Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 Hopefully Starts an Extreme…

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is finally here, and with it comes a heavy dose of nostalgia for longtime gamers and skaters. This series had a chokehold on the gaming industry's extreme sports genre, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is a solid rework of the original game.

There are some changes that have been controversial, though. One of the biggest changes is that THPS 3+4 only features a piece of the original soundtrack. Despite that shake-up, THPS 3+4 is an exciting flashback to the days of extreme sports games, and the arrival of this remake hopefully opens the floodgates for a fresh offering of these titles.

tony hawk's pro skater 3 + 4 has some premium easter eggs available only in the deluxe edition.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Easter Egg Locked Behind Deluxe Edition Upgrade

In an odd move, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 locks some of its Easter eggs behind the $70 Deluxe Edition upgrade with no explanation.

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By Mohsen Baqery

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 Can Hopefully Bring Extreme Sports Games Back Into the Spotlight

Of course, THPS 1+2 also had the chance to ignite such a renaissance, but even though that didn't happen, the demand for more THPS is promising. Tony Hawk helped showcase skateboarding as a respectable sport, which bled over to other extreme sports, like snowboarding, BMX, and motocross. In the early 2000s, extreme sports games were a staple of the industry, with titles like Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer and Matt Hoffman's Pro BMX using the THPS franchise as a blueprint for other kinds of sports-based games.

Beyond the licensed offerings in the genre, there were games like SSX Tricky, Aggressive Inline, and the Motocross Madness series that capitalized on the rise in popularity of extreme sports. There's the possibility that THPS 3+4 could spark more remakes from not just the THPS franchise, but other extreme sports titles as well. This is likely more wishful thinking than anything, but if further franchise remakes aren't on the table, then a brand-new offering of games in the genre would be a welcome change of pace.

The Heyday of Extreme Sports Titles is Long Over, At Least for Now

Skateboarding, BMX, and snowboarding may not be as big of a part of pop culture as they were in the early 2000s, but that doesn't mean they won't come back in full swing. THPS blends both nostalgia and modern trends with its new soundtrack and skater roster, and that alone demonstrates that there is still plenty of room for the extreme sports fever to take over once more.

There have been a few modern games that have put a twist on the extreme sports formula. Titles like Rollerdome, Rush, and Descenders have all offered fresh extreme sports gameplay.

Skating Has Reached Even Greater Heights Since the Reign of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

Since the first THPS game hit the scene, skating has evolved so much that it's now an Olympic sport, as is BMX racing, with snowboarding being part of the competition since the late 90s. Now, with modern celebrity skaters like Nyjah Houston, Aori Nishimura, and Chloe Covell, there's a whole new generation that could lead the way for more skate-focused games. With competitors like the Skate franchise gearing up for Skate 4, the two series may have what it takes to bring the extreme sports genre back into the spotlight.

EA has yet to announce an official release date for Skate 4, but the game has been undergoing playtests.

THPS 3+4 is a Reminder of a Strong Legacy

Some of the changes to THPS 3+4 may ruffle the feathers of those who prefer the original's approach to things, but this remake doesn't just offer a trip down memory lane, it introduces the THPS series to a fresh audience. There are plenty of gamers who have never experienced the franchise, but THPS 1+2 and THPS 3+4 make that possible. Tony Hawk played an integral role in bringing skateboarding into the mainstream, and THPS is a clear reminder of that. There's no telling if extreme sports games will reach the same heights as they did in the early 2000s, but one can at least dream.

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