Kickflip to a New Beat? Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remixes the Soundtrack, Leaving OG Fans Feeling a Bit Grindy
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
The upcoming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 is shaking things up with a new soundtrack, featuring mostly new tunes instead of the classic bangers, which has some fans doing a nollie in disappointment. Will the gamble pay off, or will it be a gnarly faceplant?
Alright, ollie-oopers, gather 'round. Word on the digital street is that the upcoming *Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4* remake is taking a bit of a left turn when it comes to the soundtrack. Now, we all know those soundtracks were basically the DNA of the original games – pure, distilled early-2000s awesome. But it seems Tony Hawk (the man, the myth, the legend himself) and Activision are aiming for a bit of a remix, and some folks aren't exactly stoked.
So, what's the deal? Well, according to reviews trickling in ahead of the full release this week, only 10 tracks from the original *THPS3* and *THPS4* are actually making the cut. TEN! Out of a whopping 69 songs. That's like ordering a pizza and finding out they swapped half the toppings for… well, something less delicious (pineapple, maybe?).
Instead of all the familiar bangers, Activision's VP of Production, Christopher Wilson, says the goal is "to keep the feel of the original games but also introduce new artists and songs." Tony Hawk himself chimed in, saying it was his choice "to pick some different songs by the same artists featured in THPS3 +4 OST" and that he's "hoping that discovery is half the fun." Fair enough, eh? Maybe they're trying to recapture that feeling of stumbling across a killer new tune while grinding a rail for the first time.
The returning tracks, for those keeping score at home, are: The Faction - Skate & Destroy, Gang Starr - Mass Appeal, JFA - Beach Blanket Bongout, RUN-D.M.C. - My Adidas, Motörhead - Ace of Spades, Del the Funky Homosapien - If You Must, AFI - The Boy Who Destroyed the World, Adolescents - Amoeba, CKY - 96 Quite Bitter Beings, Bodyjar - Not the Same. Not a bad selection, mind you, but hardly the full nostalgic monty some were expecting.
Of course, licensing issues might be playing a role here. Securing the rights to all those original tracks probably costs more than a lifetime supply of skate wax. But still, for many of us, those songs *are* the game. They're intertwined with the muscle memory of nailing that perfect 900 or finding that secret area. Changing that feels a bit like... well, like changing the rules of skateboarding mid-air. (Which, let's be honest, Tony Hawk *has* kind of done over the years with some of his more outlandish tricks.)
Look, I'm cautiously optimistic. Maybe these new tracks will be absolute bangers. Maybe this "discovery" element will actually work. But I also understand the disappointment. It's a bit like finding out your favourite wizard replaced his trusty old wand with a fancy new model that doesn't quite feel the same. We'll just have to wait and see if this musical kickflip lands on its wheels.
Also, good news for fans of chaos: Bam Margera is back in the game, apparently thanks to Tony Hawk's intervention. That's gotta be worth something, right?
*Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4* drops on July 11th for pretty much every platform you can think of. Time to dust off your digital board and see if this new soundtrack sticks the landing.
Tags: Tony Hawk, Soundtrack, Remake, Gaming Music, Nostalgia
Original article: Eurogamer