think there have been as many Tony Hawk games since 1999 on every major game systems then are ports of Tetris. At least 25 games have been made for it, not including the multiple spinoffs (Aggressive Inline, Gravity Games, Dave Mirra) and the other extreme sport games that have the Tony hawk engine (Mat Hoffman, Kelly Slater, Shawn Palmer) Which could equal to over 50 games in a little over 4 years of existence, selling over 10,000,000 games. That is a ****load of games, money, and people who buy them, like me. To me, the pinnacle of the Tony Hawk games was this, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3. With over characters then you can put your eyes on, and not including the custom characters, you have a large variety and styles of people to play as, even though they all end up with the same stats in the end. With new, pop-up free levels, which where the largest at the time, you have an easy to learn, hard to master type game that needs little improvements. Neversoft, you have done it again.
Graphics: 8
These are the greatest leap of any Tony Hawk game in graphics, coming from the DC in TH2 to this is a very pleasing experience. The levels are free of pop-up and fog. The characters are made up of more polygons then the previous 2, and more work has been done on their animations when doing tricks or falls. Actually, one of the biggest things improved over the year was the animations when doing tricks and falling, which now look life-like. When you fall down doing a manual, your arms reach for your shins. When screwing up a pipe maneuver, you lay down and curl up into a call, clutching your stomach. Now most of them look like real people, and you can put on more detailed clothing and jewelry. The levels are filled with even more useless crud in which to look at, or you can make some yourself in the create-a-park option. For example, in Canada, you have trees, rivers, guys sledding, guys stuck to pole à la A Christmas Story, and much snow. And remember, that is all in one level. Not including all the things to do tricks off of. The movies are of a better quality, but that might just be because of different compressions techniques. When you are playing the game, you can see it is not pushing the PS2 to it's limits, but it was better than the previous installments.
Gameplay: 10
Still, the formula works. However, it has been given a few tweaks here and there. Now there is no more money to collect, making it easier to get new boards, stats, and moves. No more buying moves, but they are available to you at the start. Stats points are collection though-out each level, instead of buying individual stat points. You can move any stat points around too, making the game easier as well. For example, early in the game, you do not need to much points in how to do lip tricks. You take all the points out, and put them in speed or manual. However, once you collection all of the stat points, your skater will have full stats. Also, there is one hidden skate deck in each level. When you find it, it unlocks one deck which any of your characters could use. All but one of the skaters is back from the 2nd game, with the exception being Bob Burnquist, who got his own skating game. To make up for Bob leaving, they added Bam Margery, who is of MTV's Jackass fame. If you do not like those people, then you can just go to create-a-skater mode, which allows you to build a skater from the ground up. My good old Dodd Mintz is back, with a few minor adjustments, like adding new features to his head and body. Now you can add things like arm bands, tattoos, exotic clothing...and the ability to make a girl character also puts up opportunities for whole new clothing. You can select weight, height, hometown, and if they are most of a street or vert skater. Along with full customization in created characters, you can add new clothing for the pre-made ones. Each character has certain amount of tricks. Flip tricks, grab tricks, manuals, lips, grinds, and special moves are available. From a simple heelflip to a Judo-Madonna, they have over 200 tricks. You also have a revert, which changes almost everything about the game. Now, with a revert, you can link up tricks from coming of a pipe, doing a revert to manual, and going to another side. Now, it is easier to get massive amounts of points.
All new levels were added, with a combined total in pro skater mode being 9, each encompassing the globe. You have 3 levels in which you can earn medals in, and when you get 3 gold on each of these levels, you "beat" the skater's pro skating challenge. However, to be fully complete, you must get every deck, stat point, and every challenge, which may take a while. With doing it for all the characters, your create-a-skater, and all the "hint" skaters that you can unlock, it will take a while.
Each level is comprises of certain tasks you must do. Each level has a few level-only tricks, like, for example, in Suburbs, you must help the thin man by getting him an axe. Each level has a few of the same goals, like gaining certain amount of points by doing tricks, doing a certain gap with a trick, collecting a secret tape, and getting all 5 letters to spell S-K-A-T-E. With so much to do in each level, there are also 3 unlockable levels from the first Tony Hawk. You have Warehouse, Burnside, and Roswell, which still hold up today. With that add another part: Online play.
The first online game for Playstation 2, Tony Hawk 3 plays online pretty well. When using a cable modem, there are few seconds of lag, but it does happen. Each level is playable up to 4 people. You have all vs. mode games, like trick attack, graffiti, slap, and king of the hill. Overall, the online play works very well, but now, with the release of Tony 4, you have at most 10 people playing at one time. With everything to do in the game, along with the great control scheme, and superb tricks, THPS has it all.
Sound and Music: 8
Very nice music, with a great collection of music that is mostly rap/rock. House of Pain, Red Hot Chili Peppers, AFI, and The Ramones all contribute to the soundtrack. Also, now you can turn off any music which you don't like, making it easier on the ears. Well rounded soundtrack, but could of used a wee bit less rock. The normal sounds in the are taken out of the first 2, with grinding anything sounding that same, crashes, boos, and cheers all the same, without any kind of differences in them. They do get bland after you hear them enough. Other than that, ok.
Fun Factor: 8
Tony Hawk games have always been fun, but after 3 games 3 years in a row, they excitement wears a little thin. I'll keep playing a buying them, but I do not know how much longer I can do this. The first 3 were pretty much the same game, just adding better graphics, new tricks, and slightly new types of tricks, like a manual (the biggest improvement in Tony 2) and the revert (biggest in Tony 3.) They did change Tony 4, but still, they really need to change something BIG TIME or this river of gold will start trickling.
Graphics: 8
Gameplay: 10
Sound and Music: 8
Fun Factor: 8
Reviewer's Score: 8/10
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