Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
Encyclopedia
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam is a video game in the Tony Hawk series. The game was a launch title for Nintendo
's Wii
, and is also available for the Nintendo DS
, Game Boy Advance
, and PlayStation 2
.
As a departure from Neversoft
's Tony Hawk games, Downhill Jam emphasizes gaining speed and racing opponents, as well as competing for high scores and completing goals.
, developer of Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure
and the game adaptation of Madagascar
.
As in older Tony Hawks games, there are game modes for high scores and completing goals, but a high-speed racing mode is also included. Tricks are used in part to reach secret and alternate routes, although revert and manual tricks are absent from the game. This formula is similar to that used in the SSX
series of snowboarding games.
The Wii version features a multiplayer mode with four players competing head-to-head in splitscreen. While online play was announced within early development, the final version of this game does not include online play.
version of Downhill Jam features a single player mode called "Downhill Challenge". The story to this is Tony Hawk
who puts on an event where Hawk and friends tour around the world to compete in a series of downhill skating competitions such as: Races
, Slalom
, "Trick
", "Steal The Head", and "Elimirace".
, who gained much experience with the Tony Hawk
franchise by adapting almost every previous version for GBA
as well as Tony Hawk's American Sk8land
for Nintendo DS.
The DS version has six tracks, each four times larger than a typical level from Tony Hawk's American Sk8land
. The DS version has a similar character set to the Wii version, as well as the ability to create a character and customize his or her appearance, stats, and special tricks.
The DS version maintains a traditional Tony Hawk control scheme, and much of the same trick set from Sk8land. However, flip tricks can now be held like grab tricks, reverts are eliminated, and the bert slide has been optimized for downhill racing. Additionally a combo buffer has been implemented. When a combo is broken, the player has a few seconds (a buffer) to start a trick again and save the combo. The player is allowed 20 buffers per combo, making the maximum score of 100 million points per combo still difficult to obtain.
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam for the DS
does not support online play anymore as the servers are not being supported anymore.
, being a bird's name), an oldschool skater trapped in the 80s.
version of the game was developed by Visual Impact and the PlayStation 2
version was developed by SuperVillain Studios
. Neither game was developed by Neversoft
. The PlayStation 2 version shares a big similarity with the Wii
version of this game, sharing its graphics, levels, and characters, except that this version includes three extra characters.
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
, and is also available for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
, Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
, and PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
.
As a departure from Neversoft
Neversoft
Neversoft Entertainment is an American video game developer, founded in 1994 by Joel Jewett, Mick West and Chris Ward. Neversoft is best recognized for their line of Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk skateboarding games, known as the Tony Hawk's series...
's Tony Hawk games, Downhill Jam emphasizes gaining speed and racing opponents, as well as competing for high scores and completing goals.
Wii version
The version of Downhill Jam for Wii was developed by Toys for BobToys For Bob
Toys For Bob is a small video game developer founded in 1989 by Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford. They are most known for creating Star Control and its sequel Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters, but they were not involved in the development of Star Control 3...
, developer of Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure
Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure
Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure is a sports video game released by Toys For Bob. It utilizes the same game engine as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 by Neversoft and features characters from Toy Story, The Lion King and Tarzan.-Gameplay:...
and the game adaptation of Madagascar
Madagascar (2005 film)
Madagascar is a 2005 computer-animated film produced by DreamWorks Animation, and released in movie theaters on May 27, 2005. The film tells the story of four Central Park Zoo animals who have spent their lives in blissful captivity and are unexpectedly shipped back to Africa, getting shipwrecked...
.
As in older Tony Hawks games, there are game modes for high scores and completing goals, but a high-speed racing mode is also included. Tricks are used in part to reach secret and alternate routes, although revert and manual tricks are absent from the game. This formula is similar to that used in the SSX
SSX
SSX is the first in the SSX series of snowboarding video games...
series of snowboarding games.
The Wii version features a multiplayer mode with four players competing head-to-head in splitscreen. While online play was announced within early development, the final version of this game does not include online play.
Downhill Challenge
The WiiWii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
version of Downhill Jam features a single player mode called "Downhill Challenge". The story to this is Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
who puts on an event where Hawk and friends tour around the world to compete in a series of downhill skating competitions such as: Races
Racing
A sport race is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion, usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time...
, Slalom
Zigzag
A zigzag is a pattern made up of small corners at variable angles, though constant within the zigzag, tracing a path between two parallel lines; it can be described as both jagged and fairly regular....
, "Trick
Skateboarding trick
A skateboarding trick, or simply a trick is a maneuver performed on a skateboard while skateboarding. Learning and perfecting new tricks is the primary goal of many skateboarders, for whom most of the time spent skateboarding is spent on tricks....
", "Steal The Head", and "Elimirace".
Nintendo DS version
The Nintendo DS version was developed by Vicarious VisionsVicarious Visions
Vicarious Visions is an American video game developer founded by the high school brothers Karthik and Guha Bala in 1990, which developed some PC and Game Boy Color games in late 90's and 2000. They later developed Terminus, which won two Independent Games Festival Awards in 1999...
, who gained much experience with the Tony Hawk
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
franchise by adapting almost every previous version for GBA
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
as well as Tony Hawk's American Sk8land
Tony Hawk's American Sk8land
Tony Hawk's American Sk8land, is the first entry in the Tony Hawk's series of video games for the Nintendo DS, and the sixth Tony Hawk video game for the Game Boy Advance....
for Nintendo DS.
The DS version has six tracks, each four times larger than a typical level from Tony Hawk's American Sk8land
Tony Hawk's American Sk8land
Tony Hawk's American Sk8land, is the first entry in the Tony Hawk's series of video games for the Nintendo DS, and the sixth Tony Hawk video game for the Game Boy Advance....
. The DS version has a similar character set to the Wii version, as well as the ability to create a character and customize his or her appearance, stats, and special tricks.
The DS version maintains a traditional Tony Hawk control scheme, and much of the same trick set from Sk8land. However, flip tricks can now be held like grab tricks, reverts are eliminated, and the bert slide has been optimized for downhill racing. Additionally a combo buffer has been implemented. When a combo is broken, the player has a few seconds (a buffer) to start a trick again and save the combo. The player is allowed 20 buffers per combo, making the maximum score of 100 million points per combo still difficult to obtain.
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam for the DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
does not support online play anymore as the servers are not being supported anymore.
Story mode
In its story, you recruit skaters into your skate crew and battle a rival crew run by Antonio Segul (a reference to Tony HawkTony Hawk
Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk , nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American retired professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision...
, being a bird's name), an oldschool skater trapped in the 80s.
GBA and PS2 version
The GBAGame Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
version of the game was developed by Visual Impact and the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
version was developed by SuperVillain Studios
SuperVillain Studios
SuperVillain Studios is a video game development company that develops for the Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and the PlayStation Portable.-Company Profile:...
. Neither game was developed by Neversoft
Neversoft
Neversoft Entertainment is an American video game developer, founded in 1994 by Joel Jewett, Mick West and Chris Ward. Neversoft is best recognized for their line of Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk skateboarding games, known as the Tony Hawk's series...
. The PlayStation 2 version shares a big similarity with the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
version of this game, sharing its graphics, levels, and characters, except that this version includes three extra characters.
DS
- Metacritic: 76/100
- IGN: 87
- Official Nintendo Magazine UK: 83
- Games Radar: 80
- GameSpy: 80
- Worth Playing: 78
- Nintendo Power: 75
- GameDaily: 70
- 1UP: 70
- GameSpot: 6.6/10
- EuroGamer: 60
Wii
- Metacritic: 69/100
- Official Nintendo Magazine UK: 8.5/10
- Games Radar: 80/100
- GameSpy: 80/100
- Electronic Gaming Monthly: 7.5/10
- Nintendo Power: 7.5/10
- 1UP: 7.5/10
- Yahoo! Games: 7.0/10
- IGN: 7.0/10
- Play Magazine: 70/100
- GameTrailers: 68/100
- GamePro: 65/100
- GameSpot: 6/10
- EuroGamer: 5/10
- Game Informer: 50/100
- Edge Magazine: 5/10
- G4 TV: 2/5
External links
- Activision
- Official Website
- Downhill Jam at Tony Hawk Games Wiki
- Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam at IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam DS Community
- Interview with Toby Schadt (Lead Developer)