Cozy Gamers Have Overlooked the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Series

Sure, let’s dive into the world of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, and hang on, because this ride won’t be smooth — much like my mornings before coffee. You know those days when nothing makes sense? Yeah, that’s this.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4. Ah, the nostalgia, right? For old-timers and rookies alike, this is where skateboards meet pixels in a flurry of, well, what one might call “fun”. You either chase high scores or, you know, unlock those elusive secret characters that just, uh — make the game, I guess? It’s like an old-school crush remade, more or less, with buttons and stunts whirling in my head like my high school days. Geez, nostalgia much?

Okay, here’s the thing. You look at THPS 3+4 and think sports, right? I did. But — and here’s the kicker — it’s got these snug vibes wrapped up in it somehow. Like, who knew an extreme sports game could be all mellow? But for those coziness seekers, seriously, give it a whirl.

Moving on, controls. They’re there — duh. They might be straightforward, yeah, but intimidating in that “I just moved to a new city and can’t find my coffee shop” kind of way. Point is, hitting that sweet spot where you’re cruising without a care? Priceless. Free Skate is where it’s at. Just skate around and — wait for it — maybe find yourself. Sort of.

There’s something hypnotic about the sound too. The grind on metal rails — is it just me, or does that sound like joy nailed perfectly? Wheels bouncing and all. Add a killer playlist and bam, you’re in a trance. It’s like unwinding after a day you couldn’t wait to end. There’s an unexpected calm in the chaos. Does it make sense? Not sure it does.

Let me not forget the tunes — or what’s left of them. THPS 3+4 chops up the old soundtracks, leaves us with some, adds others. Why? Maybe rights issues? Who knows. But 59 tracks are what you get, and, ten are originals. Make of that what you will.

Oh, Create-A-Park. Remember the first time you ever made anything on screen? This could be like that. If you love, say, building homes in The Sims or crafting a blocky life in Minecraft, it’s kind of similar. Only here, it’s all about carving out your own skate utopia. Forget skating if it’s not your jam, just build. And hey, share your parks — it’s a thing.

Also, you can spend endless hours tweaking your skater. Sounds like losing track of time while scrolling social media. And, well, known skaters are cool, but playing dress-up with your own might be the tune you’re dancing to.

So, coziness and Tony Hawk — never thought I’d hear ’em in the same breath, but here we are. In the lineup of life’s soothing games — Stardew Valley and friends — just maybe this one’s a dark horse, or a dark hawk? Eh. A chaos balm to life’s everyday stress.

So there it is. An extreme game with a cozy side. Who knew? Not me, until now.