The original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater trilogy holds a very special place in my heart. It’s a series I devoted so many hours to on my PlayStation, Dreamcast, and PlayStation 2. It, along with FIFA, Metal Gear Solid, and a few others, is what got me into gaming and inspired me to work in the industry. I even tried to get into skateboarding. Heck, I even tried to get into skateboarding. I ended up focusing more on easier riding of longboarding instead. But, there are still many great memories I have playing alone and with friends. Now playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, I’ve come to accept I’m not that good anymore.
It’s all about the reflexes
I was wrapping up high school and getting ready for university at the time of the original trilogy. Other than a short blip around 2011, I haven’t touched THPS3 in over twenty years. Because of that, there are parts of the game I remember. But, there are also parts I have forgotten about.
I still remember the hype before launch. The rare 10 score it got from GameSpot. The incredible soundtrack. Then, the unforgettable levels and secrets to discover. Trying to unlock every level and character was such a thrill.
But coming back to the game now, I’ve struggled to progress. This is a series that relies on combos. To be successful at that, you need quick reflexes and flexibility. You can’t expect that every attempt is going to get you a high combo. So, you need to focus on variety.
Did the game get harder? No, you’re old
This doesn’t feel harder. The goals in THPS3 feel the same. So far, with the couple of hours I’ve spent, I’m progressing at a slower pace than I thought I would. With THPS 1+2, I was able to unlock most of the game throughout a weekend. Here, I’m certain I’d need a couple of weekends to do the same.
Was I a bit foolish in thinking I could jump into the game and that my skills would come back to me? My overconfidence has led me down the wrong path, and now I need to go back and try to relearn what used to feel natural. I’m unable to pull off the same high-scoring combos that I used to do.
As I spend more time with the game, my skills should start to come back. It’s unlikely that I will pull off the same high-score combos I did when I was younger. But, with practice, I should be able to unlock all the content for THPS 3. As for 4, that’s a different story.
Tony Hawk 4 is (more or less) new to me
I can’t remember how much of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 I played back in the day. 4 exists at a time when there were so many other great games on the PlayStation 2. It launched after the massive success of 3, which made it a hard game to compare itself to. I didn’t even remember that this was where the series removed the two-minute timer.
Because of that, I don’t have any familiarity with the levels here. Of the two I played so far, these feel new. I’m struggling to find all the letters to SKATE at the College Level. As for San Francisco, I can’t seem to find all the hidden packages. These are big stages, and the timer doesn’t feel best suited for them.
It’s going to take me a lot longer to progress in 4 because it’s all new to me. It would not surprise me if others are in the same boat. Again, 4 feels like the forgotten game in the franchise. It’s smack between the original trilogy and the THUG duology.
Fun for bursts, not for binging
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 collection is a fine game in short sessions. I can’t see myself spending hours at a time like I did 20 years ago. As long as you have a Game Pass subscription, this is perfect to play when you want to waste 30 minutes. Jump into a level and fool around without a goal in mind. At the same time, this has done a great job of reminding me that I’m getting too old to enjoy twitch-based games.
