Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground on the Nintendo DS manages to translate the fast-paced trick system of its console siblings into a handheld format that’s surprisingly deep. Using a combination of the stylus pen and D-pad, you’ll grind rails, flip your board, and link combos with swipes, taps, and directional inputs. The controls take a little getting used to, but once you’ve mastered the stylus flick for flip tricks and the D-pad for precise movement, the sense of flow and creativity rivals what you’d expect from a home console.

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The game’s Story mode offers more than just mindless tricking: you’ll work through challenges issued by Tony Hawk and other pro skaters, building your reputation one successful grind and air combo at a time. Along the way, you can create your own custom skater and even design your own skate park – placing ramps, rails, and obstacles exactly where you want them. This park editor is surprisingly robust for a DS title, offering dozens of pieces and fine control over placement so that your custom courses can rival the game’s built-in levels.

On top of the single-player experience, Proving Ground leverages the DS’s Wi-Fi capability to let you go head-to-head with friends or random opponents in up to ten different modes. From classic endurance races—where you outlast and outscore your rival—to exhilarating new challenges like Red Light/Green Light, the multiplayer adds significant replay value. In Red Light/Green Light mode, tricks only count when the light is green, forcing you to balance aggression with timing—an inventive twist that showcases the developers’ willingness to experiment on the handheld.

Graphics

While the Nintendo DS hardware is limited compared to home consoles, Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground delivers surprisingly crisp visuals that capture the gritty, street-wise atmosphere of the franchise. Character models are well-defined, and their animations—whether you’re ollieing onto a rail or nailing a 360 flip—feel fluid and responsive. Textures aren’t as detailed as on Xbox or PlayStation, but the cartoony art style and bold color palette give each level a sense of personality and charm.

The level design itself stands out: urban backdrops like skate parks, industrial yards, and empty pools are rendered with a good balance of detail and open space. You’ll notice small touches—graffiti on walls, dynamic crowd reactions, and the occasional skateboard ramp wobble—that lend authenticity to the environments. Framerate remains stable even when you’re chaining long combos over rails, ensuring the gameplay never feels choppy or imprecise.

Even the park-creation tool benefits from the DS’s dual screens. While you assemble ramps and rails on the bottom touchscreen, the top screen provides an overhead view of your layout, making it easy to fine-tune angles and placements. Though the draw distance is limited and pop-in occasionally occurs, the overall presentation is polished for a handheld skateboarding title, striking a good balance between visual flair and performance.

Story

Proving Ground on DS retains the core narrative of the console versions: you’re an up-and-coming skater striving to earn respect from the legends of the scene. While the storyline itself is straightforward—complete objectives, impress the pros, and unlock new neighborhoods—the DS version adds its own flavor through stylus-driven mini-games and hidden collectibles. Each neighborhood you unlock opens fresh challenges, encouraging exploration and mastery of different skating styles.

The inclusion of renowned pros like Tony Hawk, Chad Muska, and Leticia Bufoni adds personality to the missions, as they offer advice, assign trick-based goals, and react to your performance. The dialogue is lighthearted but keeps you motivated to tackle trick challenges, high-score runs, and park-building tasks. There’s enough variety in objectives—from achieving a certain score in a Half-Pipe to pulling off a flawless run through an abandoned warehouse—to keep the progression feeling earned rather than repetitive.

Customization plays a surprising role in the narrative arc. As you build your own skater and craft signature parks, you’re not just playing levels—you’re creating your legacy. Unlockable boards, clothing, and park pieces serve as tangible rewards that feed back into the story of a skater making their name. While there’s no deep cut-scene drama, the sense of advancement and personal expression gives the storyline a satisfying throughline for long-time fans and newcomers alike.

Overall Experience

Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground on the Nintendo DS is a remarkable handheld adaptation that balances depth and accessibility. The stylus-driven trick system feels innovative and, once mastered, offers a level of precision that keeps combos fresh and engaging. With a robust park editor, entertaining Story mode, and a variety of multiplayer options, the game provides dozens of hours of replay value.

While the graphics can’t compete with console counterparts, they are well-optimized for the DS, and the dual-screen setup enhances both gameplay and editing tasks. Occasional pop-in and lower texture resolution are minor trade-offs for the portability and unique control scheme. More importantly, the game never compromises on the feeling of skating freedom that defines the Tony Hawk franchise.

For fans of extreme sports, portable gaming, or creative design, Proving Ground is a worthwhile addition to your DS library. It’s easy to pick up for quick sessions, yet deep enough to satisfy extended play. Whether you’re striving to top leaderboards in Wi-Fi matches or crafting your dream skate park, this title proves that a pocket-sized skate session can be every bit as thrilling as the console experience.

Retro Replay Score

7.6/10