Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is Neversoft’s latest installment in the series for the Game Boy Advance. Brought to Game Boy Advance by Vicarious Visions and Published by Activision, it’ll be all you need for virtual skating on the go. If you enjoyed Tony Hawk 2, then you’re sure to love Tony Hawk 3…it’s almost the exact same game. If you didn’t play Tony Hawk 2, then you’re in for a treat. Tony Hawk 3 on GBA is almost a perfect port of its bigger consoles’ brothers.

Tony Hawk 3 for the GBA is pretty much exactly like Tony Hawk 2 was on the GBA. Although there are additions, improvements, and enhancements compared to the prior installment, the raw gameplay is the same thing. The changes are noteworthy, though. The levels are very different now, resembling watered down versions of the bigger levels found in the other versions of Tony Hawk 3. There are more objectives per level, and now they are much more varied as well. Instead of just having to find the hidden tape and spell “skate” you will have to perform such tasks as to help an old man into his backyard, or search bags at the airport for a friend’s missing skateboard. The ways these objectives are accomplished are quite unique and may require a bit more thinking than one would assume.

There is also a wider selection of skaters to choose from including some originals such as Geoff Rowley and Tony Hawk, and some new faces, like Bam Margera. In all there are thirteen skaters to pick from. Each skater comes with his or her own stats, but they can easily be altered by collecting stat points throughout each level. You can end up with the perfect skater. New skateboards can be unlocked for each character too, adding to the customization of the game. If it’s customization you’re looking for, than you just may want to make your own skater altogether. The custom skater interface is easy to use and lets you make the skater you want, from his shirt to his shoes-you can even add tattoos to him.

There are six levels in all, each with their own missions and layouts. The missions will even change depending on who you’re playing as, so it won’t get boring playing as different characters. Each level has pedestrians going about their daily business, cars driving by, and great trick opportunities to boost your points. There are pick-ups littering each level as well. Some will allow you to change your character’s stats, some will unlock new skateboards, and others will be necessary for completing an objective. It’s all about exploring each level, and having fun at the same time.

I think this game is one of the best out for the Game Boy Advance right now. It shows the power of the system in the graphics and the gameplay. It features a very intricate and detailed trick system, while keeping the controls from being confusing and clunky. The graphics, sound, and controls set a standard for all Game Boy Advance games to come in the future. Even though it is a marvelous game, it is just like Tony Hawk 2 for GBA. So if you already own Tony Hawk 2, you’re not missing anything. If you don’t own Tony Hawk 2, I highly recommend you try this game out. It has a lot to offer and will keep you playing for weeks.

Gameplay: 9
The gameplay is where this game truly shines. All the moves are there and easy to pull off, and with precision and timing a key element to the game, they register instantly. Sometimes the controls can be tricky, though, when you need your skater in a certain place. The missions are entertaining and vary enough so that you don’t become bored too quickly. There are also plenty of things to unlock, along with new skaters, levels, tricks, and multiplayer modes.

Graphics: 8 
The 3D environments are great and easy to navigate…most of the time. Every once in awhile it’s easy to get lost or stuck behind hidden obstacles. It’s also sometimes difficult to tell where certain things are due to poor depth perception. Basically, the graphics are just like Tony Hawk 2 for the Game Boy Advance with some improvements in the character animation. The picture clarity and detail is also a bit below average. 

Sound: 6.8
At first I thought the sound of this game was terrible, but that was just because I didn’t like the music. The quality of the sound is great. All the sound effects are there, the same music from the menu is there, and it all sounds like it’s straight from the Playstation version of the earlier Tony Hawk games. The music during gameplay was altered slightly to more simple loops of guitars and drums. I started to just play with the sound of; the music can get a little annoying due to its redundancy.

Difficulty: 6
Just like the earlier versions of Tony Hawk, it can start out pretty tough. But once you learn the level layouts and play mechanics, it’s a breeze to beat. With Tony Hawk 3, they tried a little harder to make it more of a challenge for those gamers that like to unlock everything. The objectives for each level change every time you play, so it doesn’t turn into a memory game.

Concept: 7 
The concept isn’t so original anymore, but Tony Hawk was the first good skateboarding game. When the genre seems to be drying out, a new Tony Hawk comes out and adds a new level that people don’t expect, but makes the game that much more fun and exciting. With Tony Hawk 3, the new revert was added, making it possible to link vert tricks like the manual allowed the linking of street tricks. Even though it’s the same type of game, they just pull it off so well, and they learn of ways to innovate it every time a new one comes out.

Multiplayer: 7.5
Tony Hawk 3 supports up to four players in the multiplayer mode. New multiplayer modes have been added since TH2, adding more of a variety of games to play with your friends. Although they are a blast, they can get old after awhile. They do last longer, though, since there are a few more games to play than before.

Overall: 9
The Tony Hawk series continues to amaze its fans with every sequel by adding more moves, skaters, levels, and customization. Just like past Tony Hawk’s on other systems, Tony Hawk 3 sets a boundary for all other handheld skateboarding games that come out in the future. With its complicated yet user-friendly controls, you are able to skate just like the pros. And with every sequel having the same controls and feels as the last, fans of the series can jump right into each one that comes out and feel right at home. Although they did add some great things to Tony Hawk 3 for Game Boy Advance, it’s essentially the same game.