- Solid, fun gameplay with improved THPS3 content.
- THPS4 career mode significantly altered, gutted.
- Missing original soundtrack, different music included.
- Limited customization and content compared to originals.
- Good performance, but some users report issues.
- Mixed recommendations, especially for THPS4 fans.
Emotions
Players expressed significant disappointment primarily due to the perceived failure to faithfully remake THPS4, citing numerous missing content such as levels, career mode elements, and original soundtrack songs. The game's changes to core THPS4 mechanics and content, along with a feeling of it being a 'half-baked' or 'stripped-down' experience, led to a strong sense of being let down, especially when compared to previous remakes.
Players felt satisfied with the overall quality of the remasters, particularly enjoying the gameplay, new maps, and improved commands. The game's ability to honor the legacy of the series, coupled with good graphics, performance, and a strong soundtrack, contributed to a positive and enjoyable experience for many.
Frustration stemmed from various technical issues, including severe stuttering, sound glitches, and frequent game crashes, which hindered playability. Additionally, players were frustrated by missing content, the lack of an offline mode, perceived poor design choices, and what they felt were unjustifiable pricing and pre-order practices.
Joy was primarily derived from the sheer fun of playing the game, experiencing the nostalgia of the series, and enjoying the overall gameplay and visual improvements. The release of the game itself and the ability to free skate with other players also contributed to this positive emotion.
Players felt excitement about the game's good graphics, new levels, and the overall amount of content available. The game was seen as a 'revival' of the series, offering a potent shot of nostalgia and generating anticipation for future content.
Verdict
Mixed
Summary
Positive 58% · Negative 42%. Score: 42 / 100
Positives:
- The game is widely praised for its solid and refined gameplay mechanics, which are consistent with previous successful remasters. Players find it incredibly fun, easy to pick up, and highly replayable, indicating a well-polished and enjoyable experience.
- The game successfully integrates content from THPS3 and THPS4, with many players considering it an improvement over THPS 1+2. The streamlined approach to THPS4's career mode, particularly the 2-minute timer format, is well-received, addressing previous criticisms of the original's bloated structure.
- The remastered classic maps are visually stunning and play better than their originals, while the new maps are also well-designed and fit seamlessly into the game. The addition of new levels and a diverse roster of characters further enhances the overall content.
- The game features significantly upgraded and visually appealing graphics, with detailed environments and character models. This visual overhaul contributes to a more immersive and modern gaming experience while retaining the charm of the originals.
- The soundtrack is generally well-received, with good new additions that complement the classic tracks. The inclusion of new content, including music, is appreciated by players.
Negatives:
- The game significantly altered the original THPS4 experience by removing its open-world, mission-based career mode and replacing it with the 2-minute session format from earlier games. This change is widely criticized for making the large THPS4 maps feel empty and for stripping away the game's unique identity and replayability.
- The game's soundtrack is heavily criticized for missing a large number of original, iconic songs from both THPS3 and THPS4. Many new additions are considered mediocre or unfitting, leading to a significant loss of nostalgia and overall atmosphere.
- The Create-A-Skater feature is largely identical to THPS 1+2, offering limited customization options and reusing many assets. Additionally, many secret skaters and brand partnerships from the original games are missing, reducing character variety and overall content.
- Players report significant performance issues, including frequent stuttering and frame drops, even on capable hardware. The game is also perceived as overpriced given its perceived lack of new content and similarity to the previous THPS 1+2 remake.
- Several iconic levels, particularly 'Carnival' and 'Chicago' from THPS4, are completely missing from the game. Other levels, like 'Zoo,' have been altered, losing their original charm and interactive elements, contributing to a feeling of incompleteness.
Gameplay:
- The game largely reuses the engine, assets, and core gameplay mechanics from the THPS 1+2 remaster. This makes it feel more like an expansion or 'reimagining' of that game rather than a distinct remake of THPS3 and THPS4.
- The remake significantly alters THPS4's original open-world, NPC-driven mission structure by implementing a timed, objective-based system similar to earlier THPS titles. This change is seen by some as a loss of THPS4's unique identity.
- While the default session timer is 2 minutes, players have the option to extend it significantly, up to an hour, through in-game settings.
- The game features online multiplayer with cross-play functionality, allowing players on different platforms to play together.
- The career mode progression is shared across all created skaters on an account, meaning completing it with one skater finishes it for all others, limiting replayability for individual characters.
Performance:
- Many players report excellent performance, with high and stable frame rates on various setups, including PC, Steam Deck, and Linux via Proton. The game is often described as running smoothly and looking great at high resolutions.
- Some users experience performance issues, including stuttering, screen tearing even with VSync, and difficulties when streaming on platforms like Discord. These issues can persist even on lower settings.
- The game utilizes the engine from Vicarious Visions' previous work, which is praised by some players. This suggests a positive foundation for the game's technical aspects.
Recommendations:
- Many players recommend the game, especially to fans of the original series or those who enjoyed THPS 1+2. It's seen as a fun experience that captures the essence of the classic games, even with some perceived flaws.
- The game is not recommended for players primarily seeking a faithful THPS4 experience, as it feels more like an extension of THPS 1+2 with some THPS4 levels rather than a full remake. Missing content and changes to THPS4's original gameplay are significant drawbacks for these players.
- There's a mixed sentiment regarding recommendations, with some reviewers outright not recommending the game or even requesting refunds. This indicates significant dissatisfaction for a portion of the player base.
- Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing the game, especially for non-diehard fans. The current full price is considered too high given the content and perceived issues.
- Some players would change their recommendation or repurchase the game if specific issues, such as the career mode or solo tour stat points, are fixed. This indicates potential for improvement through patches.
Miscellaneous:
- The game's career mode, particularly the 2-minute timer format from THPS4, is a point of contention for long-time fans. There's a desire for future remakes to either integrate as DLC or be separate titles with their original career structures.
- Reviewers provided specific ratings for individual maps, indicating varied reception to the level design. Some maps, like Movie Studio, were well-received, while others, such as Pinball, were not.
- There's a strong sentiment that the game was rushed, with only about eight months of development time. This is attributed to Activision and Microsoft, suggesting a lack of sufficient time for polish and content.
- Some players are struggling to enjoy the game and feel compelled to continue playing only to justify their purchase. This indicates a lack of engaging content or overall dissatisfaction.
- Some players expressed a general dislike for the career mode's structure. This suggests that the format of progression and objectives within the game's main mode was not appealing to everyone.
