Tony Hawk's Proving Ground

As of 2007, Activision finally has some competition in the realm of skateboarding games from EA's

skate. It's just as well then, that Activision has overhauled the basic formula of the franchise and created what it promises is the deepest game in the series yet with Proving Ground.

In Proving Ground, players will have some big choices to make. You'll have a choice of three routes to go down. As a hardcore skater, you'll be tasked with having a more traditional Tony Hawk experience, seeking out the best spots to push your skills to the limit. As a career skater, players will have to go out there and make a name for themselves to get sponsorship, enter competitions and make their fortune. As a rigger, it's all about D.I.Y.; putting together crazy set-ups to reform the terrain and push the limits of what you thought was possible.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Tony Hawk game without a swathe of pro skaters lending their names and likenesses to it. As well as Tony Hawk, you'll find the likes of Ryan Sheckler, Arto Saari, Jereme Rogers, Daewon Song and Jeff King present and accounted for to guide you through new tricks as you progress.

Activision has also upped the ante with the tricks you can pull off. Expanded Nail-the-Trick moves such as Nail-the-Grab and Nail-the Manual, Bowl Carving, Aggro Push, Skate Checking, Climbing/Exploration, Environment Altering and Rig-a-Kit have all been thrown in to sweeten the pot.