Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (Playstation 2)

This game was quite the disappointment.

The same problems that plagued the earlier Tony Hawk games were still there, but the developers seem 2 have forgotten the limitations of their medium - making everything needlessly more difficult at times simply 4 some shadow of authenticity 2 the game.

The first time I opened up the game, I played it 4 about five minutes before Alt-F4ing out of it in disgust. The jokes are absolutely terrible & juvenile, 2 the point where it's just annoying - perhaps this is appropriate 4 a 10 year old, but the humor lacks the subtlety it had in the earlier games. This was the first problem. The objectives that you have 2 complete have become much more frustrating over the point of the last few games - one comes 2 mind where you have 2 skate through a coliseum & knock down five "jocks" in one combo, & another where a stereotypical Frenchman obnoxiously declares, "you stupid skater-person ha-ha-ha-ha" repeatedly until you beat him in an incredibly nonintuitive tennis game. After this, a bum instructs you 2 kill a series of imaginary pink elephants. Now, I realize Tony Hawk himself is probably nearing 50 years old now, but this is no excuse 4 such stupid objectives. I've been skating since I was in fifth grade, & it seems like these games are distancing themselves further & further from the reality of skating & its associated culture. It was extremely hard 2 get into repeatedly knocking down a bunch of football players running in circles, & my disgust at the task got worse each time.

If you're going 2 keep iterating versions of what's basically the same game, Neversoft, you need 2 work on actually improving the game instead of adding a whole bunch of irrelevant crap. For your own sake, whoever's reading this review, don't buy this game, it's terrible.

I'm an old guy; my son is 6. Together, we had so much fun learning & mastering Pro Skater 3 that we couldn't wait 2 try Pro Skater 4. Unfortunately, as advanced as the game is in terms of graphics & intensity, it's just too much 4 my son & I 2 enjoy together. I've tried & tried, using the strategy guide as my source book, but the game is just too difficult 2 master or enjoy. The game interface is so far beyond what a simple guy like me & my young son can do together. Teenagers may love it, but it's just too much right now.

It's true that this game can't last very long after you beat it in the first two weeks; however, it's fun 2 come back 2 once in awhile. This game is different than the first three Tony Hawk games. You start off in the level free-skating & can approach people who will give you goals 2 accomplish. There are about sixteen goals per level & around ten or thirteen levels. I would recommend this game 2 anyone, even those who don't like skating, like myself. I would advise you 2 buy this game used 4 an incredible price. I personally would not pay more than fifteen dollars 4 it, yet it will definitely provide you & your friends with some entertainment.

Well, people expect too much of this game but i can say that it is a huge jump from the classic 2 minute mode where you've 2 do tasks 2 an open escenario where you've 2 find the tasks 2 do (21 on every level) & every skater has his own final pro challenge that makes the game longer 'cause you want 2 see the other skaters "ending".

I can say that this game is just part of the history of TH, if you look back 2 the amazing & incredible THPS 3 you'll see a great game, excellent graphics & incredible soundtrack, but it has the simplicity of the old TH games from PS1, but the game received the score of 10 over 10 in most magazines & game websites, you can check gamespot or ign if you don't believe me, 'cause when the game came out it was like the most incredible game ever created (and i found that only 4 or 5 games on all the history of PS2 have received the Perfect score), & this game is no exception, of course that if you've played TH underground 1 or 2 you'll find a lack of history here, but the game is great anyways & is a step on the ladder, but it has a lot of challenges & tasks 2 do, & i can assure you that after you play this game a lot, & after you beat it, there will always be something that you couldn't do & you'll find yourself playing this game after years (it happened 2 me) 'cause somebody told you that you have 2 bother the elephant 2 open the aquarium in the zoo (i replayed it after beating TH underground & in the middle of TH underground 2 just 2 open the aquarium & it was incredibly satisfactory 2 do it).

This is part of the ladder of TH, part of the history, if some people think that this game is over rated or it isn't a good game, well, i think they don't see the true value behind this title, but as a collector & a huge fan of the TH series i can tell you buy this game before you see it in a friend's house or in a rental & with a great desire check 2 buy it & see the terrible world "unavaliable", i think you can trust me on this. I almost pay 80 bucks 4 the collectors item "THPS3" just when the gentle people of activision put the game again on the streets 4 17 bucks, you can check my review on THPS 3 4 the whole story.

Tony Hawk 4 is the best PS2 game I've ever played. It's about a million times better than Tony Hawk 3 & Tony hawk 2. I've had this game 4 2 years & I just can't stop playing it. Even though there's Tony Hawk Underground, Tony Hawk Underground 2, & American Wasteland, I haven't bought them I know they can't beat this game.

Graphics: I know everyone says the graphics could be better, I still think they're great, especially 4 a game made that long ago. I probably think this because alomst all of my 52 PS2 games were made at least a year ago. These graphics are better thanthose in sly 3 & thats a brand new game.

Multiplayer: Good enough. Horse is fun & playing online is too. King of the hill is my favorite & trick attack is good also.

Cheats: If you type in watch_me_xplode at the beginning it will give you all of the cheats, levels, & skaters. Most of the cheats stink but Perfect rail, manual, & skitch, cool specials, hoverboard, flame, & stats 13 are really useful. I beat the game the first time without cheats & then I beat again with cheats, the first time took me a month. I think I beat it the second time in 2 days.

Levels:

Colledge: a fun & easy level with lots of vert & street stuff
San Fransisco: Bleh. I don't like this level because it has way too many open spaces & street stuff.
Alcatraz: My favorite level, cool challenges, high rails, it's a vert level
Kona: Better than San Francisco, very street, hard challenges, an ok level.
Shipyard: ohhh this level is so bad it hurts 2 play it. impossible challenges & way too much water.
London: a good mix of street & vert, pretty easy.
Zoo: I love zoo. My 2nd favorite level. fun challenges, another great mix of street & vert

The levels you have 2 buy

Carnival: Some fun challenges, otherwise a lot like shipyard
Chicago: this level is so hard you cant even do it with cheats. Otherwise pretty fun.

Characters: Most of them are pretty good. Unlock Jango Fett & they'll all seem like toddlers that are desperatly trying 2 skateboard. Created players are fun 2 use because you can give them any tricks you want. Even Jango Fett's. Even though Tony Hawk is the best skater you can use (without cheats) his pro challenge at the end of the game is pretty hard, just a warning. Jamie Thomas's pro challenge is so easy a 2 year old could do it, no offence 2 those of you who are stuck on it. There are different names 4 created characters that will do different things 2 them. One of these names is kraken, try it out.

Create-a-park: So fun, so addicting. I spent all of today building parks. If you are going 2 play against your friend, you can make the park so you have the advantage. Better than playing at a normal park, especially shipyard.

If you want 2 buy this game, I encourage you 2 because it is truly a great game

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 challenges you 2 claw your way through the ranks & become a name in pro skating! More realistic trick work -- better balancing, bails & board dynamics with the same intuitive control scheme players love!