this text is a review of a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game, likely a remake or remaster, specifically referencing “Tony Hawk’s pro Skater 3+4”. The reviewer is comparing the experience to the older games on the PS2, notably the Renderware engine.
Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
The Core Argument:
New engine vs. Old Engine: The reviewer feels the new engine, while offering more continuous gameplay, demands much more precise timing and execution than the older renderware engine. The PS2 games had a more forgiving “piece” or “coarser timing” due to simpler animations, making them easier to pick up and play.
Re-learning the Flow: The new game requires players to “re-learn the flow” and can feel “counter-affected” by its increased fluidity. This is attributed to the passage of time and the decline of the reviewer’s own reflexes.
Contradiction: There’s a perceived contradiction between the reviewer’s aging reflexes and the developer’s intention to make the game more fluid and streamlined, which in turn requires greater accuracy and concentration.
Specific Criticisms and observations:
Difficulty Curve: The reviewer feels the game is harder to get into now, comparing it to not being able to skateboard anymore due to age.The “millions of combinations” in the new game are overwhelming.
Engine and Optimization: Despite the difficulty, the engine and optimization are praised. The game runs at a stable 60 fps on Xbox One X (at a lower resolution) and a 2060 RTX laptop (at 1080p/DLSS Quality).
Game Pass availability: The game is available on Game Pass for PC, and the reviewer anticipates it will perform well on Steam Deck.
Challenges: The reviewer finds some challenges, particularly “gap hunting” and career skills, to be “a bit out of the target.”
Activision Practices: The reviewer notes the typical Activision practice of hiding extra content (like the Doomguy in the original) and the annoyance of needing to activate and link an Activision profile for multiplayer and online features.
Overall Sentiment and Hopes for the Future:
Great Publication: Despite the criticisms, the reviewer concludes that “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 has onc again become a great publication.” It successfully evokes beatiful memories while introducing new tricks.
Shift in Expectations: The reviewer is so impressed wiht the new content that they are now hoping for a “THPS 6” rather than a remake of “Thug 1+2.”
Ideal Future Game: Their ideal future game would be simpler: 8-10 levels, 30 tight songs, and short restart times, emphasizing that it doesn’t need to be open-world or massive.
Technical Details:
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Iron Galaxy Studios
Platforms: nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X (tested), Steam, Switch
Release Date: July 2025 (This seems like a future release date, which might be a typo or refer to a specific region/version. The game being tested in Game pass suggests it’s already out.)
Price: Approx. 20,000 Ft / 49.99 EUR
In essence, the review is a nostalgic yet critical look at a modern Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game, acknowledging its technical prowess and enjoyable new content while lamenting the loss of the more forgiving gameplay of its predecessors and the impact of aging on the player’s own abilities.
