Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 Comments by Tom Bramwell

Myself and work mates completed THPS3 with all characters to unlock the eyeball which to ages. THPS4 is quite a good sequel but you are right with suggesting THPS3 for newcomers.

I first played THPS in virgin megastore in glasgow on a PS(X). I liked it so much I went to the video shop, borrowed a copy, and attempted to play it on bleem.

I wasn't succesful (3fps, really slow). But it eventually appeared on the DC, and the rest is history.

You can catch me in Argos tomorrow lunch time picking this up for £30 for the PS2.

To finish the pink elephants you need to do ..

Nah, I won't tell you :)

As for the networking, it's Modem/Ethernet support.

Come on Mugs, get it right, did you actually look at the options? :)

Bought 2 & 3, I think Ill pass on 4,5,6..N unless something innovative comes along again.

There's only so many times you can sell the same game, n'est pa?

Peej

As Tiitiz mentioned in the foums and Krudster here, it's a shame you cannot continue to complete tasks within the 2 minute window, the most noticeable being the big scores. I can't remember how many times I've caught a trick over a gap, manual, grind, flip, grind and got a superb score within the first 30 seconds. Shame to have to start again.

I've also found the Controller S to really help in this game, which is something I've been bitching about to anyone that'd listen (pity the poor saps at my bus stop). The button placement on the original controller is just frustrating. Well, for me anyhow.

Still, I do miss the tight enclosed levels. The warehouse is still my favorite level. Ever. Just because they are capable of now rendering expansive landscapes ala AI, doesn't mean they *have* to.

The other thing I miss from the THPS2 style is the speed and the height on the vert tricks. Just getting as high as you could and fitting tricks in was cool. Now it's getting more and more of a twitchfest and it loses something because of this.

Characters are still as good as always, picking from some of the best around. Being able to mod your clothes and stuff sounds a little 'Ken and Barbie' but in reality you can get pads/helmets/glasses/clothes and define a character that is close to you and your style. You also get to pick some of the skaters range of products, which is nice. Birdhouse stuff, Bones Brigate/Powell stuff, you name it, it's there.

I generally get every THPS that comes out, but it's the thing I'm into. Get the Xbox version and benefit from the hardware extras. But only if you have the Controller S. Honest. Trust me.

Er. I rambled. Nice review Mugs.

Edit : Fecking grammar.

"As for the networking, it's Modem/Ethernet support"

It is, too.

"Come on Mugs, get it right, did you actually look at the options? :)"

No, I just review games based on the colour of the box.

No, I just review games based on the colour of the box.

Is that why so many Xbox games get bad reviews? Radioactive green. Ugh. :-)

No, I just review games based on the colour of the box.

Wow! Maybe you could try just doing a review by looking at the manual :)

If Neversoft learnt to properly light their levels the game would look twice as good. Good lighting and good poly structure (not poly-counts, usage) make so much difference, yet most developers over look this ... ?

Neversoft could've done with looking at JSRF for inspiration on how to truly light a decent skating game...

Still, with Mr Hawks signed up till 2014, I think you can safely assume that you'll be seeing THPS games until the old bastard is in a bath chair...

Heyy...Tony Hawks Pro Bathchair...that could work you know!!

Peej

Dont forget its a PS2 port which will be the reason for the low poly and pure lack of lighting. Ported down to PS1 and up to GC and Xbox. GBA is a different matter.

"Wow! Maybe you could try just doing a review by looking at the manual :)"

Yeah. We don't often get manuals...

I've been wondering when they'll do a Segway Stuntmaster game.
Playable characters include Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, along with WorldCom and Enron execs. Levels include Enron HQ, MS Redmond, etc
Upgradable clothing includes classic chinos or the world famous jeans, shirt and blazer combo.
You get points for looking like a complete twat and in between racing you must extol the virtues of the transportation of the future.
Welcome to the evolution in mobility!
www.segway.com

Discussed earlier the viabillity of a motobility scooter on a half pipe. Which lead to the suggestion of Tony Hawk's Pro Motobility Scooter.

Mugwum, is this better than Aggressive inline?

"Yeah. We don't often get manuals..."

Press backwards then forwards whilst in mid-air :o)

Just had a shufty at the X-Box version. Yep, you're right - it's a godawful lazy PS2 port...

So I guess that'll be me sticking with THPS3 then..

Peej

Mugwum, is this better than Aggressive inline?
I'm not mugwum, but i can tell you that aggressive inline is a quite boring game. i sold it back to the store accepting a big financial loss after playing it for just 2 hours.

But at least Aggressive inline had superior breast physics...and let's face it, that's what REALLY matters in a skating game!

Peej

I think the breast physics are ridiculous. Not that it was the first thing I looked at in the whole game or anything.......

LOL. No, I certainly didn't load the thing up, select the girl, and get her doing a fakie within ten seconds of getting the game. *cough*

It has breast physics, but "realistic"? I dunno.

Took me longer than 10 seconds to work out how to do a fakie!
:o)

Dear o dear. Much rather play with the real thing not the silicon version. You lot REALLY need to progress ;-)

"LOL. No, I certainly didn't load the thing up, select the girl, and get her doing a fakie within ten seconds of getting the game. *cough*"

You managed to get a girl doing a fakie in ten seconds? Cor I'm impressed...two shoves and a shudder usually does it for me...8-)

Peej

Genuine lol!
:o)

Dear o dear. Much rather play with the real thing not the silicon version. You lot REALLY need to progress ;-)


Hey, I just wanted to see what Peej is always harping on about!
;o)

The quick succesion of sequels perhaps shows the potential benefits of downloadable content. Rather than holding back improvements, games could be able to ship first time out with a relatively future proof design, allowing levels to be downloaded over the course of a few years before a true sequel emerges. It should be cheaper to download this extra game than it would to buy it. Packaging and manufacturing costs are heavily reduced.

Aggressive inline is a marvellous game. This is good also, but then I'm a fan. The Pink Elephants were really easy btw. All I'll say is that the combo rules apply as far as timers go.

Played this last night. Nothing too shockingly different but still as good as ever. The levels seem better than in 3. HORSE after several sherbets is still the order of the day.

Building uo the speed with a huge combo and ending with a pogo still creases me up.

Any news on a PC release date?