Mastering the Grind: Discovering the Easiest Tony Hawk Game for Effortless Skating and Breath Control
By When Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 was released, I undeniably had one thought dominating my mind: “This is fantastic, but can we please get 3 + 4?”
I had tinkered with the initial two titles back in the day, but it was only when Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 debuted in 2001 that I became truly engrossed in the franchise. It felt perfect, and while classics like Metroid Prime and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker rank higher on my ‘best GameCube’ list, no other game consumed more of my time than THPS 3.
Considering the recent discontent surrounding the modifications to THPS 4 in the forthcoming remake, I’ll set that game aside for a moment and focus solely on the third installment. Even if developer Iron Galaxy managed to preserve everything from THPS 4 and produced a near 1:1 remake, it still ranks just below the original in my personal game hierarchy.
Few games genuinely embody the essence of their era quite like Tony Hawk 3. Certainly, even if you’re somewhat skilled, you can glance at any game’s aesthetics and production quality and make a well-informed guess about its era, but THPS 3 serves as a true snapshot of the early 2000s like no other. The soundtrack, the graphics, the rebellious spirit… It launched right when Jackass was genuinely gaining traction on MTV, and you can feel that influence throughout the new elements.
In contrast to the previous two installments, which featured solo gameplay, THPS 3 introduced pedestrians for the first time. Tasks such as ‘Bury the Bully’ in the Canada level and ‘Stop the Pickpockets’ at the Airport seemed to draw direct inspiration from the antics of beloved knuckleheads like Steve-O and Bam Margera (who, regrettably, isn’t present in the new remake), creating a splendid mix of Skateboarding and Jackass vibes.
This addition gave the franchise the push it truly needed, in my opinion. I’m not a real-life skateboarder, but I would argue that most prefer skating alongside others. It’s one of the most social sports imaginable, and I frequently witnessed kids at my local skatepark racing down halfpipes before lounging with friends and listening to Blink-182 and Slipknot. It was a feeling, you know? And THPS 3 encapsulated that beautifully.
Speaking of music, the game also introduced me to bands that remain some of my absolute favorites to this day. Bodyjar’s ‘Not the Same’ became the track o