So, with a new Tony Hawk game recently announced, now seems like as good a time as any to look back on one of my favourite PlayStation 2 games from back in the day. That being, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3.Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was released in October 2001 to an overwhelmingly positive critical response and, along with Grand Theft Auto III (must be a three thing), holds the highest Metacritic rating of any PlayStation 2 game ever with an impressive 97/100 score. I have such fond memories of playing the game that I am in no way surprised by this.
My Brain: The same thing we do every month, Pinky. Write another installment of Ask Memory!
Me: Narf! Any ideas?
My Brain: I am chiefly composed of ideas, yes. How about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3? You remember that one pretty fondly.
Me: Do I?
My Brain: Yeah. Ask Memory.
Me: Righty-o! Hey, Memory!
My Memory: ‘Sup?
Me: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3!
My Memory: Might need some context there.
Me: Article! Memories!
My Memory: I do sometimes find it baffling that words are your craft. Don’t worry though. I’m on it.
Me: Sweet.
The basic gameplay of the series remained the same as in other installments in that the objective was to skate around achieving a set of level specific goals, complete missions, collect various hidden items, and pull off insane tricks and combos. The levels were expansive and interactive (in one level you could start an earthquake and uncover new places to skate), and the variety of tricks and combos available to perform was greatly enhanced from previous games. If you were good enough, you could potentially perform a combo that lasted for as long as you wanted. There were a variety of skater specific unlockables up for grabs, too, adding an incentive to beat the game more than just the once if you wanted to have access to hidden treats.
Pro Skater 3 was also the first in the franchise to allow online play and was, in fact, the first online game ever released for the PlayStation 2, supporting USB modems and USB Ethernet cables before Sony’s own online adapter was even released.
My Knee: Bloody traumatised us, ye did! I had scabs on scabs!
My Elbow: I keeeeeeel you, you scumbag! I keeee-
Yeah, alright. Pipe down. Anyway…
The thing that I remember most vividly about the game was not the actual gameplay, but its soundtrack. I remember really digging the soundtrack. This game introduced me to tracks such as Motorhead’s ‘Ace of Spades’ and ‘Blitzkreig Bop’ by The Ramones, as well as other lesser known songs like ‘Amoeba’ by Adolescents - a personal favourite. (‘We are scientists in our lab, lookin’ through a microscooope!) It featured a great blend of genres, a good mix of older and newer (at the time) tracks, and it genuinely enhanced my enjoyment of the game.
Alright, it’s about time to bring this thing to a grinding halt. Get it? Grinding? Like on rails? Like what skaters do? Like skaters grinding on a…rail.
Me: Some fine remembering there, Memory.
My Memory: Cheers.
Me: Did you like my grinding joke?
My Memory: Not even a little bit.
Me: Oh. Okay…well...how about…er…what’s a skateboarder’s favourite…name?
My Memory: I don’t…
Me: Ollie!
My Memory: Please stop.
Ask Memory Returns Next Month
Let us know how you feel in the comments below!