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FOCUS GUIDE: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 level: Downhill Jam

There's a skill point high above the first hill in Downhill Jam

Ah yes, Downhill Jam, the most infamous of the Tony Hawk levels. If you’re like me, you’ve come here in frustration. “WHERE IS THAT LAST VALVE,” you say, and I hear you. Same with that pain-in-the-butt skill point at the start of the level, or that Huge Water Hazard that for some reason doesn’t want to give up its secret. Well I’m here to walk you through all of it, with pictures and everything.

Table of Contents:
Open 5 Valves
Collect SKATE
Collect 5 Hard Hats
Get the Secret Tape
Madonna the Huge Water Gap
Air Walk the Hydrophobic Gap
Collect Skill Points
Find the Alien
Complete All Gaps
Collect the Vicarious Visions Logo


Open 5 Valves

 

Valve 1

Just as you begin, use the hill to your right to ollie onto the pipes. Grinding the pipe opens the valve.

The first valve is above the first hill in Downhill Jam

Valve 2

This one is just sitting on a ramp near the first big right turn of the level. It’s surprisingly easy to miss if you don’t take this path often.

Valve 2 is to the left of the huge water hazard in Downhill Jam

Valve 3

Just before the downhill half pipe you’ll see a valve up high on a rail. If you take the ramp on the left before the half pipe, you can grind the pipe to open the valve.

Vale 3 is above the downhill half pipe in Downhill Jam
Valve 3 is above the downhill half pipe in Downhill Jam

Valve 4

After the half pipe is a STEER CLEAR sign bifurcating the path. If you’re perfectly centered when you ollie off the short ramp before it, you should hit the valve. If not, you can always cheese it by trucking up this obstacle from the opposite side.

Valve 4 is above the STEER CLEAR obstacle in Downhill Jam

Valve 5

Hidden in shadow just before the end of the stage is the last valve. You have to hit it with your body, or ride the wall to open it. I recommend approaching it from an angle and reaching it with an ollie.

Olli onto the wall at the end to get the last valve in Downhill Jam


Collect SKATE

Letter S

Just before the first big right turn of the level is the S. Leap off the nearby ramp to get it.

The S in Downhill Jam is just off a ramp near the beginning of the level

Letter K

The K rests above a grindable rail just before the downhill half pipe. Leap off the ramp to reach the rail.

The K in Downhill Jam is on a rail just before the downhill half pipe

Letter A

Above the downhill half pipe is a concrete plateau with the letter A. Ollie from the quarter pipe below it to claim it.

The A in Downhill Jam is above and to the right of the downhill half pipe

Letter T

After the large STEER CLEAR obstacle is another short ramp that will fling you high into the hydrophobic approach. Stay centered off this ramp to collect the T.

The T in Downhill Jam is just off a ramp before hydrophobic

Letter E

On the far side of the hydrophobic area is the final letter E. It’s high above a quarter pipe, so build up enough speed to reach it.

The E in Downhill Jam is to the right of hydrophobic


Collect 5 Hard Hats

Hard Hat 1

Immediately as you start you’ll see the first hard hat high above the left quarter pipe. Anyone can reach it, but the tight quarters may prove lining up your shot tricky. Gather speed from the starting hill and pull a hard left (down and left) to make yourself perpendicular to the rusted texture below it.

Hard hat 1 in Downhill Jam is to the left of the starting position

Hard Hat 2

On the left side, halfway down the downhill half pipe (say that three times fast!) is the second hard hat. Approach it at an angle for a quick grab.

Hard hat 2 in Downhill Jam is on the left side of the downhill half pipe

Hard Hat 3

Just after the downhill half pipe is a hole on the right. Ollie from the nearby ramp to grab the hard hat (and be sure to grind the sign’s rail to survive).

Hard hat 3 in Downhill Jam is on the sign above the hole

Hard Hat 4

Just before the hydrophobic area is the fourth hard hat, high above the quarter pipe. The rust on the ramp indicates where to align yourself for it.

Hard hat 4 in Downhill Jam is to the left of hydrophobic

Hard Hat 5

Just before the finish line, take the high path on the right and ollie to reach the final hard hat.

The last hard hat in Downhill Jam is above the finish line


Get the Secret Tape

Reaching the secret tape requires climbing to the highest point in the level and taking a leap of faith. Begin by taking the pipe near Valve 3 up to the plateau where the SKATE “A” was, and continue to the other side via another pipe.

The secret tape in Downhill Jam is high above the area just before the downhill half pipe
The secret tape in Downhill Jam is high above the area just before the downhill half pipe
Cross the gap at an angle and quickly ollie up to the bridge (where you can find the Vicarious Visions logo). Continue around, making sure you ollie the drainage gap.
The secret tape in Downhill Jam is high above the area just before the downhill half pipe
The secret tape in Downhill Jam is high above the area just before the downhill half pipe
As you come around, you’ll encounter the final ramp. It’s a trick, though! It does not line up with the platform containing the secret tape. Ollie off the ramp at a slight right-ward angle and grind the high rails to collect the tape.
The secret tape in Downhill Jam is high above the area just before the downhill half pipe
The secret tape in Downhill Jam is high above the area just before the downhill half pipe

Madonna the Huge Water Hazard Gap

Check your grab tricks in the Skater menu to refresh yourself on the Madonna input.

You can’t grind this gap for it to count, so make sure you have enough speed (a full special meter should do) and leap off the nearby ramp at an angle. Hold the Madonna for a moment. If you aim for the path at the end of the pipe, the game with credit you with the gap.

Perform a Madonna off a ramp at the beginning of Downhill Jam


Air Walk the Hydrophobic Gap

Check your grab tricks in the Skater menu to refresh yourself on the Air Walk input.

This gap requires speed. Make sure you have the points allocated properly on your skater, and use the long slope beforehand to rocket into the center ramps. Hold the Air Walk for a moment. If you can make it to the other ramp, the game will credit you with the gap.

Air walk the hydrophobic gap in Downhill Jam


Collect Skill Points

Skill Point 1

This vert skill point teases you from the moment you start the level. It’s on a ledge high above the right side, and there’s no obvious quarter pipe to get up there. If you spend your skill points on Ollie and Air, you should be able to reach it with a full Special meter.

There's a skill point high above the first hill in Downhill Jam
For Downhill Jam, consider adding points into Air and Ollie

 

Use the left quarter pipe to do a rapid combo and land with a full special meter. Then, ollie off the opposing hill with the right timing (slightly later than you might imagine) and you should make it up to the ledge. On the ledge is a small quarter pipe leading to your skill point.

There's a skill point high above the first hill in Downhill Jam
There's a skill point high above the first hill in Downhill Jam

Skill Point 2

Just after the first big right turn in the level is the second skill point, easily accessible from the quarter pipe below it.

There's a skill point to the left on the turn before the downhill half pipe in Downhill Jam

Skill Point 3

To the left side of the hydrophobic area is the third skill point, easily accessible from the quarter pipe below it.

There's a skill point to the left of hydrophobic in Downhill Jam


Find the Alien

There’s a doll of an alien you can collect to zero fanfare. At the start of the level, hold down to stop. Turn to face the corner behind you and to your left. Collecting all the aliens will grant you a new skater.

Find the Alien in Downhill Jam


Complete All Gaps

Huge Water Hazard (1000 points)

You can’t grind this gap for it to count, so make sure you have enough speed (a full special meter should do) and leap off the nearby ramp at an angle. If you aim for the path at the end of the pipe, the game with credit you with the gap.

Jump the huge water hazard in Downhill Jam

The Downhill Half Pipe (200 points)

With enough speed, you can reach the top of the fence guarding the left side of the half pipe. Make sure you hold a neutral grind, or else you’ll only do a lip trick. Grind the entire fence segment to earn this gap.

Grind the downhill half pipe in Downhill Jam

The Other Downhill Half Pipe (200 points)

The right side of the downhill half pipe is grindable. Approach it with enough speed at an angle to grind it the whole way.

Grind the other downhill half pipe in Downhill Jam

Pipe Flip (1000 points)

The pipe leading from the downhill halfpipe plateau to the bridge approach counts as a gap if you grind the whole thing.

Grind the pipe flip in Downhill Jam

Huge Distance (375 points)

The recessed ramp just before the hydrophobic area will launch you a massive distance. Approach it with enough speed, time your ollie at the end of the ramp, and collect some easy points.

Jump 100ft in Downhill Jam
Jump 100ft in Downhill Jam

Hydrophobic (250 points)

This gap requires speed. Make sure you have the points allocated properly on your skater, and use the long slope before hand to rocket off the center ramps. If you can make it to the other ramp, the game will credit you with the gap.

Jump the hydrophobic gap in Downhill Jam

Neversoft Electric Co. (1500 points)

Just after the hydrophobic area and before the finish line is a high building on the right hand side. If you leap to it from the edge of the qaurter pipe, you can reach the grindable edge of the wall. Grind the entire length to earn this gap.

Grind the Neversoft Elec Co in Downhill Jam

Collect the Vicarious Visions Logo

Begin by taking the pipe near Valve 3 up to the plateau where the SKATE “A” was, and continue to the other side via another pipe.

The secret tape in Downhill Jam is high above the area just before the downhill half pipe
The secret tape in Downhill Jam is high above the area just before the downhill half pipe
Cross the gap at an angle and quickly ollie up to the bridge. There you’ll find the Vicarious Visions logo, reachable by ollie.

Olli onto the bridge to get the Vicarious Visions logo in Downhill Jam

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