Tony Hawk’s Project 8 is the latest Tony Hawk installment, but it is only available on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Because the Nintendo Wii can’t process nearly as much as the other two next generation consoles, it was decided to create an entirely new game exclusively for the Wii, titled: Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam. What is also interesting is that a completely different developer makes the game. Neversoft, the company that has developed all of the past Tony Hawk games (to include Project 8), didn't have a hand in this new game. The developer for Downhill Jam is Toys for Bob. Toys for Bob does indeed have a background in game development, with games like Pandemonium, The Unholy War, and 102 Dalmations. Oddly enough, though, we haven’t seen a title from Toys for Bob on a console since the Playstation days…
Although a completely different group developed Downhill Jam, it is still a decent game for the Wii. It fits in with the Tony Hawk series, but it is quite different when compared to the past (and current) titles. Instead of spending time skating around in a skate park, or terrorizing the streets, you are racing downhill against other characters. The best comparison would be SSX on a skateboard.
The overall game is very basic, yet fun. The game includes single player and multiplayer modes, with up to four players available on the multiplayer side. The single player mode works much like the career mode in previous Tony Hawk games. Players will build up their stats throughout the game and unlock new boards and gear. Instead of just setting you free in an open world, a menu-based environment is where you will select certain challenges. After completing a challenge, other challenges and groups of challenges will open up, allowing you to move on if you so choose.
Each challenge is one of four gameplay types: race, slalom, trick, or special. The special gameplay types usually involve beating one other character to the finish line, but can also involve crazy things like knocking down as many people as possible, or create as much damage as possible while skating downhill. The race, slalom, and trick modes are basic, but add variety to the gameplay that would have been sorely missed had they not been added. Races will have you competing with three other skaters and yourself, whether said racers are A.I., or your buddies. In the slalom events you have to skate through circular gates before time runs out. In trick mode your goal is to rack up as many points as possible before reaching the finish line.
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