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, but it surely was solely when Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 launched in 2001 that I correctly received hooked on the collection. It felt excellent, and regardless of classics like Metroid Prime and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker sitting increased on my ‘finest GameCube’ record, there’s no different recreation I sunk extra hours into than THPS 3.
Given the current disappointment surrounding the modifications to THPS 4 within the upcoming remake, I’m going to solid that recreation apart for a second and simply give attention to the third entry. Heck, even when developer Iron Galaxy retained completely the whole lot from THPS 4 and delivered a close to 1:1 remake, it nonetheless sits simply 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. Positive, in case you’re fairly educated, you possibly can take a look at any recreation’s stylings and manufacturing values and take an honest 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 achieve momentum on MTV, and you possibly 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 degree 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 might wager that the majority acquire pleasure from skating with others. It’s probably the most sociable sports activities conceivable, and I might all the time see children at my native skatepark racing down halfpipes earlier than sitting with mates 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 Similar’ turned the music of 2001 and I can not inform you what number of occasions I listened to it within the months following the sport’s launch. Not solely that, however you’ve received The Ramones, AFI, Guttermouth, Alien Ant Farm, and freakin’ Motörhead, for goodness’ sake. Look, I’ll all the time keep that ‘Ace of Spades’ pales compared to ‘Overkill’, but it surely’s an absolute banger of a music, regardless.
Bodyjar and Motörhead have been confirmed to return for the remake, so even when Iron Galaxy hasn’t managed to get each music, I’ll be one completely satisfied chappy.
It’s going to be a bit odd taking part in a remake of THPS 3, reality be informed. Once 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 Swap might really feel related. If it could possibly recapture at the very least some of that pleasure I felt in my youth, although, Activision and Iron Galaxy are on to a winner.
And if not? Perhaps ‘Not the Similar’ will tackle a complete totally different which means.
Did you play Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 again within the day? Which entry within the collection is your favorite? Depart a remark together with your ideas, recollections, and extra down under.
