Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

[Guest Nevermortal]

Ok, I realize that lately, there's been THPS overkill with the release of 3 Hawk games on Xbox within a year, and that the public hasn't really appreciated it.

 

Well fuck that.

 

I appreciate it. THPS is the single most addictive video game series I HAVE EVER played. Granted that between 3 & 4, there hasn't been much innovation, but I honestly could give two flying fucks. I love these games. I love them so much that even if I've done everything, I'll still enjoy playing on the same ramps, bowls, and half-pipes that I've played on a million times before. I don't care what people say. Tony Hawk could release 5, 6,7 within three months, and I still would go out and buy them all.

 

I played THPS1 til I was sick of it.

 

I played THPS2 til I just couldn't grind anymore.

 

I played THPS2X for the sheer fact that it was on Xbox, and it was called Tony Hawk.

 

I played THPS3 to absolute death.

 

And now I play THPS4 religiously. For 2 weeks, I've devoted a sizeable chunk of time to it, even if I had a cast on my right arm (and thumb, and lemme tell ya, substituting your index finger for your thumb sucks).

 

There's just something about being able to see Jenna Jameson do an Indy 900 that makes want to keep doing it over and over and over again.

 

Surprisingly enough, the game hasn't inspired me to actually go out and try to skateboard, but maybe that's the next step. Who knows.

 

Anyway, that's my rant. I'll get off my soap box.

[Guest Cavi]

THPS2 still stands as my favorite title in the series, and one of my favorite games of all time in general. I hate to say it, but my interest in the series has wanned a bit since then. The games are still incredibly good, but maybe it's because they have brought them out every year, for the past three years, with no stopping. Word is that Neversoft realizes this, and will release 5 in 2004 instead of the assumed fall 2003 release. If one has been keeping track of the sales charts over the past two years, they would see that this series has lost some of its steam, as both THPS3 and 4 have not, nor will they move as many units as the insanely popular THPS2 (which is still moving its share to this day).

 

Ah well, it's still one of the greatest videogame franchises out there.

[Guest caboose]

I concur that Tony 2 was the best edition. (The ONLY Ever UK Champion speaking here). Tony 3 just wasn't that great or inspirational as the first two. The Revert button just pissed me off as it took away the skill factor of grinding and manualing that Tony 2 had introduced. Because now some vert freaks could get big scored despite not knowing how to grind and manual effectively. I haven't purchased Tony 4 yet, but I've been told the career mode is far better. Oh well, i'll get it soon enough.

 

And funnily enough, Tony 1 did inspire me to learn to skate. And believe me the first time I pulled off a kickflip, I never felt more over joyed...

The next day I ripped four square inches of skin off my body having bailed, but thats another story.

[Guest razazteca]

I have THPS2 on both DC and PSX!

 

I am sick of the music of THPS1 as the only song that I can listen to without wanting to bomb Boston or LA is the Primus song.

[Guest chirs3]

I haven't played THPS4 yet, but I'll agree that THPS2 was the best. #3 was just the same as #2, just with crappier music.

[Guest Insanityman]

Whee... as a skater (okay don't flame me for saying that) I don't care how many posers that Tony Hawk could bring into skateboarding. Quite frankly THSP are some of the best games I've ever played and THSP 4 blows me away. Not to mention that old school rock and punk is a (Y)! (AC/DC 'n' Sex Pistols)

[Guest Nevermortal]

I haven't played THPS4 yet, but I'll agree that THPS2 was the best. #3 was just the same as #2, just with crappier music.

To be pretty honest, #3 totally re-invented the game.

 

1 & 2, you could pull off a lot of air very early, in #3, even if you are maxed out, its still tough to pull off the biggest of the big airs.

 

Plus, the game started to become much faster, and with the addition of the revert, it gave you the ability to link vert combos, and combos consisting of vert/grinds.

 

I hold 3 in a much higher regard than I do 1 or 2. The third game just totally blew the first two away.

[Guest KingOfOldSchool]

I missed out on 2 and 3, but have very fond memories of 1. For Christmas though, I got 4, and have played it every chance I've gotten.

[Guest EricMM]

I feel that the Manual totally ruined the second and third Tony Hawk Games. I got far more points just hopping around the first stage in a long manual than I ever did in the air. It's just too easy.

 

I too have fond memories of the first game, with the Holy Shit grind, and the girder grind from the second competition, and everything else. I still mark for the Dead Kennedys, Goldfinger, and Primus. What can I say. I feel that both Create a Skater and Manuals removed a little of the quality from the series.

[Guest Cavi]

When I go back and play Tony 1, I feel restricted without the manual. It's true that the addition of the move really made the gameplay more grind happy, but the first game was like that (grinds having a much greater priority than air moves), just without the freedom to string a line across various parts of the level.

[Guest EricMM]

it just feels too easy to do 8 kick flips and a grind and get some insane multiplyer.

[Guest caboose]

I just brought Tony yesterday. And i have to say it is amazing. The career mode is just that much better than the previous Tony games. Getting challenged by pro-skaters in the street is awesome.

The level designs are still not as great in my opinion as Tony 2. But everything else has been refined so well, and the new spine transfer works brilliantly.

[Guest Mr. Pink]

I love THPS 4. It and 2are the best so far.

 

 

 

also, who else would like to see a Thrasher: "Skater of the Year Only!' game? from 1997-present?

 

Koston, Reynolds, Mullen (I think...), Rowley, Saari, and Tony "TNT" Trujillo? I'd buy it

[Guest redbaron51]

Always like the first two.

 

Bob Burnquist was in it, and he was the best skater for me.

[Guest Nevermortal]

Bobby B. returned for Game #4.

[Guest caboose]

Alcatraz is breathtaking.

[Guest BobBacklundRules]

I missed out on 2 and 3, but have very fond memories of 1. For Christmas though, I got 4, and have played it every chance I've gotten.

the same exact thing with me, i had thps 1 on my 64 and i loved it. i just got 4 this christmas sor my gamecube and it's better than what i'd expected, but thats just because i missed out on 2 and 3.

[Guest art_vandelay]

I feel that both Create a Skater and Manuals removed a little of the quality from the series.

 

How does the CAS remove any quality from the game?

 

 

I hear a lot of you guys complain about points being too easy to accumulate with the new features, but I was just wondering if there are any of you like me, that enjoy playing Sim Mode.

 

What I usually do with the game once I've unlocked everything, is just play Free Skate on Sim Mode. I get as much satisfaction out of successfully landing a 180 Hardflip on the staircase next to the Venice Ledge in THPS2, or kickflipping and rotating 90 degrees to a boardslide than I would from scoring massive points on a long combo. It's this diversity in game modes and styles that add to the replayability of the series.

 

 

On a side note, something I funny I came across the other day:

 

Apple's Tony Hawk iPod

[Guest EricMM]

I just preferred having to know the different moves for every skater, as opposed to just giving any skater the Christ Air and going from there.

 

Honestly tho, in Tony Hawk 1, each trick was independant. Now with the Revert, there is literally no way the game can force you to end a trick. It used to be that once you hit the ground, the trick was over. Then it was if you ever hit a halfpipe, now, it's never.

 

It can be fun to do, but without limits, it just feels like a farce. In the original tony, it was a feat to get off a 900 or a great rail transfer, since those were the only ways to rack up super points. Now, any spot on the level is a rail, and it's just too big. That's just my opinion.

[Guest art_vandelay]

I just preferred having to know the different moves for every skater, as opposed to just giving any skater the Christ Air and going from there.

 

Hehe... good ol' Christ Air. I was was watching ESPN2 with my friends one time and Rune Glifberg was skating in some comp, both were fans of THPS2 and they kept yelling at the TV, "C'mon do a Christ Air! Do something good!"

[Guest Nevermortal]

The Christ Air's now a regular move....I forget what Rune does now.