Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3

Game Overview

In Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, players select from a roster of legendary professional skaters—including Tony Hawk, Bucky Lasek, Rodney Mullen, Bam Margera, and Eric Koston—to shred through iconic, bustling skate parks and city locations around the globe. The core gameplay loop centers on 2-minute timed career runs where skaters complete specific objectives (such as high-score targets, finding hidden letters, collecting secret items, and pulling off specific gaps) while stringing together massive combos. The game's defining mechanical breakthrough is the Revert, which allows players to transition from halfpipe verticals into manual balance routines, bridging vertical air tricks with flatland street tricks for endless, mind-boggling combo multipliers. Combined with smooth 60 FPS performance on the GameCube, responsive controls, and lively levels populated by pedestrians and moving vehicles, it stands as an absolute masterpiece of the genre.

Quick Specifications

• Platform: Nintendo GameCube

• Developer: Neversoft

• Publisher: Activision

• Release Date: November 19, 2001 (North America)

• Genre: Arcade Sports / Skateboarding

• Players: 1–2 Players (Local Split-Screen Versus)

• ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Key Features

• Introduction of the Revert: Execute a halfpipe revert right as you land to maintain momentum, enabling continuous trick combos between ramps and flat ground manuals.

• Living, Dynamic Levels: Skate through vibrant, interactive environments—including Foundry, Canada, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo—filled with moving traffic, reactive pedestrians, and hidden interactive triggers.

• Legendary Pro Roster: Play as top professional skateboarders, each featuring custom trick sets, stats, and signature moves.

• Iconic Licensed Soundtrack: Shred to an unforgettable soundtrack featuring tracks from Motörhead, The Ramones, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Alien Ant Farm, and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

What makes the Revert mechanic so important?

Before THPS3, players could drop into a vertical halfpipe, catch air, do tricks, and land in a manual on flat ground—but dropping back into a quarterpipe or halfpipe would kill your momentum. The Revert (triggered by pressing the R shoulder button just as you hit the coping) lets you pivot on landing while keeping your speed, allowing you to link vert ramps and manuals infinitely.

Does the GameCube version feature split-screen multiplayer?

Yes! The GameCube release includes a robust local 2-player split-screen multiplayer mode featuring classic head-to-head party games like Graffiti, Horse, Slap, Free Skate, and Trick Attack.

Can you create your own custom skaters and parks?

Yes, the game features a comprehensive Create-A-Skater mode to build a custom rider with personalized stats and clothing, alongside a Park Editor where players can place ramps, rails, funboxes, and pools to design custom skate parks.

How do you unlock secret skaters and bonus videos?

Completing the Career mode objectives with individual professional skaters unlocks cash that can be spent in the game store to purchase professional skate videos, alternate outfits, bonus stats, hidden levels, and legendary secret characters (such as Wolverine, Doomguy, or Officer Dick).