Buzz Hawkyear
By Ben Barker
Activision and Toys for Bob, the teams responsible for the legendary Tony Hawk skateboarding franchise, have teamed up with Disney and Disney/Pixar for an all-new skateboarding game for kids of all ages … and Tony Hawk fans looking for something new. But, don’t get the idea that Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure is simple—it has as much depth and complexity as any Hawk title. And, when was the last time Mr. Pro Skater pulled off a manual on the back of a warthog?
When you pop Disney’s Extreme Skate Adventure into the Xbox for the first time, you’ll have six movie characters to choose from, two each from one of three movie settings—Toy Story 2, Disney’s Tarzan, and The Lion King. You can also try out a fourth area, “Olliewood,” by choosing one of the Extreme Skate Crew skaters (real-life kids who won the chance to be included in the game) or your own Create-a-Skater character. Olliewood is full of original missions (in true modern Disney style, you can even deliver some tasty McDonald’s food for points) and warp areas that take your own skater into the movie levels to try their skills against the likes of Simba, Buzz Lightyear, or Tantor the Elephant.
Choosing a Skater
All the skaters start out with unique sets of skills that affect how well they can trick their way around each level. At the start of the game, only one level is unlocked from each movie world. To unlock additional levels, be sure to collect each specific character’s special bonus item. Also, remember that although each skater starts with the stats listed here, any one of them gets to use all of the stat bonuses you’ve picked up in the single-player game. Neat, huh?
Andy’s Room makes a great skate park.
Toy Story 2 Level 1: Andy’s Room
Andy’s Room is filled with toys (duh), which form a convenient skate park. In the game’s story mode, you’ll get a variety of tricky missions from the Army Men, so keep an eye out for them. The incredibly sturdy dominoes provide ample opportunities to string together tricks into combos. And, look for the figure-eight-shaped cable on the floor in the corner—you can string tricks almost infinitely here, if you’ve got the skills.
Skaters
Woody
Ollie: 5
Speed: 5
Spin: 4
Trick: 6
Balance: 5
Special Item: Badges
Buzz Lightyear
Ollie: 6
Speed: 5
Spin: 5
Trick: 5
Balance: 4
Special Item: Power Cells (AA batteries)
This is his domain, and he flipkicks those who come here.
Tarzan Level 1: Jungle Treehouse
The Jungle Treehouse level is perfect for high-altitude tricks with many different opportunities to warp-jump up into the trees. Look for the speed-boosting gem in a massive hollow tree (you’ll need some height for this one and a lucky grind) and the giant half-log half-pipes perfect for high-scoring combos.
Skaters
Tarzan
Ollie: 5
Speed: 5
Spin: 5
Trick: 4
Balance: 6
Special Item: Spearheads (because the jungle’s dangerous, darn it)
Tantor the Elephant
Ollie: 5
Speed: 6
Spin: 4
Trick: 5
Balance: 5
Special Item: Peanuts
Grinding the circle of life.
The Lion King Level 1: Pride Rock
There’s a lot of pride in this rock. The first The Lion King level is a dizzying maze of rocky ramps and dangerous goals that will require speed and balance. If you’re confident in your balancing skills, go with Simba. If not, go with the dynamic duo of Timon and Pumbaa.
Skaters
Simba
Ollie: 5
Speed: 6
Spin: 5
Trick: 4
Balance: 5
Special Item: Zebra Haunches
Timon and Pumbaa
Ollie: 5
Speed: 4
Spin: 5
Trick: 5
Balance: 5
Special Item: Tasty Grubs
Olliewood
Olliewood isn’t like the other levels—it’s sort of an uber-Disneyfied version of Hollywood where the Extreme Skate Crew hangs out. You can skate around the movie theater, for example, and watch actual Disney movies (without the sound) playing on the screen. Keep an eye out for Cap’n Salty. He has a number of missions, including a nifty grind around the top of a lighthouse and the golden arches, where you can sign up to deliver fully licensed McDonald’s food products to hungry consumers in a series of missions reminiscent of Crazy Taxi 3.
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