Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater ought to be useless and buried.
After two motion-controlled disasters, a much-hated HD model of the unique video games, and a fifth entry within the Professional Skater collection that the majority followers would pay cash to overlook, it appeared just like the collection had bailed too many occasions to get again up. That’s why it was such a miracle that when Vicarious Visions‘ Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 1 + 2 was launched, it was precisely what followers needed.
By combining the enduring ranges from the primary two video games with the expanded mechanics of the primary 4 Professional Skater titles, it was an ideal throwback to when excessive sports activities video games had been king.
Regardless of how nice the sport was, nonetheless, it didn’t spark the return of the Birdman that many had hoped for. In truth, the remake appeared, for a few years, like it could be a one-and-done glimpse at what the collection may have been like within the modern-day.
Tony Hawk himself spilled the beans {that a} 3 + 4 entry was deliberate, however finally cancelled. That was till this 12 months. Rumblings started in 2024 {that a} new Tony Hawk sport was in improvement. The franchise, which was celebrating its twenty fifth anniversary, was going to get yet one more probability to make a long-lasting impression. And after taking part in an hour of Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 + 4, not solely has Iron Galaxy performed simply that, however the sport’s new ranges present that the Chicago-based developer deserves the reins of a brand new, unique entry.
Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 + 4 accommodates three new ranges, developed from the bottom up for the remake. Pinball, Waterpark, and Film Studio all match completely throughout the framework of the unique video games, and are the very best audition for making a brand new sport from scratch.
Pinball is a gimmick degree. You’re skating within a large pinball machine {that a} huge Tony Hawk is controlling. Every run begins as you’re shot into the machine like a pinball, from which you’ll assault the extent in any manner you select. There are rails to experience, bumpers to hit, and different secrets and techniques to be discovered. Naturally, the extent is on a slope that goals down in direction of the pit between the 2 flippers.
Whenever you fall between the flippers, you’ll begin once more. We discovered essentially the most success once we used every run by way of the machine to go after a particular mechanic. One run, you experience the rails to select up COMBO and SKATE. Subsequent time round, hit the velocity boosts to get ridiculously excessive and rack up your rating.
Pinball has the vibe of a downhill jam-style degree, however the velocity with which you get one other probability at your targets alleviates a number of the stress of these downhill ranges.
Film Studio is a contest degree, that means you’ll be scored in your runs, which can then be averaged towards different AI gamers, with the aim of profitable the gold. The extent focuses on the central soundstage, which incorporates numerous film units, and the lot exterior, that includes trailers, golf carts, and extra.
“Pinball, Waterpark, and Film Studio all match completely throughout the framework of the unique video games, and are the very best audition for making a brand new sport from scratch.”
For the reason that degree is sort of condensed, it’s largely centered on transitioning out and in of the soundstage, sustaining your combo as you go. There are tracks everywhere in the floor, on which movie cameras historically sit, that are used as transitional grind spots between the areas. It’s extraordinarily straightforward to check the hours that can be spent perfecting the no-bail run across the studio set.
Waterpark, the brand new degree that has been proven off most generally because the sport was introduced, is much bigger. There are waterslides to grind down, huge swimming pools to shred, and even a returning villain from one other traditional Tony Hawk sport to antagonise.
After taking part in the brand new ranges in Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 + 4, it grew to become clear that Iron Galaxy is the studio to take the legacy ahead, and they need to begin by writing the franchise’s greatest improper. If Microsoft is prepared to again the Tony Hawk collection, and we all know Tony Hawk himself is, then Iron Galaxy ought to instantly start work on Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 5.
Earlier than the catastrophe of the unique THPS 5 was launched in 2015, the THPS collection was on a nearly flawless 4/4 of a number of the highest-rated video games on their platforms. In truth, Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 stays one of many highest-rated video games ever. It’s time to strike Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 5 from the report, and get the collection again on observe.
Whereas the requires a Tony Hawk’s Underground remake will develop and develop, the way forward for the collection is in creating a brand-new sport. To not point out the truth that in an period of video games taking 10 years and costing a whole lot of thousands and thousands, a brand new THPS that’s primarily 12-15 new ranges constructed from this presently current framework seems like a relatively low-cost danger Microsoft would fortunately take.
We will’t lose Tony Hawk once more. The eagerness for this franchise amongst gamers, each informal and hardcore, is obvious each time it reemerges. Such was the fan outcry when VGC broke the information that Bam Margera wouldn’t be within the sport, that Iron Galaxy went again and added him at Tony Hawk’s demand.
There are franchises that commonly obtain new entries, however they don’t have a fraction of the loyal fan base that THPS does, and it’s time to reward them, past remakes.
Simply don’t overlook Bam this time.
