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Platform: GBA, GC, PS2, PSX, XB

Developer: Neversoft / Vicarious Visions

Publisher: Activision

Genre: Extreme Sports

ETA: October 23, 2002

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

One thing that has remained constant with the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (THPS) franchise is the ability for each iteration to outdo the one before it.  I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s wondering how THPS3 will be topped.

The answer is pretty easy if you take a minute to think about it.  Done?  Yes, borrow ideas from elsewhere.  But these aren’t just any ideas, they’re good ideas.

One of Aggressive Inline’s biggest draws was the ability to complete tasks at whatever order you felt like.  THPS4 will feature “a new free-roaming career mode, the player starts as an amateur and chooses which goals to take on to build skills and work up to becoming a pro,” which sounds a lot like AI’s open-endedness.  THPS4 throws in skater specific Pro Challenges that will model particular milestones from that skater’s career.  This necessarily means some linearity.

“Linear” isn’t a word often conjured up while playing a Tony Hawk game.  With so many different rails, ramps, and other obstacles, moving in a straight line doesn’t often enter into the equation.  And THPS4 doesn’t look to be any different with locations ranging from Hawaii to London and much larger than those levels found in THPS3.  These levels will also dynamically shift (much like AI) depending on the completed goals.  

THPS4 also marks Bob Burnquist’s return and improved physics – the two are probably unrelated.  The physics allow for skating on moving objects, skitching behind cars, spine transfers, and more “realistic” bails and board dynamics.  I put realistic in quotes for a simple reason: if it’s realistic and I land Rodney Mullen on his head, poor Rodney won’t leap up to perform anymore insane tricks.  Another aspect that has me slightly worried is the speed of the game, which has been increased.  I could barely keep up with AI so I’m hoping there’s some kind of speed toggle.

Online play is also featured for Playstation 2 (and presumably PC which is bound to follow), and the multiplayer games are intact with some new ones including Capture the Flag.  But what I find most alluring is the new Ultimate Skatepark editor.  It remains to be seen what limitations are present but if the included levels are bigger than THPS3, how big a sandbox will we get? (Obviously, this option won't be available on the Gameboy Advance.)

Whatever happens, it’s almost a given that THPS4 will have something to offer new and seasoned gamers of all ages and still manage to surprise the experts.  It’s not many games that can do that, but with Tony Hawk’s new additions, it’s looking to continue the tradition.

- Omni

(October 11, 2002)