In a plot-twisting story that pays homage to '80s skateboarding and punk style, gamers play a young rebel who makes his way to the mecca of skateboarding, where he must prove himself to Tony Hawk, local pros, and legendary skaters and participate in the construction of the ultimate, trick-filled skate park. (Muscial memo to Activision: LA had a thriving punk scene in the '80s. Get your street cred by snagging some hardcore hits.)

Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland features new multiplayer modes, including a two-player co-op classic mode.

NCS Game Notes
* Game Modes include Story Mode / Classic Mode / Create-A-Modes / Free Skate / Online Play.

* The skateboarding will take a sk8r throughout entire cities where he'll grind rails, scale buildings, take on oncoming trains, and perform 720 aerials in gravity defying acrobatics of swivelling action. Chain the moves together and put on a show for onlookers.

* In Story Mode, a comic book starts with the line, "Once upon a time in the middle of friggin' nowhere." A quintet of skaters walk in front of a bus and it's time to select one of them for your onscreen rider. If you leave them alone and watch, they'll stand around, do a little clowning, and exhibit other tics. Select someone and he'll get on the bus and a bubbly blonde greets him as they ride to Los Angeles.

* Upon getting off the bus, the skater gets punched out by two hooligans and a gal named Mindy walks in to help introduce him to the shops and sights. It's up to the player to change his buster clothes into something more hip and to get a better haircut. At the salon, he may choose a Mullet, a McSqueeb, a Dead Guy Doo, an Afro , Pigtails, two types of mohawks, and even Liberty Spikes among many others. All for only $20. Facial hair and various colors may also be chosen at the barber shop.

* Once the hair is done, run into the clothing shop to buy new threads such as hoodies, tank tops, sleeveless tees, leather pants, ripped jeans, and other skate gear.

* Once decked out, hero exits the shop and gets schooled by Mindy about learning new skills from some of the skaters hanging outside the shop and around town. One of the guys will teach the art of grinding (Press X to hop onto a rail and press TRIANGLE to ride it). The game will allow saving the data at this point.

* Once unleashed on the game, players may run rampant over the city and grind rails, perform near a group of demonstrators chanting "Save our sheep," terrorize motorists, and take a fair amount of spills. When flopping onto the sidewalk, blotches of blood spill out of the skater's body and stain the sidewalk temporarily.