Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 (run discussion)

2006-08-12 01:06:44 am

I've currently out of a Hawk run to do. Jordo's working his magic on THPS, Sorcerer killed my times on THPS3, and I don't really want to have to put up with THUG or THUG2. As it's personally mandatory that I'm working on a Hawk title, I thought, why not THPS4 (PS2)?

The problem is, THPS4 is a very awkward Hawk title. Though my favorite in the series, I don't know of a definitive 'end' to the game on an any % run. The game gives you a video of a skater for finishing the easy goals and then beating the skater specific goal. However, after that a whole other set of goals open up, and you don't actually 'beat' the game until you complete each and every one of them.

Due to this, is an any % run of THPS4 actually impossible?

If so, I'd still be interested in doing a 100% run, however, it would HAVE to be segmented, and it would likely be rather lengthly (190 goals... eck...). More than anything though, I think it'd be enjoyable to do. Does anyone out there support this idea, and what are your thoughts?

Thread title:

I've currently out of a Hawk run to do. Jordo's working his magic on THPS, Sorcerer killed my times on THPS3, and I don't really want to have to put up with THUG or THUG2. As it's personally mandatory that I'm working on a Hawk title, I thought, why not THPS4 (PS2)?

The problem is, THPS4 is a very awkward Hawk title. Though my favorite in the series, I don't know of a definitive 'end' to the game on an any % run. The game gives you a video of a skater for finishing the easy goals and then beating the skater specific goal. However, after that a whole other set of goals open up, and you don't actually 'beat' the game until you complete each and every one of them.

Due to this, is an any % run of THPS4 actually impossible?

If so, I'd still be interested in doing a 100% run, however, it would HAVE to be segmented, and it would likely be rather lengthly (190 goals... eck...). More than anything though, I think it'd be enjoyable to do. Does anyone out there support this idea, and what are your thoughts?

TheVoid

2006-08-12 08:05:50 am

I liked THPS4 (I played it on the PC) but there were those special goals which were pretty hard and I never managed to complete some of them (I gave up after some time... Wink

).

I think you should do an 100% Run then because of what you said.
Do you also need\want to get all the money (Practice level included Smiley

)?

Zurreco

2006-08-12 08:22:08 am

Just call me the cynicism machine

There is a 100% run for THPS2 that I personally find very entertaining. The author (can't remember his name right now) said that he could pump out single segment 100% runs really quickly if he practiced a little. Mayhap you could do the same?

Also, the end for a 100% run would be when every single goal has been completed and every dependent unlockable has been unlocked.

Cyberwrath

2006-08-12 08:50:05 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

A THPS4 100% run would take a long time to do. I suppose you'd pick the best skater that has the easeist pro final goal thing at the end, since you wouldn't do every skater of course. I remember some to be easy... not sure if each skater would be a diff. category or anything b/c of that.

DJS

2006-08-12 08:58:09 am

torch slug since 2006

OMG, i remember this game... i got in on GameCube.. My and my brother 100% coompleted it...Also this is a very good TH game... I think if you not do 100% that you can coomplete it in 3 hours maybe... Anyway goodluck!

Sorcerer88

2006-08-12 10:44:49 am

I have no solution, but i admire the problem.

I've also thought about doing a THPS4 run and about where it would end.. and i think it's possible that you can just let it end after the professional goal of one skater, because that's the last "big" thing you unlock, just as the videos in tokio in THPS3.

I'm telling you this because i think that a 100% run takes a lot of target- and route planning away. And there are some targets that are really slow in comparison to others.

Well, a 100% run would be ok, too, if there is no way of doing an any% run. Anyways, you have my support. Tell me if you need information on the speed of all the targets in the first level Wink

TheAmazingJordo

Edit history:

TheAmazingJordo: 2006-08-12 11:56:18 pm

2006-08-12 11:54:14 pm

THPS1 Master

A run for any THPS 100% to me is All Goals complete on 1 single character, no bonus money, no extra maps if unlocked, just once every single goal is complete its beat. Nothing else.

Hexrapper

2006-08-13 05:32:59 am

TheVoid: I would presume all cash as well, yeah. That would also mean I could open up the other too levels (Carnival and Chicago) and run those for a 'true' 100% run. Would that be a mandatory thing (to unlock those too by purchasing them) or would it be a seperate catagory?

Zurreco: I saw that run too, I agree it was a great run (and I've only seen the older, worse (by a minute or something) version =P). However, THPS2 is very short in comparison to THPS4; there are 8 levels in THPS2, each with 10 goals and cash. There are 7 'main' levels in THPS4 (that are unlocked right off the hop), each with 16 goals (beginniner) and then another five after unlocking the expert ones. That's a lot of game-time in comparison, and I believe you have to skate up to each goal-giver to do the goal, too. It'd be quite a bit longer than a run for any other Hawk game 100%, really.

Cyberwrath: Yeah, some also take less time than others IIRC. Tony Hawk's I remember being very easy, as well as Bob Burnquist's. The CAS' one is pretty difficult at first, but I think it's the fastest one. I'd have to replay them all and see.

Sorcerer88: Yeah, I'd thought about that solution too. I think it'd be the only way to end an any %, really, but after when it shows that a lot of new goals have been unlocked, I think that'll leave the viewer with much to be desired ;>_>. Planning isn't a problem, and is actually my favorite part of the running process anyway. The more I think about this the more I think I want to do a 100% run.

Jordo: I'd love for everyone to think that, but it doesn't really equal '100%', which means 'everything', essentially, anyhow =P. There's already an aforementioned THPS2 100% run too that gets all cash, so I think a standard's already been set.

TheVoid: I would presume all cash as well, yeah. That would also mean I could open up the other too levels (Carnival and Chicago) and run those for a 'true' 100% run. Would that be a mandatory thing (to unlock those too by purchasing them) or would it be a seperate catagory?

Zurreco: I saw that run too, I agree it was a great run (and I've only seen the older, worse (by a minute or something) version =P). However, THPS2 is very short in comparison to THPS4; there are 8 levels in THPS2, each with 10 goals and cash. There are 7 'main' levels in THPS4 (that are unlocked right off the hop), each with 16 goals (beginniner) and then another five after unlocking the expert ones. That's a lot of game-time in comparison, and I believe you have to skate up to each goal-giver to do the goal, too. It'd be quite a bit longer than a run for any other Hawk game 100%, really.

Cyberwrath: Yeah, some also take less time than others IIRC. Tony Hawk's I remember being very easy, as well as Bob Burnquist's. The CAS' one is pretty difficult at first, but I think it's the fastest one. I'd have to replay them all and see.

Sorcerer88: Yeah, I'd thought about that solution too. I think it'd be the only way to end an any %, really, but after when it shows that a lot of new goals have been unlocked, I think that'll leave the viewer with much to be desired ;>_>. Planning isn't a problem, and is actually my favorite part of the running process anyway. The more I think about this the more I think I want to do a 100% run.

Jordo: I'd love for everyone to think that, but it doesn't really equal '100%', which means 'everything', essentially,  anyhow =P. There's already an aforementioned THPS2 100% run too that gets all cash, so I think a standard's already been set.

Cyberwrath

2006-08-13 06:58:34 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Actually I remember Bob's goal to be very frustrating b/c it was that giant loop at the zoo and I could never execute the button combo in time or something...

TheVoid

2006-08-13 08:08:59 am

I think it's quite difficult to determine what 100% really is.
According to my standards, 100% means 100%, which means collecting\completing everything that can be collected\completed Smiley

But some games show the percentage at the end and then it sometimes means that you don't have to get everything (Just look at the "GTA: San Andreas" thread for example, a guide explains there the stuff you need to do\get for a 100%, but in my opinion that's not 100% because you don't do\get everything Wink

).

Do those extra characters, which you can buy, also contain special goals (I can't remember)?

failurewarning

2006-08-13 10:11:29 am

no, they don't

i would also be interested in seeing a low % run on THPS4, as in you do 90 goals and the pro goal and thats it. might even giv e it a shot myself.

LLCoolDave

2006-08-13 01:52:46 pm

To me, the issue is quite simple. 100% simply means finishing all goals (there are 190 Total, aren't there? I already forgot) and collect all the money, which includes getting ALL the gaps. As that's kind of ridiculous, a more realistic approach for a run would be an all goals run, only getting enough money to open the last two levels (I think the money from the goals alone is more than enough to do that). An any% run should end when you get to see the credits for the first time: After beating your first pro specific goal, so a 91 goal run. A low% run could be one that doesn't upgrade player stats, though that seems kind of pointless to me.

Hexrapper

Edit history:

Hexrapper: 2006-08-13 03:22:31 pm

2006-08-13 03:21:52 pm

Cyberwrath: My brother had that same issue with Bob's, but I've never found any trouble in it >.>

failurewarning: Go for it. Multiple Hawk runs are a good thing =D

LLCoolDave: Getting all the gaps could probably be done with it. It'd be hell to do with some instances, but while ridiculous, it could make for a more entertaining run. It'd just take longer to do and would be more grueling to work on ;>_>

That said, I'm not really interested in doing all the gaps in the run right now =P. An all-goals run looks like an approach I'd like to take, so I think that's what I'll end up doing now. If other people agree with the notion, I'll get started when I get back from work after I leave in about an hour. I'll be messing around with the all-gaps thing too, just in case through the 'screwing around' step I realize that all gaps wouldn't be as difficult as thought >.>

Also: excuse the too-many spelling mistakes in my previous post, it was late at night and I was tired ;>_>

TheAmazingJordo

2006-08-13 05:45:10 pm

THPS1 Master

I've done Every Gap in THPS1, 2, and THAW, what fun that was. I don't think all Gaps should ever be in a run, too boring.

Hexrapper

2006-08-15 07:51:25 pm

Not so boring if they're worked into goals, though (which I admit not all can be).

I played College just now, I took my time to get to know things again and did all the goals (16 for the moment). It took me about ten minutes total, so if I played focused and made no errors I'm sure something around 5 or 4 minutes is possible. If I wanted to apply this basic blueprint time to all levels, the final time would be about 45 minutes (x2 for pro goals?) for an all goals run, excluding loading between levels and whatnot. Sub 2hr is definitely possible. Sub 1hr 1/2, maybe. Sub 1, I really doubt it.

What I'll basically be doing right now is just playing through and seeing what's what. I'm not keeping any save file (or even putting in a memory card when booting up), so each time I'll be playing through the same levels over and over again so that when I get to the next level for work on, I'll also be getting practise in the level beforehand. I'm also doing my best to look for tricks that can be used to my advantage. I found a cool glitch-like trick, but it's actually a bad thing for this run; it makes it so that you can't accept any goals from people =P. But knowing I found that out, I know I'm on the right track for finding out more (hopefully) useful tricks.

Not so boring if they're worked into goals, though (which I admit not all can be).

I played College just now, I took my time to get to know things again and did all the goals (16 for the moment). It took me about ten minutes total, so if I played focused and made no errors I'm sure something around 5 or 4 minutes is possible. If I wanted to apply this basic blueprint time to all levels, the final time would be about 45 minutes (x2 for pro goals?) for an all goals run, excluding loading between levels and whatnot. Sub 2hr is definitely possible. Sub 1hr 1/2, maybe. Sub 1, I really doubt it.

What I'll basically be doing right now is just playing through and seeing what's what. I'm not keeping any save file (or even putting in a memory card when booting up), so each time I'll be playing through the same levels over and over again so that when I get to the next level for work on, I'll also be getting practise in the level beforehand. I'm also doing my best to look for tricks that can be used to my advantage. I found a cool glitch-like trick, but it's actually a bad thing for this run; it makes it so that you can't accept any goals from people =P. But knowing I found that out, I know I'm on the right track for finding out more (hopefully) useful tricks.

coolcwer2

2006-08-25 12:16:14 am

.. I thought it was only for PSone! Oh... Well, I'd like to see the run anyway.

Hexrapper

2006-08-28 05:18:13 pm

Quote:

.. I thought it was only for PSone! Oh... Well, I'd like to see the run anyway.

Nope, it's on PS2 as well, along with THPS3 if you didn't already know =).

I've done some playing, and I'm leaning towards an Any % SS with CAS as my skater pick. I'm thinking CAS for several reasons;

- The McTwist special trick, which is extremely versatile and thus handy for speedrunning, if a little low on the points in comparison to other specials.

- Even stats. Makes life easier =P

- Easy Pro Goal that's also fast.

Another good alternative would be Eric Koston, though my main concern with him is his Pro Goal, which is hard to speed up. Here are two videos, one of the CAS pro goal (first video), one of Eric's (second video, and also note: I only do the first two rails of Eric's Pro Goal).

You'll notice that Eric's is essentially run at a controlled speed. I try to speed it up a little by doing some quick tricks at the start, and I could do a ton of jumping among the rail on the way down, but that would make balancing hell, if not impossible. The CAS Pro Goal is just a piece of cake, though.

I'd also like to know if this glitch would be acceptable in the run:

It just lets you do any air trick on the ground as one would do a manual. It's extremely helpful, allowing you to do special air tricks when points are quickly needed and there's no QP/HP in sight.

[quote].. I thought it was only for PSone! Oh... Well, I'd like to see the run anyway.[/quote]

Nope, it's on PS2 as well, along with THPS3 if you didn't already know =).

I've done some playing, and I'm leaning towards an Any % SS with CAS as my skater pick. I'm thinking CAS for several reasons;

- The McTwist special trick, which is extremely versatile and thus handy for speedrunning, if a little low on the points in comparison to other specials.

- Even stats. Makes life easier =P

- Easy Pro Goal that's also fast.

Another good alternative would be Eric Koston, though my main concern with him is his Pro Goal, which is hard to speed up. Here are two videos, one of the CAS pro goal (first video), one of Eric's (second video, and also note: I only do the first two rails of Eric's Pro Goal).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NueATjJvmAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vkzjtqsrG8

You'll notice that Eric's is essentially run at a controlled speed. I try to speed it up a little by doing some quick tricks at the start, and I could do a ton of jumping among the rail on the way down, but that would make balancing hell, if not impossible. The CAS Pro Goal is just a piece of cake, though.

I'd also like to know if this glitch would be acceptable in the run:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKWAY480arY

It just lets you do any air trick on the ground as one would do a manual. It's extremely helpful, allowing you to do special air tricks when points are quickly needed and there's no QP/HP in sight.

Heme

2006-08-28 05:38:15 pm

THUG2 \,,/

THPS4 is really good tony hawk game i think it's the one of best hawk game.
I got it for PS i really like it but i am not played that for PS2 i really wanna see your run good luck! Smiley

Hexrapper

2006-08-31 05:19:11 am

Thanks Heme. Believe me when I say that the PS2 version is infinitely better >_>. I've beaten both, the PS1 version was a bumbling swamp to work through in comparison to the bare, clean road that was the PS2 version =P.

That said, can people who'd watch the run give input on the things in the above message of mine? I don't want to start planning before that glitch is confirmed anyway, because I could use that in a lot of places to make many things much easier/faster (without using it the difference could be comparable to ignoring the spin glitch in the original THPS for N64).

TheVoid

2006-08-31 08:32:05 am

I think the glitch can be used.
Care to explain how to perform it? Smiley

As of the skater's choice, CAS would probably be better because just like you said, Eric Koston is a good alternative but CAS's Pro Goal is easier and faster Smiley

Maybe you could try to do 2 test runs and see which one goes faster?

coolcwer2

2006-08-31 03:18:31 pm

Yeah the psone version kinda sucked. one level had a purple sky. . ..

Oh and I heard it was for gamecube to! Shocked

Heme

2006-08-31 05:37:01 pm

THUG2 \,,/

Hmm...I think it can be maybe i think.That PS1 version of this game really sucks but i have now played that PS2 version with my friends i really like it Smiley

Hexrapper

2006-08-31 08:16:15 pm

The Tony Hawk games have pretty much covered every system. For example, THPS4 is on the following systems that I know of;

- PS1
- PS2
- GCN
- XBOX
- Tapwave Zodiac
- GBA

Before that, THPS3 could trade Tapwave for N64. Before that, Hawk 2 could trade PS2 and GCN for Dreamcast and GBC. They're all over the place =P.

To do the glitch, you double kickflip (or double-tap any flipm but I find kickflip easiest), then input the combination for the manual, and then before you actually land into manual quickly put in the combination for an air trick. After you exit the manual, the air trick will perform on-ground, and will allow you to link into another manual or whatever.

I'll do test runs just as soon as I get a plan done =P. I'm kinda disappointed at the lack of interest in the run, but if all here (all three of you =P) agree that the glitch is fine then I'll go ahead and plan for it.

Fulgore

2006-08-31 10:16:40 pm

A friend of mine has this game on GC. I think it is one of the better Tony Hawk games that I have played. I am not very good at it at all and have only played it a little, but from what I have watched of my friends, and attempted myself, some of the goals a very tricky to pull off first try. I would definately enjoy a run of THPS4. Do you think it would be easier to track down all of the goals in a level first and then start actually doing them or just complete them as you find them?

Jimmers

2006-09-01 03:10:20 am

Just wanted to let you know you now have at least 4 interested parties :). I own this game, and thoroughly enjoyed it, and would definitely enjoy a run of it :D.
Good luck!