Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

It's not surprising that there are so many marathon runners around. All you need is some shoes, shorts, vest, Vaseline, plasters, a pair of legs and you're away. Other than stamina levels and knowing how to pace yourself, it's technically not that different from running as a two-year-old.

Skateboarding, on the other hand, is an astonishingly complicated activity, requiring bewildering levels of dexterity, balance, timing and courage. Which makes it absolutely incredible that there are so many excellent skaters around. It also makes it one of the least likely candidates of the extreme sport canon to make a successful video game. But here it is, and you know what? It's something special.

Though named after Tony Hawk, a further 12 pro skaters are included, each with a selection of special 'signature' moves. But even the standard repertoire is impressively varied, including everything the budding digital skateboarder could wish for: kick, grab and lip tricks, as well as grinds and massive aerials. These can be performed at will around the levels, which contain standard skatepark elements such as half pipes and rails, mixed with everyday urban furniture like fountains, flagpoles and park benches. The action is viewed slightly from above and to the side, which for the most part offers the perfect view for performing tricks.

While aimlessly tricking your way around town is excellent fun (and the main reason why exceptional longevity is guaranteed), the game's structure, which assigns a set number of gratifying challenges per level, doesn’t lack the necessary focus for a successful video game.

And successful it is. Not only in terms of providing hugely entertaining gaming but, perhaps more impressively, by translating such an intricate sport into a digital form of entertainment with such terrific aplomb.