Loved playing these games, I always put the cheat coeds on so I could actually hit the scores in the time. But I had fun.

Loved playing these games, I always put the cheat coeds on so I could actually hit the scores in the time. But I had fun.

I’ve never played the THPS games, but I went to school in the early aughts with people who had older brothers that were into skating and I heard about the X Games. I remember wanting to learn how to skateboard so bad bc Tony Hawk was “it” (there was a poster of him hung in my elementary school cafeteria). Now that I’m in my 20s, I’m rediscovering the pop culture that surrounded my early childhood that I was either too young to fully comprehend, or wasn’t really allowed to consume

I’ve never played the THPS games, but I went to school in the early aughts with people who had older brothers that were into skating and I heard about the X Games. I remember wanting to learn how to skateboard so bad bc Tony Hawk was “it” (there was a poster of him hung in my elementary school cafeteria). Now that I’m in my 20s, I’m rediscovering the pop culture that surrounded my early childhood that I was either too young to fully comprehend, or wasn’t really allowed to consume

I love this type of documentary. It feels a little shallow unfortunately. Doesn’t really get past surface level information. We get it, skateboarding was dying and THPS saved the industry, the game was fun, the developers were ahead of their time, yada yada yada. I really wanted to dive more into the creative process, how the skaters were more involved than just signing contracts, and exactly how it was distruptive. I have played 100s of hours playing THPS so I still loved this. Just wanted more. Especially from the developer/ artists side.

Favorite game hands down!

I love this type of documentary. It feels a little shallow unfortunately. Doesn’t really get past surface level information. We get it, skateboarding was dying and THPS saved the industry, the game was fun, the developers were ahead of their time, yada yada yada. I really wanted to dive more into the creative process, how the skaters were more involved than just signing contracts, and exactly how it was distruptive. I have played 100s of hours playing THPS so I still loved this. Just wanted more. Especially from the developer/ artists side.

Favorite game hands down!

Puff piece but pleasant. Wish there was more about the music and/or the game development.

Puff piece but pleasant. Wish there was more about the music and/or the game development.

For a film that traces the history of skateboarding in a concise way, features plenty of footage of incredible tricks, and leans into just how groundbreaking 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater' was and how it changed the face of skateboarding, there's a lot more to tell rather than show. But 'Pretending I'm a Superman' is still an enjoyable and informative project that captures the joy of the sport in a way that anyone can appreciate - skater, gamer, both or none of the above.
- Jake Watt

Read Jake's full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-pretending-im-a-superman-the-tony-hawk-video-game-story-the-game-that-inspired-a-generation

For a film that traces the history of skateboarding in a concise way, features plenty of footage of incredible tricks, and leans into just how groundbreaking 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater' was and how it changed the face of skateboarding, there's a lot more to tell rather than show. But 'Pretending I'm a Superman' is still an enjoyable and informative project that captures the joy of the sport in a way that anyone can appreciate - skater, gamer, both or none of the above.
- Jake Watt

Read Jake's full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-pretending-im-a-superman-the-tony-hawk-video-game-story-the-game-that-inspired-a-generation