Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

"Still Revolutionary After 3 Great Games? Yes."

Let's start with the final score: 10/10

That's all you need to know. 10/10 = Perfection = THPS4.

However, I'll explain myself...

Let's start off by giving my background. I'm a ''lifelong'' THPS player- I've played all three previous incarnations and I've seen how those good people at Activision/Neversoft have been able to successfully raise the bar for each successive installment- from the introdiction of the manual in THPS2 to the addition of the revert in THPS3. Does THPS4 continue this? Yes- but see the whole explanation later. I'll first go through the basic components of any game, then later we'll compare THPS4 to its predecesors.

Graphics: 9.5/10

In a game like this, I don't tend to weigh graphics as heavily as in other games such as RPGs or platformers. I'm usually too busy mashing buttons trying to string combos to really notice the scope or detail of the graphics. However this game delivers. Levels, massive as they are, are detailed to every fine point. For example, in the zoo level, there are numerous cages with moving animals, all of which are very detailed. People (spectators) within the level are amimated and talk to you as you skate by.

Tricks are also very smoothly animated. No matter what lines you choose to use (or create), the grinds, flips, and other tricks go together very well.

Sound: 10/10

Effects/Ambient Sounds: All done very well. Grinding different surfaces (rail, stone, wood, etc.) gives different sounds, as does plain skating across different surfaces.

Voiceovers: Again, very good. When you choose to begin a goal, the character who actually gives you the goal will describe the task to you beforehand. Some of these are done by actors, and some are the actual voices of skaters such as Chad Muska or Bob Burnquist. Some of the voiceovers are limited by the non-acting ability of pro skateboarders, but let's not split hairs.

Music: What gives Sound a 10/10. Tons of different songs - I don't have the number onhand, but I'd estimate over 30. A good mix of punk, metal, hip hop, and rap helps keep your blood flowing as you mash buttons.

Gameplay: 10/10

The whole control system remains vastly unchanged from even the first Tony Hawk. X makes you ollie, square deals with flip tricks, circle with grabs, and triangle with grinds/lip tricks. It's perfectly simple yet simply perfect </bad play on words>. If you've played any previous THPS you know the drill. However, innovation has come in the form of manual and grind two-button combos. When you are manualing or grinding, you can press two buttons quickly and change the trick. This leads to higher combos and higher scores. It does come with a price. Every time you choose to change a manual/grind, it gets that much harder to balance it.

Level design is really what takes this game to an ungodly level. First of all, they are just amazingly large. It took me an average of half an hour to well over an hour just to explore every corner of a level, moreless attempt career goals that often require knowledge of the level. Levels are made so combos almost naturally happen. It's hard to explain, but lines just flow very easily. Does this create a steeper learning curve? Yes, but it is worth it. When you are able to string together combos spanning a whole level and score in the millions, you'll be happy you familiarized yourself with each level. You'd think loading time would be long for such large levels, but it simply is not. 10-15 seconds per I'd say- worth the short wait.

Career mode has received a great facelift in this THPS4 and I confidently say it the best ever. You enter a level in free skate mode (no 2:00 sessions here) and can skate around as you wish and choose to take on challenges as you wish. Scattered around the level are various personalities- from fellow pro skaters to the THPS2-classic Ollie the Magic Bum (who now speaks- hilariously). Each level starts with 16 of these goals, which all include High and Pro Scores, collect the S-K-A-T-E letters, and the new collect the C-O-M-B-O letters, which as you might guess you have collect all in the same combo. Other goals vary level-to-level and change for each skater. The amazing thing is that when you have done 90 of the original challenges, a WHOLE NEW SET pops up and you have to go through each level again with new challenges that are often VERY difficult. At this point, I've been playing the game faithfully for two weeks and have yet to finish it with one character.

You can also Create skaters and levels. The CAS option is average, but the level editor is magnificent. I've yet to really delve into it, but my preliminary attempts have resulted in great stuff. Just more replay value that will deprive us of sleep.

Online: N/A

I don't have the means yet to get online with the PS2. However I did play the previous game, THPS3, online, and it was a blast. This game has added new options to play online and I can assume that it will be great. Now if any happy readers want to send me $$$ to buy a Network Adapter, I'll be able to post a true review :).

Alright, Let's Compare It To The Other THPS Games:

I am of the belief that each THPS game has greatly surpassed its predecessor, and this is no exception.

THPS2 added the manual, THPS3 the revert, and this gem adds among others the spine transfer. It works when you go up a quarter pipe that has another quarter pipe butting right up to it. You press R2 in the air and you float over the gap into the next pipe. It doesn't sound like much, but it's amazing what this feature adds to the game. Many goals make use of the spine transfer, and you incorporate it into your combos and multiply your scores for virtually forever.

Like I mentioned before, levels are big. Easily twice as big as THPS3, and not-joking-ten-times-as-big as THPS2. Must be played to believe.

Rent/Buy: I usually include this in my reviews, but the answer here should be obvious. Any former THPS vet needs to/should-be-shot-if-they-don't pick this up. The only exception might be someone new to the series. Rent it to make sure you like the whole THPS way of playing- then go buy it two hours later :).

10/10 - You bet.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/24/02, Updated 11/24/02