Sunshine Playlist: Part #4

There is one video game in particular that young folks grew up with (including me) during the early 2000s. Delivering awesome gameplay, a kickass soundtrack and almost endless replay value, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 is probably one of the best critically acclaimed, most beloved and most fondly remembered games of all time.

 I'd press start on you anytime, baby. Cause that's how I roll. Get it? 

Hell, even Phil, who isn't much into video games, just recently got himself a PS1(!) and now plays the crap out of that game. He had a little get-together at his place some time ago with some other guys & gals, and we tried beating the game (at least with Steve Caballero). One of the greatest unlockables about that game must be the bails videos. Haha, so hilarious, except for, you know, when it happens to you.
Also, the levels. Incredibly huge representations of actual cities for the time such as New York and Philadelphia, great copies of actual skate parks like Marseille and awesome original places such as the Bullring in Spain and the California High School - this was level design at its best.

Ah, Venice. Venice Beach, that is.

Both pics belong to MobyGames.com

But, if you are anywhere near my age or have played video games during the early 2000s, chances are you have played at least a few rounds of this game. Now for some nostalgia (and to finally get to the Sunshine Playlist bit), let's talk about the music for a second.

GOD WAS IT GOOD.

And it still is. Just listening to it makes you not only wanna play the game excessively, but also rock out with your friends, have a blast, just for the sake of enjoying it. These songs are so incredibly fitting to the skating genre - I could never just play the game with the music turned off. Those songs define THPS2.
Of course, to me the music has a lot to do with Summer (for some reasons, THPS2 has always been more of a Spring/Summer-kind of game to me), and that's why some songs are in my eternal Sunshine Playlist.

Here's my two favourites:

Dub Pistols - Cyclone




Millencollin - No Cigar (this one's on repeat right now)



It's a sad thing to realize that things you feel nostalgic about can't stand the test of time. THPS2, however, is a prime example of how to survive every other game in its genre. It's a game that makes you feel good to be nostalgic about.

I just blew the dust off of my version for the Dreamcast. Unsurprisingly, it's still as good as it was 10 years ago.



Other amazing songs:
Lagwagon - May 16 
Swinging Utters - Five Lessons Learned 
Styles Of Beyond - Subculture (this one's actually GOOD hiphop.)
Papa Roach - Blood Brothers 
...
Seriously, I could just list all of them. But you catch my drift.