The Future for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Games..

Nostalgia Kicks In, But Questions Linger for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4..

I Just got a taste of the upcoming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, and in my opinion Iron Galaxy has nailed that classic rush with the 2-minute timer for Tony Hawk's Pro skater 3+4 (much to some fan's disapproval). It's fantastic to feel that urgency to nail tricks and complete objectives against the clock again. I always thought that some of the objectives in the original THPS 4 were a little ridiculous and found myself asking 'Do I really need to skitch an elephant?'

However, after the initial excitement, I couldn't help but wonder about the absence of a dedicated career mode, or at least the option to have it alongside the timed runs. While the 60-minute extended timer is available, I'm curious how that will impact the thrill of completing specific collection-based goals. Will the goals adapt, or will the longer timer diminish that exciting scramble? This hands-on experience definitely scratched that nostalgic itch, bringing back memories of trying to cram as much as possible into those frantic two minutes.

But it also sparked a broader question: how much should developers invest in remaking a game from a time when skateboarding culture was arguably at its peak? Scrolling through comments on any THPS 3+4 post reveals a lot of negativity – from the lack of career mode and glitches to graphical details and the omission of some original tracks. This raises the question of whether the hate is justified.

Do we, as gamers, want a hyper-realistic skateboarding sim, or are we content with a faithful, fun recreation? Given the often critical feedback, it makes you wonder if developers will be hesitant to tackle similar remakes in the future.

Personally, after two hours with the game, that long-lost nostalgic feeling is back. The graphics look great, the classic sounds are there, and the level detail is impressive. My main concern stems from the general fussiness of gamers these days. While we have every right to expect quality for our money, I wonder if our high standards might inadvertently discourage the revival of beloved extreme sports titles. I'm curious to hear your thoughts? What do you think about the lack of career mode? Are the graphical or other nitpicks deal-breakers for you? And for anyone in the know, how significant of an undertaking would adding a career mode be? Despite a few minor glitches, I'm leaning towards prioritizing gameplay and fun, and so far, THPS 3+4 delivers on that front. I'm genuinely excited for the full release on July 11th and look forward to diving deeper into all the levels and the music.