The Best Tony Hawk Game Is Grinding Back, And I Can Only Hold My Breath

When Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 1 + 2 launched, I solely had one thought on my thoughts: “That is superior, however can we please get 3 + 4?”

I had dabbled with the primary two entries again within the day, nevertheless it was solely when Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 launched in 2001 that I correctly acquired hooked on the collection. It felt excellent, and regardless of classics like Metroid Prime and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker sitting larger on my ‘finest GameCube’ checklist, there’s no different recreation I sunk extra hours into than THPS 3.

Given the current disappointment surrounding the adjustments to THPS 4 within the upcoming remake, I’m going to solid that recreation apart for a second and simply concentrate on the third entry. Heck, even when developer Iron Galaxy retained completely every part from THPS 4 and delivered a close to 1:1 remake, it nonetheless sits just under its predecessor in my private collection rating.

Few video games really feel like merchandise of their time as a lot as Tony Hawk 3. Certain, if you happen to’re moderately educated, you can take a look at any recreation’s stylings and manufacturing values and take a good stab at when it was made, however THPS 3 is a snapshot of the early ‘00s like no different. The music, the visuals, the rebellious undertones… It launched proper when Jackass was actually starting to realize momentum on MTV, and you can really feel that within the new additions.

Not like the earlier two entries, which noticed you traversing round ranges in your lonesome, THPS 3 featured pedestrians for the primary time. Challenges like ‘Bury the Bully’ within the Canada stage and ‘Cease the Pickpockets’ within the Airport felt like they’d taken direct inspiration from the exploits of beloved idiots like Steve-O and Bam Margera (who, sadly, isn’t within the new remake), and it made the sport really feel like a ridiculous mixture of Skating X Jackass sim.

It gave the collection the enhance it actually wanted, in my eyes. I’m no skateboarder in actual life, however I’d wager that almost all achieve pleasure from skating with others. It’s some of the sociable sports activities conceivable, and I’d at all times see youngsters at my native skatepark racing down halfpipes earlier than sitting with associates and listening to Blink-182 and Slipknot. It was a vibe, y’know? And THPS 3 captured it splendidly.

Talking of music, the sport additionally launched me to bands that stay a few of my absolute favourites to this very day. Bodyjar’s ‘Not the Identical’ grew to become the track of 2001 and I can not let you know what number of instances I listened to it within the months following the sport’s launch. Not solely that, however you’ve acquired The Ramones, AFI, Guttermouth, Alien Ant Farm, and freakin’ Motörhead, for goodness’ sake. Look, I’ll at all times keep that ‘Ace of Spades’ pales compared to ‘Overkill’, nevertheless it’s an absolute banger of a track, regardless.

Bodyjar and Motörhead have been confirmed to return for the remake, so even when Iron Galaxy hasn’t managed to get each track, I’ll be one pleased chappy.

It’s going to be a bit odd enjoying a remake of THPS 3, fact be instructed. After I performed 1 + 2, it admittedly misplaced that ‘product of its time’ vibe that makes the unique video games so memorable to me. I fear that even with the music and the Jackass-inspired challenges, THPS 3 on Change might really feel comparable. If it will probably recapture at the least a few of that pleasure I felt in my youth, although, Activision and Iron Galaxy are on to a winner.

And if not? Possibly ‘Not the Identical’ will tackle an entire totally different that means.

Did you play Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 again within the day? Which entry within the collection is your favorite? Go away a remark together with your ideas, recollections, and extra down under.