PSX GAME RECOMMENDATIONS |

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Games are recommended on a four-point scale like those "strongly agree/disagree" questions you get on surveys. This scale goes "Strongly", "If you like this kinda game", "Watch it online", and "Avoid at all costs" from best to worst. It's one part how likely I am to replay the game and one part how likely I am to recommend it to fans of that game's genre. I'm not in the business of objectivity, just what's fun to me. No reason to play a game if you're not having fun, yeah?

[#] Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (Activision, 2001)

I was a little harsh on this port in my initial review. In the halcyon days of the PS2, because the PS1 was still quite a strong seller, companies would sometimes backport their new PS2 games to it, leading to strange little ports like this. Using the 2 engine with warped versions of the much more expansive 3 levels, it sounds pretty lame on paper, but y'know, I enjoyed the hell out of it. If you liked the other PS1 Pro Skater games, it's more of the same—but how can you go wrong with that?

While 3 on the PS2 was known for its breathing worlds that feature pedestrians, this version has zero pedestrians, making the levels feel like ghost towns—something Shaba Games clearly noticed, given the post-apocalyptic makeover they gave Los Angeles. Even still, the reworked levels definitely have a unique vibe, so it's still a pretty different experience. Reverts are included, though hilariously, the score goals from 2 haven't been increased at all, making them pretty trivial.

A lot has been recycled from 2, actually, like the park editor and create-a-skater options, though the game features all the skaters from the next-gen versions (plus some exclusive ones, like Wolverine) and retains their kickass soundtrack. This still isn't the ideal way to experience Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, but it's still a lot of fun, and even if it basically amounts to a 2 expansion pack, there's a lot worse you could be than that. You should play them both, really. Really!

Reviewed	Supports analog controls?	My favorite part	Recommended?
June 24, 2023	Yes	Airport	If you like this kinda game

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