Just when you thought you knew all there was to know about the Tony Hawk skateboarding franchise, the extreme sports wizards at Activision02 go and change the rules. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 isn't a complete departure from the earlier games in the series, but the gameplay, Pro Challenge system, and level designs have all been expanded and improved. Veterans and newbies alike will feel like they're playing THPS for the first time.
Perhaps the most obvious change is in the Career mode. You have access to 14 of the world's top skaters (and any you create yourself), but this time around there's no ticking clock to rush you through your challenges. Instead, you are free to roam around the expansive, incredibly detailed levels and get a feel for the terrain. When you're ready to attempt a trick, simply approach one of the ubiquitous pedestrians. The NPCs will present you with a goal and the trick you need to perform to beat it. The rest is up to you. Beware: this is probably the only time pedestrians are helpful in this game. For the most part, they are slow-moving, slow-witted obstacles to be avoided.
You still earn cash for successfully completing Career goals, and completing enough goals prepares you for each skater's individualized Pro Challenge. The absence of a countdown clock may seem like a small change, but it fundamentally alters Career gameplay. It's no longer a question of beating the timer, but of beating the challenge. That leaves you free to concentrate on executing your best tricks.
There are a host of other improvements in Tony Hawk 4, including the ability to select your own spawn point, a spine transfer maneuver that helps keeps you on your feet after difficult air tricks (or the odd substandard landing), and a boatload of mini-games to keep you amused. If you get tired of stringing grinds, nosegrabs, and reverts together, you can always take a break to chase a greased pig or avoid turd-hurling monkeys.
Tony Hawk 4 also features an extensive skate park editor and a deep Create A Skater function, so if you don't want to skate in someone else's shoes, you can customize to your heart's content. Throw in ten distinct Multiplayer modes, with everything from Capture the Flag to Combo Mambo (the player who busts out the biggest and bestest combo within the time limit wins) to H.O.R.S.E. (where you have to match your opponent's tricks perfectly and vice versa), and you have enough game to keep you busy for weeks at a time. There's even a handful of unlockable skaters, including a familiar intergalactic bounty hunter look-alike and a heavy metal mascot.
It's been less than a year since Tony Hawk 3 came out on Xbox, but the mad geniuses at Activision02 have made Tony Hawk 4 better in every way that matters. If you're a fan of the series, or if you just want to see the world's best skateboarding game for yourself, Activision has the game for you.
