This is my second attempt of a Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 TAS. Unlike my previous time attack submission #1701: emu's N64 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 in 06:26.77, this is more a superplay movie, making several entertainment tradeoffs.
Emulator settings:
- Jabo's Direct3D8 1.6
- TAS Input Plugin 0.6
- Jabo's DirectSound 1.6
- RSP emulation Plugin
- recorded with Mupen64-rerecording v8
About the game (text from previous submission)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 is the third installment of the successful skater game and the last game released for the Nintendo 64 in the U.S.
It is the first part to include reverts, which allow to chain verts (tricks done, while vertically jumping up) to other tricks, which enables big combos netting many points. However, since verts are time consuming and points can be gathered also through other tricks, this new feature is only rarely used in this TAS. Unlike THPS 2, goals do not have a weighting. This allows to go for the fastest goals.
It is the first part to include reverts, which allow to chain verts (tricks done, while vertically jumping up) to other tricks, which enables big combos netting many points. However, since verts are time consuming and points can be gathered also through other tricks, this new feature is only rarely used in this TAS. Unlike THPS 2, goals do not have a weighting. This allows to go for the fastest goals.
Short info for watcher, who are unfamiliar with the game (text partly from previous submission)
- there are 8 levels: five areas with goals and 3 competitions
- to get the credits screen, the skater has to win gold in all competitions and achieve 35 of 50 goals to enter these tournaments
- performable tricks, seen in the run:
- grinds: slide along edges
- grabs: grab the board midair (grants many points)
- flip tricks: spin the board (short, but nets only few points)
- manuals: wheely on the floor (allows to continue a combo, while going)
- reverts: spin after landing a vert (chains verts with other tricks)
- wallride/wallie: riding at the wall/jumping out of a wallride (gives additional height)
- competitions consist of 3 runs ("heats"), where the skater has to perform tricks to get points during a minute. After rating each heat (max. 99.9 pts.), the points for the best two runs are added and compared to other skaters. Each heat can be ended at any moment or skipped. *combo system: the total score is calculated as "points times multiplier". Each trick adds some points the the total count and increase the multiplier by one. The multiplier can't increase past 43.
- level goals: each level has 10 goals:
- 3 goals for score attacks (High score, Pro score, Sick score)
- collecting the letters S-K-A-T-E
- finding the secret tape
- 4 level specific goals, consisting of collection procedures, tricks and others
- getting the previous nine goals, all stats and the hidden deck
About the run
- The run aims for all goals and stats with one skater (Tony Hawk); additionally each competition includes one heat over one minute aiming for highest score
- aims for fastest time, speed vs entertainment tradeoffs consist of:
- chaining more combos for higher scores (manuals slow down)
- doing a little trick before the end (like a no comply or kissed the rail), to force an instant point calculation, displaying the final score of the level
- selecting stats and specials to increase score
- heats with highscore attack; uncancelled to display final score
- displaying the maxed out stats at the end of the movie
- starting a grind speeds up the skater
- tricks are varied, as they lose value each time they are used
Goals of each level
Foundry (end score: 340,763)
- High Score,Pro Score, Sick Score
- find the secret tape
- grind the control booth
- activate press
- collect s-k-a-t-e
- cannonball over the halfpipe
- valves unjammed
comment: Combos need to be interrupted to turn around. The vert before the "K" is necessary too collect the stat point
Los Angeles (end score: 838,383)
- find the secret tape
- High Score, Pro Score, Sick Score
- grind the electric rail
- kickflip over elevator lobby
- elevator grind
- collect s-k-a-t-e
- transformers shutdown
comment: Due to the upward movement of the elevator, Tony Hawk can't jump properly to perform tricks. As gap-goals can't be continued past another gap anyway, I stop the combo there. The vert after the "K" would take very long, so I stop the combo to break.
Competition: Rio de Janeiro
- first run: 12,118,608 pts.
- second run: 665,424 pts.
Suburbia (end score: 693,878)
- High Score, Pro Score, Sick Score
- collect s-k-a-t-e
- appall the appliances
- disrespect the dishes
- 360 flip the weathervane
- ice the ice cream man
- find the secret tape
comment: My favourite, due to the smooth path. I found a faster way for the secret tape, without having to wait for the crane.
Airport (end score: 1,027,915)
- grind the plane
- High Score, Pro Score, Sick Score
- find the secret tape
- nosebluntslide the airport sign
- snag the flags
- lost luggage found
- collect s-k-a-t-e
comment: Combos are only interrupted, when goal-gaps can't be continued past another gap.
Skater Island
- first run: 18,231,264 pts.
- second run: 229,597 pts.
comment: Not only highest score in the run, but also fastest collection in a competition.
Canada (end score: 154734)
- blow up the tree
- High Score, Pro Score, Sick Score
- find the secret tape
- nosegrind over the tree
- totem poles
- collect s-k-a-t-e
- ollie over the pool
comment: My second faourite. Nice route with ups and downs. Only the totem poles tend to be a little off the path.
Tokyo
- first run: 16,789,872 pts.
- second run: 120,060 pts.
comment: Big disappointment. Despite better stats and specials, I can't beat Skater Island, due to lack of fast accessible half pipes.
Comparison issue
Ports of different consoles (like the SDA run on the Game Cube) differ a lot and have mostly different goals. Thus, runs on different systems are not comparable.
Missing basis for objective judgement
By focusing more on entertainment than speed, I decreased the possibility for an objective justification for publication and obliterated the benchmark for obsoletion. I'm aware of that and don't mind, if it can't be published. I just wanted to give this game a last shot and hope you can enjoy it.
Credits
- everybody in the THPS thread for reviewing WIPs and building the aims of the run
adelikat: This movie shows a good superplay of of the game; showing off incredible stunts with the use of tools. It has received good response so I am accepting it for publication as a "playaround" type movie (it will be judged by its mastery of the game rather than the final completion time when compared to possible future movies).
DeHackEd: Video to be encoded. Getting it looking good while not being obscenely large is really hard though. Also, suggestions for screen shots are welcome.