Tony Hawk: Ride is an offshoot of the Tony Hawk skateboarding franchise. The game includes a wireless peripheral shaped like a real skateboard, which is required to play. Players stand on the board, and infrared sensors monitor their movement to control the game’s character. Instead of just turning, the game senses tilting for direction force, raising the tail or nose (for manuals and ollies), and reaching down to mimic a grab, which is recognized through different sensors in the front and to the sides by blocking them with a hand. Push off by brushing a leg along the ground next to the board to gain speed. Leaning and bending the board allows for more intricate tricks. The game has three difficulty levels to choose from. On the lowest setting, steering is automated, and the player is simply required to complete jumps and stunts. Steering and other aids, such as guidelines, are disabled at higher levels.
The game features several environments that may be explored in accessible skate mode in parks or by completing missions in a campaign mode. The story takes place in cities worldwide and features various game styles. Barcelona, Chicago, Frankfurt, New York, and Tokyo are among the cities included. There is a challenge mode in which particular objectives must be met. Various game modes focus on tricks and speed challenges, such as half-pipe skating. Players duplicate moves in an eS Ride mode similar to an H-O-R-S-E basketball game. Completing missions is required to advance through the game and unlock new places.
At first, a custom skater can be made, and then more things, gear, and pro skaters are unlocked. Multiple training videos are used to introduce the controls. A style meter is filled up when skating by doing many successful tricks. When complete, it adds visual flair to the effects moves. Competitive online multiplayer is available in the game. Local multiplayer allows for up to eight players to take turns. The Wii version lacks online multiplayer but adds challenges in which you play as your own Mii.
