Speed is something that is a bit of a catch-22 in the gaming world. While the gaming hardware keeps getting faster and faster, allowing the developers to do more and more in the same period of time, people are only so fast. The graphics keep getting better, dazzling us with polygon counts and frame rates higher than anyone could have dreamed of only a few years ago. The gamers, on the other hand, are still human and have a limit to how quickly they can act and react. Managing the pace of things seems to be a challenge that must have given the developers of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater™ 3 fits.
With all of the power of the Xbox behind it, refinements to the graphics and technology, and the streamlining and acceleration of the existing gameplay (as well as the inclusion of new elements), the sheer speed of everything that happens in the game is astounding. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 has reached a point where it’s quite obvious that the developers could have easily made it too fast for people to keep up with. But, Neversoft has done a remarkable job in finding the perfect balance between speed and gameplay.
Balancing the game’s breakneck pace and feel with the reaction times of most gamers was the biggest the challenge. In the space of two seconds, you may find yourself grinding, sliding, grabbing, and attempting to land. Trying to keep track of which way your board is facing, which way it will be facing after you let go of that backside stalefish, and deciding if you should try to catch that handrail and 50-50 down it (instead of just milking that huge airtime for all it’s worth) is daunting. And, it all happens so fast that, to someone watching the game rather than of playing it, it’s almost impossible to see where and when there was ever an option or choice. The game speed has reached a level where playing almost goes beyond conscious thought and becomes instinctive.
The trick in all of this is finding ways to let gamers play at their own pace, while cruising through huge levels of both fast-paced tight sections and smooth open areas. A tall half pipe with a huge flat and plenty of time to decide your next trick can be just as much fun as a concrete bowl where you have less than half a second to plan your next trick before you find yourself smacking head-first into the concrete. The scale of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 has managed to include enough variety of terrain and pace that the player doesn’t have to be inhumanly fast to enjoy playing. But, it still gives those folks with Mario Andretti-like reflexes a place to challenge themselves. The levels are huge complex monstrosities that beg to be explored and exploited, while the ever-present count down eggs you on to go faster and nail that trick one more time.
Of course, after the round ends, you realize that you are approaching heart attack levels and need to slow down for a minute or two. It is time to let the pulse slow and relax a bit. Instead of making you sit through a cut scene or just leaving you hanging, the game gives you plenty of things to do that are more relaxing than skating. Go customize your skater! Getting a little tired of your look? Sounds like it’s time to try a change: new pants, shoes, or shirt might do the trick, or maybe a new board is necessary. I refuse to say how much time I’ve spent messing with the various outfits and boards just for grins. It is a marvelous way to take a breather from the action and pace of regular gameplay.
All things considered, the world is getting faster and faster, but being mere mortals, we appreciate advanced technology that lets us keep up. Thanks, guys!
