of its rough edges.
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Comment on CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎♂️🛹 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentI was toying around with a similar idea earlier, except mine was a contest about whoever hold the highest amount of top records in this CGA. But my overly ambitious self overlooked the fact...I was toying around with a similar idea earlier, except mine was a contest about whoever hold the highest amount of top records in this CGA.
But my overly ambitious self overlooked the fact certain versions of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 have differences in gameplay mechanics, like the 2020 remaster and Pro Skater 2x. That would require having separate leaderboards in order to even the play field, yet unfortunately not all of us have access to each and every version that's part of the contest.
So, simply posting high scores just for fun might be the better approach for this event.
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Comment on CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎♂️🛹 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentI didn't realize that the topic's title has the wrong date in it earlier, and now I can't modify it after it's posted. Whoops!I didn't realize that the topic's title has the wrong date in it earlier, and now I can't modify it after it's posted. Whoops!
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Comment on CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎♂️🛹 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkSpeak of the devil! There's currently a sale for both the Xbox One and Switch 1 version of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2. Both are $20.99 CAD and $23.99 CAD respectively, with the discount ending... -
Comment on CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎♂️🛹 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 in ~games
J-Chiptunator LinkCGA Announcement: We have officially inserted the cartridge for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. Use this topic to get set up for the month, help other people get set up for the month, and start playing!...CGA Announcement: We have officially inserted the cartridge for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. Use this topic to get set up for the month, help other people get set up for the month, and start playing!
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CGA-2026-09 🕹️🙎♂️🛹 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Hey, wanna listen to some tunes? throws a tape at your head, causing Out With The Old to play Introduction Legends come in many forms. For some, it's charting unknown space in a wildly complicated...
Hey, wanna listen to some tunes? throws a tape at your head, causing Out With The Old to play
Introduction
Legends come in many forms. For some, it's charting unknown space in a wildly complicated ship. For others, it's carving their own path as a pirate on uncharted seas. And for many gamers, it's stopping every "big bad" you can think of: chaotic embodiments, pantheons of mythic gods, egocentric wizards, and so on.
But this month, we're not chasing cosmic threats or fantasy epics. We're hitting the skatepark to prove our mad boarding skills, with Tony Hawk himself as the centerpiece.
He's the same guy who landed the first-ever documented legendary 900° aerial spin in competition on June 27, 1999, popping it out of a half-pipe in a single leap. He'd later land two more 900s in the 2010s, get credited with inventing 88 named tricks, and appeared in countless videos, films, and TV shows, both as a skater and as himself.
Just ten days ago, the second and final day of Vert Alert, his own vertical skateboarding competition in Salt Lake City has wrapped up. That pedigree is exactly what backs the entire Tony Hawk's franchise, especially the first four Pro Skater games and the gloriously unhinged Underground series.
Pro Skater 1 took the bare-bones fundamentals of real-world skate tricking and mapped them onto a video game blueprint. Suddenly, you could chase mastery without wrecking your body through endless falls.
The core loop has you choose a skater and board from a roster, each with different tricks and stats that shape your playstyle. Then, drop into one of several skate parks to chain stunts for big scores and complete literal fetch-style goals within a tight time limit.
Our CGA Game of the Month, Pro Skater 2, expands and refines that foundation in almost every way, including:
- Manuals: The game-changing addition that lets you chain tricks on flat ground without being forced into a stop when you run out of rails or airtime.
- Bigger, more varied levels: More complex park design with more routes and secrets.
- Deeper Career Mode: Instead of just grabbing tapes, smashing objects, and chasing high scores in 2-minute runs, you get more varied and elaborate objectives.
- Expanded roster and tricks: More skaters, more moves, more ways to play.
- Create-a-Skater and Create-a-Park: Full customization for both your rider and your levels.
The one big mechanical piece still missing? Reverts to chain aerials into each other. That wouldn't arrive until Pro Skater 3, and is finally addressed in the 2020 remake, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, which also folds in various gameplay tweaks from later entries up through Underground 1.
My Personal Background
When I was a kid, I vaguely remember seeing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 everywhere: for sale and rent in every store, featured in strategy and tips magazines, and even in those massive Sears holiday catalogs. We also had friends who were always messing around on real skateboards.
All of that eventually convinced my brother to rent Pro Skater 3 on GameCube. We both took turns with it. We loved how addictive and technical the gameplay loop was, but we didn't end up buying it, or any of the sequels, because we assumed it would be a short, shallow experience that wouldn't stay relevant.
We were wrong.
In 2004, our parents bought us a PS2 copy of Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 instead of renting. That game blew us away: twice as many intricate, unique levels, plus new gameplay elements layered on top of the already addictive core.
A few months later, I beat both Story and Classic modes, which unlocked a set of hidden characters. The most shocking (and hilarious) one is tied to a movie finally coming out in 2027, an icon of the 2000s both commercially and as a meme.
The fun didn't stop there. I accidentally discovered a bunch of out-of-bounds glitches thanks to weirdly programmed boundaries (the Los Angeles level sticks out in my mind; I loved those rebounding invisible walls I could endlessly jump off). I also managed to clip Player 1's position marker into odd places in Create-a-Goal mode. We felt like we were game developers, which might be what inspired my brother to pursue a career in the video game industry. Good times.
Fun fact: at one point, he even helped debug the then-upcoming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5. Many of the bugs he found and documented still made it into the critically panned final release, because the game had to ship before the licensing deal between Activision and Tony Hawk expired at the end of 2015. And it barely had any development time… Yikes!
Regardless, I'm looking forward to trying the original PS1 version of Pro Skater 2 for this month's CGA, warts and all. It has the gameplay loop I know and love, and I can get over the fact that I can't walk off my skateboard anymore, something I haven't dealt with since beating American Sk8land on Nintendo DS over a decade ago.
Game Information
Years of the release: 2000, 2001, 2006, 2010, 2020, 2021
Platforms: PS1, PC, GBC, Dreamcast, Mac OS, GBA, N64, Xbox, Windows Mobile, iPhone, PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 1
Genre(s): Action, Sports
Links: Original - Mobygames, Original - Wikipedia
Windows - Mobygames
GBC - Mobygames
GBA - Mobygames
2x - Mobygames, 2x - Wikipedia
1 + 2 - Mobygames, 1 + 2 - WikipediaA brief overview at some of the versions:
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PS1
- Easiest to access in terms of controller layout and emulation.
- Great baseline "classic" feel.
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Windows
- Potentially the most authentic way to experience Pro Skater 2 if you're comfortable with modding and tinkering.
- Requires tracking down a out-of-production software and configuring it properly.
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Dreamcast
- Similar to PS1 in feel, but with a noticeable visual fidelity boost.
- Often considered the best-looking original-console version.
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N64
- The most technically compromised 3D version.
- Still functional, but stunts feel awkward with the C-button layout.
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Xbox (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2x)
- Essentially "what if Pro Skater 1 + 2 came out right after Pro Skater 3?"
- Adds mechanics and quality-of-life improvements from later entries.
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GBA
- A surprisingly playable top-down/isometric conversion of the full Pro Skater 2 experience for a low-powered handheld.
- Requires adjusting to the perspective and controls, but it holds up.
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GBC
- Drastically different due to hardware limits and too few buttons.
- Becomes a sidescrolling, scope-limited version of Pro Skater 2 with mediocre controls, despite being an improvement over the GBC Pro Skater 1.
Where to find the game:
- Physical Release: Prices seem to be fairly reasonable on eBay. A loose cartridge/disc is usually much cheaper than a Complete-in-Box copy (which includes the game, manuals, and box), but not by much.
- Digital storefronts: A convenient fallback solution, especially with its frequent sales. Only applies to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2.
Game Setup
The main purpose of this topic is to get people up and running with the game. As such, it's recommended that you:
- Share what hardware you're playing it on
- Share if there are any tools/mods that you recommend
- Share anything you think is important for people to know before they start the game
- Ask questions if you need help
Another purpose of this topic is to revisit the game and its time period:
- Do you have any memories or associations with this game itself?
- What about its system or era?
- What aspects of retro gaming were common at the time?
- What other games from the same time period are you familiar with?
- What are you expecting from this game in particular?
Finally, this topic is the beginning discussion for people starting to play it:
- Post updates sharing your thoughts as you play.
- Ask for help if you get stuck.
- Offer help to others.
It is recommended that you reply to your own posts if you are making consecutive updates so that they are in the same thread.
IMPORTANT: Any links to the game should be legal distributions of the game only. Please do NOT link to any unauthorized copies.
IMPORTANT: Put any spoilers in a dropdown block. Copy/paste the block below if needed.
<details> <summary>Spoilers</summary> Spoiler text goes here. </details>
FAQ
What is CGA?
Colossal Game Adventure (CGA) is Tildes' retro video game club.
Each month we will play a different retro game/games, discuss our thoughts, and bask in the glorious digital experiences of yesteryear!
Colossal Game Adventure is a reference to Colossal Cave Adventure. It's one of the most influential games of all time, one of the first text-based interactive games, and one of the first games to be shared online.
What do we want to do with this group? Play influential games; interact with each other through text; and share the love for retro games online!
It also abbreviates to CGA (because we love chunky pixel art), and its name communicates the Colossal amount of fun and excitement that we have with retro video Games in our shared Adventure of playing them together.
Do I have to sign up?
No. Participation is open to all.
There is a Notification List that will get pinged each time a new topic goes up. If you would like to join that list, please PM u/kfwyre.
Are there restrictions on what/how to play?
Each month will have a focus game or games that will guide our discussions. Beyond that, there are no restrictions. The philosophy of CGA is to play in a way that works for you!
This means:
- Choose whichever version of the game you want.
- You can use cheats, save states, mods, etc.
- You can watch a streamer or longplay instead of playing it.
If you have already played a game and want a different experience:
- Play a different version of it.
- Play a related game (sequel, spiritual successor, something inspired by it, etc.)
There is no wrong way to participate in CGA, and every different way someone participates will make for more interesting discussions.
What is the schedule?
Each month the Insert Cartidge topic will be posted on the 1st, while the Remove Cartridge topic will be posted on the 20th.
Nomination and voting topics will happen in March and September (every 6 months).
Schedules are also posted then.
All CGA topics are available using the
colossal game adventuretag.What do Insert and Remove Cartridge mean?
Inserting and removing cartridges are our retro metaphor for starting and stopping a given game or games.
The Insert Cartridge topic happens at the beginning of the month and is primarily about getting the game up and running.
The Remove Cartridge topic happens toward the end of the month and is primarily about people reflecting on the game now that they've played it.
There are no hard restrictions on what has to go in either topic, and each can be used to discuss the game, post updates, ask questions, etc.
Without further ado, let's hit the parks and go buck wild with tricks and stunts!
> CONTINUE
(Credit to @Boojum for the splash screen. Still rock-and-rolling after a year!)
14 votes -
Comment on Ahead of an all-digital future for PlayStation, Sony needs to prove in courts that players know they don't own digitally purchased games in ~games
J-Chiptunator (edited )Link ParentA lot of that silent majority's stubbornness comes down to convenience, even at the cost of true ownership. Buying a digital game on any console is far easier and less intimidating than pirating...A lot of that silent majority's stubbornness comes down to convenience, even at the cost of true ownership.
Buying a digital game on any console is far easier and less intimidating than pirating the same title and figuring out how to run it. For buying a game in a digital storefront, the process looks like this:
See the store icon -> browse until you find something you want -> hit "Buy" -> wait for the download to finish -> launch and play
It's basically as intuitive as ordering anything from any other online store.
Pirating a game, on the other hand, is far more involved. For that, they'll need to:- Find a trustworthy source
- Navigate sketchy sites and pop-ups
- Understand file types, extensions, and where to put files
- Deal with installers, cracks, or launchers
- Worry about malware and bans
Someone with solid experience in file managers, file extensions, basic security, and web browsing can usually find free game files quickly and safely. But it's a completely different story for the average user.
In an era where smartphones with clean, simple UIs dominate how people use the internet, most users will never need (or develop) those skills. Their lack of technical knowhow means piracy ends up requiring a lot more time, effort, and risk just to truly own the game files, while buying is a few clicks and done.
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Comment on What theme do you use with Tildes? in ~tildes
J-Chiptunator (edited )LinkI went with Nord Dark, since it's my least distracting dark web page on both daytime and nighttime. Not too bright, nor too dark, the letters are kept in a certain light shade of gray to keep it...I went with Nord Dark, since it's my least distracting dark web page on both daytime and nighttime.
Not too bright, nor too dark, the letters are kept in a certain light shade of gray to keep it readable without forcing my eyes to squint or getting overwhelmed with too much lighting. The contrast between the UI elements is so well-balanced that I can still figure out each of their function and importance at a glance, all while never sacrificing readability.
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Comment on What's something that's more challenging for you than it is for others? in ~talk
J-Chiptunator LinkReading. I can read and understand short to medium texts just fine, up to about a dozen paragraphs, like most web articles or forum posts. But when a text has heaps and heaps of paragraphs and I...Reading. I can read and understand short to medium texts just fine, up to about a dozen paragraphs, like most web articles or forum posts. But when a text has heaps and heaps of paragraphs and I have to read for more than 10–15 minutes, I invariably either lose focus or start reading much, much more slowly for a long time.
Because of this, I often wind up being the last student to finish any reading task. It makes me wonder why my peers are so much faster, and it leaves me feeling inadequate in a society that seems to expect quick, efficient readers.
In primary and secondary school, this wasn't a huge problem. I was classified as a "student with difficulties", so I could always ask for extra time on exams and tests.
However, things are much less forgiving in cégeps. In primary/secondary school, each school year covers about 8 months of classes; in cégep, that's cut roughly in half for each semester. The result is much more condensed courses and far less time to complete assignments, even for the struggling students who can buy more time.
This is especially true in literature classes. We're assigned three books, and for each one we have to build a convincing, detailed thesis. The assignments are staged:
- First: just the introduction
- Second: introduction plus one argument
- Third: everything from the second assignment, but with more arguments
We're expected to "read between the lines", taking the culture and context of the time period into account, and to come up with convincing theses. On top of that, the topics are often uninteresting and unrelatable to me, which makes the kind of close, "nerd‑like" scrutiny they want feel monumentally laborious. This subject is far harder for me than any other I've had to study.
It sometimes feels as if you need almost intimate knowledge of these literary topics right after finishing secondary school in order to get the cégep diploma, no matter what job you actually plan to do. But the education system overestimated how much time would be spent studying French in secondary school, leaving very little room (if any) for serious literature classes.
To this day, I still haven't obtained my diploma, even though I've passed every other subject that doesn't involve literature. And even among students who didn't struggle nearly as much as I did, about half have to retake the same literature class at least once.
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Comment on Tokyo, yeast, and expectations in ~travel
J-Chiptunator Link ParentIt's worth adding a bit of context for why people in Japan (and anyone who's spent substantial time there) often hesitate to voice even good‑willed, constructive criticism while in the country. In...It's worth adding a bit of context for why people in Japan (and anyone who's spent substantial time there) often hesitate to voice even good‑willed, constructive criticism while in the country.
In Japan, what's considered rude isn't merely the content of the criticism, but its disruptive nature. Japan is a hierarchical, collectivist society that places a strong cultural emphasis on preserving face and maintaining social harmony (wa).
If you raise any kind of criticism or potentially awkward topic in a direct or confrontational way, especially in public or across status lines, you risk disrupting that harmony. That can strain not only your relationship with the person involved, but also your standing in the wider social circles you both belong to, including family and work networks.
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Comment on CGA-2026-08 🗡️🛡️❤️🔺 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past in ~games
J-Chiptunator Link ParentThe stretch parameter you're looking for is IgnoreAspectRatio. If you leave 0 in it, it'll stick whatever aspect ratio you chose, which will always give you square pixels no matter how large is...The stretch parameter you're looking for is IgnoreAspectRatio.
If you leave 0 in it, it'll stick whatever aspect ratio you chose, which will always give you square pixels no matter how large is your window/screen.
Set it at 1, and the screen will automatically stretch to fill in the black bars, which is what we needed for my trick to work.If you add extend_y to the ExtendedAspectRatio parameter, the game will natively render with 240 vertical lines instead of the normal 224.
Here's my zelda.ini config file for reference.
CGA Announcement: We have officially ejected the cartridge for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. No worries if you're not done -- there is still some time left in the month to play!
This topic is for people to share their parting thoughts and experiences. Spoilers are NOT required to be hidden for this topic, so if you're reading this before you've finished, be careful about reading any comments here.
If you would like to be added or removed from the Notification List, please PM u/kfwyre.
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