152. Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer (Treyarch, Playstation 2, 2002)
While Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer is not a complete copy of the Tony Hawk games, it does have some significant similarities, and I don't doubt that the games use the same engine. The face buttons all perform the same basic maneuvers: jumping, air tricks, and riding the top of the wave / grinding. Each level is a real-world location and has a time limit and a series of goals, some of which are optional, and the key to big points is maintaining a combo and using your special meter.
All that said, Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer also does a lot to differentiate itself from Tony Hawk. Just at a basic level, surfing is not skateboarding, so instead of a big skatepark, you pretty much just have the one wave. There are a lot of techniques involved in getting a combo going, and while the gameplay is probably no more complicated than a Tony Hawk title, it certainly feels like a lot for someone who has the Tony Hawk gameplay burned into their brain.
Difficulty curve aside, I think my Tony Hawk experience at least gave me a bit of a leg up, as I was able to clear the first 3 levels without a ton of trouble. Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer definitely has a more laid back, less lyrically driven soundtrack, which I guess fits, but it wasn't as exciting as punk rock. I would have at least appreciated some surf rock. One nice touch is that every time you start a new level you get a little 1-2 minute documentary with real people surfing that location and Kelly Slater talking about his experience there. There are also decently extensive biographies on each playable surfer that make you feel like at least the developers love and respect the sport of surfing.
3/5, a decent Tony Hawk spinoff with a couple cool touches
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