Why are these games so fun?

Because they didn't take themselves seriously. It's why THPS + THUG were peak. American Wasteland is where the forumula got stale, it was always going to happen at some point. Then after AW, they just produced souless boring shit.

>>712764734 (OP)
Because these were video games made people developers knew they were video games.

>>712765234
Wanna try that again?

Someone start singing

>>712764734 (OP)
They're the best action platformers ever made.

Tight responsive controls with a low barrier to entry. Gameplay maximalism. Well designed levels that encourage replaying.

>>712765328
Yes actually.

Because these were video games made developers who knew they were making video games.

>>712765959
Man, every time I replay the old THPSs, regardless of game or platform I cannot believe how fucking tight the controls are. Even in 1 and 2 when you're sitting in one spot trying to spin around because 3's "hold down to stand in place" isn't there yet, just moving around is always so goddamn smooth and the amount of magnetism on rails, ramp edges, etc. is juuuuuust right and none of the remasters or remakes get it quite right and I don't understand why. Also ridiculously satisfying sound effects for everything.

>>712764734 (OP)
They were simply MADE to be fun. I don't know what Tony was smoking when he thought the downhill jam was the way to go and not what we actually got.

>>712766071
The sound effects are a huge part of it imo. They're not right in the remakes.

>>712766471
they try to make it all sound more realistic but it just comes off as muffled. the original sounds- i say original but there's a couple different versions through the Neversoft games but they all sound similar enough to count- are always sharp, punch, and identifiable even over whatever bangin' soundtrack they included in a given game, which is an accomplishment in itself (to quote: it's louder than a metallica concert in there!). you get immediate audio feedback for everything from just an ollie to reverts, kiss the rail DINGs, the separate on-rail, grind, and off-rail sounds, and it lets you stay focused on the character and balance meter visually while your ears do the work of 'hit confirming' what you're inputting without having to look at the trick list at the bottom. and of course the standout special trick Windows beep that's so iconic, the 2/3/4 goal complete sounds, even just the ticks and tacks of menu navigation

>>712766071
Sound design is probably the most underrated part of game design. It's a big part of why games like the DICE Battlefield games felt so good. Or why more recent games like Darktide feel so good to just shoot shit.

It's also a good signal for a game that's probably not going to be very good when it's seemingly largely ignored by the developer.

>>712766836
also, with the sound effects being so punchy and unique, they come through clear even playing on an old-ass CRT with a PS1 hooked up. they're that identifiable. one thing i always remember is in that furry walking sim, night in the woods, at one point there's a character playing a game on a TV and without even seeing the screen and only hearing a 10 second loop of off-brand ska and "that one board scrap sound effect and kissed-the-rail ping," you can immediately tell it's THPS and that's fucking great

Arcade style games are simply superior in every way, always have been and always will be

>>712764734 (OP)
Its was made in a time when white people made videogames instead of jews and other dei niggers idnians and women.

>>712766836
The crunchiness of the original sound effects is actually a strength, they're loud, and they all cut straight through the music without drowning it out, except for the Special Sting, which is specially designed to grab your attention. You get obvious feedback for absolutely every action you take. The ollie is loud and clear, grinding has a small slate of satisfying sounds of its own, and the sound of your combo clicking upwards is almost visceral, akin to the stimuli that make gambling addicts of people. Then, if you fuck up. You get a painful, meaty sound and you get a moment to experience the impact your character is feeling before resetting back on your board.

It's a very precise balance that gets ruined by making choices which are technically, superficially better. But they contribute to an overall diminished effect nonetheless.

Hyped for 3+4 bros

>>712764734 (OP)
Simply put, fun gameplay + great soundtrack.

>>712764734 (OP)
They have refined gameplay systems with clearly defined rules and goals focused on rewarding player creativity and decisionmaking. Even the format is perfect, the golden standard of what a video game can and should be.

>>712768384
It doesn't even bother me that 4 doesn't have the full mission based Career. A lot of it was never even good. Doing it this way has cut out all the fat.

>>712769103
It's a shame they also cut the soundtrack though. 4's at least is basically non-existent on 3+4, while 3's is basically all in.

apparently they aren't, since the gente died out as soon as the skating fad died

YFW THUG 1 and 2 Remaster is announced Both will be missing their career modes

>>712772976
I couldn't even finish THUG1, so I'd probably buy it.

>>712771118
3's was better anyway, another good design decision

>>712771118
The fact that they don't even have GOLDFINGER of all bands is extremely curious to me