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Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, often called THPS3 or Tony Hawk 3, is the third video game in the Tony Hawk's series. It was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision (SUCCESS Corporation in Japan) in 2001 for the Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Color, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation. In 2002, it was published for the Nintendo 64, Xbox, PC and Game Boy Advance. It was the first game released for the PlayStation 2 supporting online play, and the last game released on the Nintendo 64 in the United States.

The game was unusual for having advertising in the form of billboards; while the previous games in the series featured advertising, non-skating brands can be seen for the first time (since the level Downhill Jam in THPS1). Such brands include Taco Bell, Nokia and Jeep.

Bob Burnquist is absent in this game, due to his appearance in another skateboarding video game, ESPN X Games Skateboarding, during that time of year, although he would return in it's sequel.

Tony_Hawk's_Pro_Skater_3_(PS2_Intro)

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 (PS2 Intro)

Game features[]

Multiplayer[]

PCMultiplayerTHPS3

The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 multiplayer lobby on PC.

The game stood out in the franchise for being the first title to have online capabilities. Users could connect directly to other players online on the PlayStation 2 version—even prior to the launch of the network adapter, with a USB Ethernet adapter, or on PC, where one could use the GameSpy lobby to play online, or simply play LAN on a local area network. The original Xbox version lacked online support completely, but players found a workaround in the form of System-Link bridging.

Revert[]

THPS3 saw the introduction of the Revert - one of the most influential moves in the series, a trick that enabled vert combos to be tied together with a manual by tapping a button when landing in a quarterpipe. This allowed for much longer combos than in the previous two games, where landing in a quarterpipe would finish a combo.

Hidden Combos[]

Hidden Combos are variations of standard tricks that can be performed as flip, manual or grind tricks. For example, double-tapping the flip button would, naturally, make the skater perform a double flip. However, the number of extra tricks are limited and take more air time, making it impossible to land them in flatland. This system would later be refined in THPS4, where these variations known as double-tap tricks and manual/lip/grind extensions. An ability that was cut out in following games were flip-grab blending tricks. (i.e. a Kickflip could be easily transformed into a Kickflip to Indy or Kickflip to Crail).

Lip/Rail Balance Bar[]

THPS3 introduced a balance bar for lip tricks. Balance meters for grinds were introduced in the GBA and Xbox versions in THPS3, but the lip balance meter was still non-existent. Also, the skater could ollie from the lip trick, giving the ability to ollie, and then perform a flip trick to revert to keep their combo going nicely.

Big Drop removal[]

THPS3 does not feature the Big Drop mechanic, which was introduced in THPS2. The Big Drop remained in the PS1 and N64 versions, due to those versions still using the Apocalypse engine. The PS1 big drop icon was changed in THPS3, whereas the N64 version recycles the THPS2 design. Later games in the series would eventually remove the Big Drop mechanic altogether until it's return in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD.

Pedestrians[]

THPS3 would be the first game in series to introduce pedestrians located throughout the levels.

Custom female skaters[]

THPS3 was the first game in the series where the player could create custom female skaters, as opposed to being limited to male skaters in THPS2. This feature would later carry over to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2X.

Control Zone[]

Control Zone is a multiplayer game type, exclusive to THPS3. Despite being a rather popular online mode, it never saw its return in subsequent games.

Available Characters[]

Game Levels[]

Main

  • Foundry, based in Woodland Hills, California
  • Canada, based in Canada Olympic Park, Calgary (not included in the GBA version)
  • Rio, based in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
  • Suburbia, based in Munich, Germany (other sources claim Jackson, Mississippi)
  • Airport, based in Honolulu, Hawaii (other sources claim Osaka, Japan)
  • Skater Island, based in Middletown, Rhode Island (not included in the GBA version)
  • Los Angeles, California
  • Tokyo, Japan

Next-Gen only (Xbox, PlayStation 2, Gamecube, PC)

Xbox only

  • Oil Rig, The Pacific Ocean (other sources claim it's located of the coast Santa Monica)

PS1, N64 only

  • Downhill, based in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

GBA only

GBC only, cancelled for other platforms

GBC only

Platform differences[]

  • The N64/PS1 versions, due to limited power, are based on the game engine used in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. This also applies to the PS1 version of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. The grunts from THPS2 also appear in those two ports. The animations for skating were altered to resemble that of the next-gen ports. Strangely, the female skaters in the PS2/Xbox/PC version used male grunt sounds, while in PS1 version they're correct, using the same one from THPS2. The PS1 grunts are also used in all GBA ports for all existing Tony Hawk games (THPS4, THUG, and THUG 2).
  • Because of some unknown difference in the engine (although a likely idea was to compensate for slower processing speeds), the PS1 version of the game would run sounds about 10% faster and a half-note higher in pitch. This is most notable when collecting the letters in S-K-A-T-E and when completing a goal.
  • THPS1 levels, which include Warehouse, Burnside and Roswell are featured in next-gen versions only.
  • The Cruise Ship is only featured in next-gen versions of the game.
  • The Oil Rig is featured in Xbox version only.
  • Downhill is only featured in PS1 and N64 versions.
  • Some of the pro skaters wear different outfits between the next-gen and the last-gen ports. For example: Bucky Lasek wears a black-and-white backpack in the PS1 port, whereas in the PS2/Xbox/PC versions he doesn’t. Chad Muska’s is entirely different. In the next-gen version, he wears all blue and purple. In the last-gen, he wears a grey tank top, and black pants.
  • Exclusive to the PC version, Doom Guy is a secret character that can be unlocked only by entering "idkfa" in the cheat menu. (This same cheat unlocks all weapons, full ammo, and all the keys in Doom).
  • Exclusive to the Xbox version, a skeleton known as X-Ray is an unlockable character.
  • Next-gen versions provide more secret characters than the PS1 and N64 versions, as they are limited to 2 - Wolverine and Officer Dick.
  • Double tap tricks, which were called hidden combos at the moment, are featured in next-gen versions only.
  • Only the PS2 and PC versions of the game feature online multiplayer.
  • PC port lacks some next-gen features (instant replay for example).
  • The Music Credits video was cut from PC version of the game.
  • While the PS1 and N64 versions of the levels repeat the general shape of their next-gen versions, there are a lot of differences featured (like the elevator in Los Angeles or the extra area in Skater Island).
  • Japanese PS2 version of the games features extra 3 Japanese skaters; Junnosuke Y, Shin Okada, and Hiroki Saegusa.
  • Some of the content in the PC version differs from the final PS2 version content. This includes Bam Margera's shirt (being white compared to black) and the level skies. This is most notable in Roswell, where it's a black starry sky on the PC, and being set during twilight on the PS2.
    • Some sound effects are more noticeable in the PS2 version, such as the smack sound effects used in "The Jackass" and "The H Teeth Sweeper".
    • In the PS2/Xbox version, if playing as a skater that is seen in competition level cutscenes, (for example, Bam Margera or Chad Muska) they wont be "cloned" if you win a medal.[1]
  • The PS2 version features a playable demo of the game Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder in the options menu.

Soundtrack[]

  1. AFI - "The Boy Who Destroyed the World" (from All Hallow's EP, 1999)
  2. Adolescents - "Amoeba" (from their 1981 self-titled album)
  3. Alien Ant Farm - "Wish" (from ANThology, 2001)
  4. Bodyjar - "Not the Same" (from How It Works, 2000)
  5. CKY - "96 Quite Bitter Beings" (from Volume 1, 1999)
  6. Del the Funky Homosapien - "If You Must" (from Both Sides of the Brain, 2000)
  7. Guttermouth - "I'm Destroying the World" (from Covered with Ants, 2001)
  8. House of Pain - "I'm a Swing It" (from Same As It Ever Was, 1994)
  9. KRS-One - "Hush" (from The Sneak Attack, 2001)
  10. The Mad Capsule Markets - "Pulse" (from OSC-DIS, 1999)
  11. Motörhead - "Ace of Spades" (from Ace of Spades, 1980)
  12. The Nextmen - "Amongst the Madness" (from Amongst the Madness, 2000)
  13. Ozomatli - "Cut Chemist Suite" (from their 1998 self-titled album)
  14. The Ramones - "Blitzkrieg Bop" (from their 1976 self-titled album)
  15. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Fight Like A Brave" (from The Uplift Mofo Party Plan, 1987)
  16. Redman - "Let's Get Dirty (I Can't Get in da Club)" (from Malpractice, 2001)
  17. Reverend Horton Heat - "I Can't Surf" (from Liquor in the Front, 1994)
  18. Rollins Band - "What's The Matter Man" (from Nice, 2001)
  19. Xzibit - "Paparazzi" (from At the Speed of Life, 1996)
  20. Zebrahead - "Check" (from Waste of Mind, 1998)

Reception[]

The game has sold 2.4 million copies worldwide. The game was very well received by the gaming press, the PS2 version earned a rare perfect 10 score from Gamespot, the fourth game of sixteen to ever receive said score. It was also awarded the best sports game award at the 2001 E3. IGN rated the game 9.7/10, and ranked it #21 in the Top 25 PS2 Games of All Time. The game is currently the top rated PS2 game on the review aggregate website Metacritic, with an average score of 97/100, tying with Grand Theft Auto III.

Trivia[]

  • The appearance of Kelly Slater is a promotion for Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer game, published by Activision O2 at the time.
  • This game marks the debut of Bam Margera.
  • This is the first game in the series to feature blood decals when bailing. They remain visible for a short amount of time.
  • Wolverine is the second Marvel character to appear in a Tony Hawk game the first being Spider-Man in Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2.
  • This is the first game in the series to feature levels from previous Tony Hawk games as Warehouse, Burnside and Roswell appear as bonus levels.
  • This is the only game in the series to not feature Bob Burnquist despite his hometown Rio appearing as a competition and bonus level.
  • First appearance of Globe shoes and Baker skateboards in the series.
  • Certain brands, including Vans and Flip, were in early development builds of the game but were removed before release. The Vans removal was due to Sony having an exclusive partnership with the footwear company, which forced Neversoft to remove all branding and blur all assets related to it (including any appearance in videos).

External links[]

Gallery[]


Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 levels
FoundryCanadaRioSuburbiaAirportSkater Island Los AngelesTokyoCruise ShipOil RigDownhillParis

WarehouseBurnsideRoswell

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 novelty characters
Bam MargeraDarth MaulWolverineOfficer DickPrivate CarreraOllie the Magic BumKelly SlaterDemonessNeversoft EyeballDoom GuyX-Ray
Tony Hawk's Game Series
Pro SkaterPro Skater 2Pro Skater 3Pro Skater 4UndergroundUnderground 2American WastelandProject 8Proving GroundPro Skater 5
Downhill JamMotionRideShredShred Session
Pro Skater 2XUnderground 2 RemixAmerican Sk8landPro Skater HDSkate JamPro Skater 1 + 2
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