Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

Written by Matt Swider on November 19, 2002

Full Review: Aggressive Inline just got a whole lot less hostile!

It hasn't taken Tony Hawk long to make a name for himself in the videogame industry. Since 1999, we've not only seen four titles bearing his name, but also countless others inspired by Neversoft's extreme sports originality. Because of a considerable amount of genre related competition from the recent Aggressive Inline to the several BMX games available, many have doubted the need for a fourth installment to the prolonged series. While this will initially appear as a valid suggestion, the more time put into playing this game reveals that Tony's fourth run on PlayStation 2 thrives over all predecessors and imitators alike.

A variety of new challenges and larger levels are just some of the changes we've come to expect, however the biggest difference appears in the setup of Tony Hawk 4's career mode. Despite Neversoft's use of the two-minute time limit in each previous edition, the developer opted for a free roaming scheme demonstrated by Aggressive Inline earlier this year. With it, players skate around until they reach a non-playable bystander with a challenge or problem. While this approach is something new to the series, several of the goals put forth will look familiar to longtime fans of the Hawk series. There are still instances where top scores must be beaten and letters forming words such as Сskate' must be collected. New objectives are abundant too and range from racing other skaters, matching a single combo score, earning competition medals, collecting pink elephants, and so on. It seems as if the Neversoft team has endless possibilities for the series and takes their novel ideas to the bank each year.

Without the two-minute time limit, select fans have suggested the career mode lacks a certain excitement. Although you can't make the attempt to complete the listed requirements in one bound anymore, the new features outweigh any predicaments that arise from the changes in career mode. Considering Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 boasts a total of 190 intense goals among its nine levels that are now several times larger in size, taking down all the objectives would be impossible in a mere two minutes.

At first glance, the visual improvements don't seem to have the same caliber as when the series jumped generations with the release of Tony Hawk 3. However, this installment places its focus on delivering a skating game of a grander scale more than anything. The size of every level has expanded greatly and Neversoft hasn't withheld any fine details in designing each. Additionally, the game manages to stay at a constant 60 frames per second despite the massive sizes. There are a few instances where it can become a problem during hectic multiplayer moments, but the rest will result in some fast and super smooth skating. It'll also take players more time to completely become familiar with any given area and even longer to uncover all the secrets lying around. From this, a trace of exploration is emphasized for those interested in searching for niches and using them to their advantage.

Besides taking a fresh step in the setup of its challenges, Tony Hawk 4 also improves upon its gameplay with the new spine transfer move and further tweaking its physics. Performing a spine transfer can not only be used to link even more tricks, but will also send a skater up one side of a half-pipe and transfer down the other side, reach elevated ledges normally too high up, or simply help level out when in midair. While this move is extremely useful, hitting the R2 or L2 shoulder buttons accidentally can throw your skater way off course depending on the situation. It's easy to mistakenly press during a combo involving a string of revolutions with the R1 and L1 buttons, but will eventually become part of your style as something fun as well as resourceful to use.

Once again, half-pipe combos and extensive rail grinds will rack up most of your needed points and Tony Hawk 4 contains a better mix between the two in comparison to last year. I find myself pulling off less grinds now to make way for the half-pipe as the design of each level supports a better variety. Other than the standard tricks you see in the Gravity Games or at Boom Boom HuckJam, the amount of exaggerated moves remains prominent and is the gem of the series and other extreme sports titles like it. Additionally, the game features a number of moves specific to each skater like Bam Margera who can perform one titled СThe Jackass.' There are a variety of other moves that can be discovered and are accompanied by some nice special effects in the end. The last technique from the lineup of new moves comes with the ability to skitch behind cars in traffic. The speed of any vehicle allows skaters to zoom around the roadways if their balance is maintained as points accumulate.

Completing each goal won't be easy and maybe a slight turnoff for newcomers unfamiliar with the Hawk series. Nevertheless, the level of difficulty means the career mode will last longer and all of the inventive challenges can't be complete in a single sitting. If a goal is failed, players aren't forced to realign their skater for the challenge that may have originally started on the other side of the park. By simply heading to the menu, it can automatically be done without any fuss. Furthermore, the start menu provides a warp to the various objectives already attempted. Taking into consideration the size of each level, this option alone reduces what could be endless frustration.

After earning money from the challenges and collecting the cash scattered about each level, players can head to the skate shop to purchase an assortment of items. To aid your skater's abilities and flash some accessories, new decks can be unlocked and gear can be bought for extra style. While many of the options here remain along the lines of Tony Hawk 3, the range of improvements will help customize a current pro skater or one that's created until you see them as fit. Other unlockable features within Tony Hawk 4 include four new skaters, two additional parks, and a couple of cheat codes that produce a range of effects. Aside from earning money from the goals, players will sometimes acquire points to increase their skater's stats. Upon receiving a stat point, it can be placed within any of the specific attributes like speed, ollie, spin, and so forth. This may be as close to role-playing as RPG enthusiasts who also happen to be skateboard fans can get.

The Xbox and GameCube may be more competent visually, however the PlayStation 2 version is the only one to bear online play. Despite Xbox Live being in full swing right now, the system has been deprived and PlayStation 2 owners luck out with the ability to play online. A handful of gamers who purchased Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 may have been able to find a way online last year, however with SCEA delaying its network adapter, it wasn't exactly open to the masses. Thankfully, the online play provided in this installment holds much more weight. Eight players can now join in the fun of several more game types and even split up into team competition. Creating a park will feel a lot like last year, only you'll now be able to upload and download levels as part of the features within online play. Plus, gamers will now be able to keep track of their friends with the all-new Сhomie list' that's available and appropriately titled. When a new player joins during in the middle of a game, there is only a slight second lag experienced. Other than that it's a lag-free game, making online play one of the richest aspects of Tony Hawk 4 and a convincing reason to pick up a PS2 modem.

Accompanying each level is an even greater sum of sound effects due to the additional bystanders rambling as you pass. When it comes to the sounds of the skateboard, it's more of the same goodness from grinds to grabs. Licensed music quickly became a likeness that extreme sports games carried and Tony Hawk 4 doesn't disappoint this year. From the opening video featuring AC/DC's УTNTФ to the УExpress YourselfФ from NWA, this is one collection that has it all. While it's noticeable that a couple of the tracks have been edited, it won't make much difference even to those who know the words by heart. If there's a specific song that you can't stand, the options menu gives players the opportunity to turn a song off. As it stands, the Tony Hawk series no longer has one hit song and a bunch of newcomer bands, but a playlist full of hits just about anyone can indulge in.