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Wednesday October 29th 2003 08:22 AM PST

Tuesday was much better. I headed over to work for a client that i actually CARE about. Epic sports has been a lot of work, AND the site STILL has not gone live, but they're fun to deal with. They've paid me a lot of money, and i've actually done things for them that are FUN to do. So i went over there to shoot more merchandise yesterday and make the final photo and shipping decisions for the site. Hopefully this time we'll get the site live and start making them money.

As i was working at epic i remembered that Tony Hawk Underground came out, so i ran next door to grab a copy. George and Vera always laugh cause i get they new Tony Hawk the day it comes out every time. They actually have a PS2 Kiosk in their store on the quik side, and they always have a really old game in it. Anyway, i started playing the game and i'm impressed. Neversoft did a lot of simple things right, and when you play the game they all make it better.

First off, you used to gain stats by finding little floating logos. That seemed a little obscure back in the old games, but that was the way it was. NOW, you actually have a list of objectives for each kind of stat point. So if you want to increase your manual stats, you first have to manual for 5 seconds, then 7 then 10. Same thing for ollie, speed, air, etc.

Second, you can actually get off the board and run around. DUH, this one was easy. So now its almost like tomb raider when you're off the board. You can jump up on buildings, climb over fences, and drop into halfpipes and pools from rooftops. nice simple one, and all it really does is make the game more real.

Third, the goals are actually fit to a story line. THPS4 did a little of this. The goals fit a little to the environment, like you were in the ZOO level and the elephant went on a rampage. Now in this one, its a little more believable. You're a little nobody skater and you're want to live the life of a skate rock star, so you try to impress people, make skate videos, get sponsored and win competitions. Oh, and all of this while running from drug dealers and skitching behind cars to launch ramp across a river that's guarded by cops. Ok, so some of the story is a little crazy.

All in all i just love the fact that your characters best friend is a hard core PYRO. In the first chapter he lights a drug dealers car on fire cause they stole his deck. Then he just sits and watches the flames like the little freak that he is.

Ok, anyway, only other feature thats great is the internet link for high scores and online play. All the scores online are already out of control. People are hitting 23 million on a lot of levels. Well now i gotta get back to work, so i'm gonna put the controller down for today. :(

Comments:

That pyromaniac wouldn't happen to be this guy, would it?
http://images.ibsys.com/2003/1028/2588664.jpg

Backstory here:
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/2586925/detail.html

Posted by: Koganuts