Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a tough game for newcomers, but Activision does give you a few options to make the gameplay a little easier for those who struggle with the precise inputs and timing.
Game Mods
If you go the Options menu and then select Game Mods, you can select five assists that will help you if you're having trouble with the game. Perfect rail balance will keep you grinding on a rail surface without losing control of the skateboard. Perfect manual balance allows Tony and the crew to not lose their composure while performing the tricky move on the ground, and perfect lip balance gives you plenty of time to perform a trick on the lip of a halfpipe without penalty. Always Special keeps the meter on that gives you extra speed and the ability to use signature moves.
What takes the cake, though, is the No Bails option; you cannot fail when this is turned on. If you land incorrectly, it doesn't matter. You will still get credit, and you won't fall to the ground. With Always Special and No Bails on, there are no penalties, so you can coast through the campaign with few problems, if that is how you want to play the game.
The Game Mods Should Come With An Asterisk
The game mods are great for those who have trouble controlling the precise movements of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, but they also come with a few drawbacks. First, you won't be able to post your scores to the leaderboards with the game mods on.
Some skater challenges don't allow for game mods to be used, according to Power Pyx, and they also affect the "Can't Judge Me" trophy/achievement, which can't be gained with them on. These are not able to be used in multiplayer modes either.
Camera Options And Spin Taps
There are a few different angles you can use as a player, and you can access them in the Game Options menu. The near camera gives you a disorienting close-up angle of the action that looks upward towards the skater from the ground. Low is at a similar distance from the normal camera to the skater, but at a lower angle. Far gives you more of an overhead look, which could help you find specific items in the world. I would recommend sticking to the normal angle, but these extra camera options may come in handy.
You can also turn on 180 Spin Taps from the Gameplay Options menu. When enabled, you simply tap R1 for a half rotation of your chosen skater.
Now, you'll be skateboarding like the rest of us. Shred on, dude, and be radical!