Whatever your thoughts on Activision, it’s no doubt that their shady DLC practices are only surpassed by Capcom. On July 18th they will be releasing Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD, which will combine aspects of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 and 2 into a single HD package. This sounds great as the originals are some of the best in the series. However, the nostalgia is where the greatness ends as paid DLC is headed to game as well.
According to Joystiq, a few weeks after Tony Hawk HD is released, Activision will be releasing a small batch of DLC for the game. In typical Activision fashion, this DLC will be a map pack wit ha small twist. For $5, you will receive three maps from the third entry in the franchise as well as the revert, a mechanic introduced in the third game. That’s right, folks, DLC has come down to the point where you are buying a new gameplay mechanic.
To add salt to the wound, the revert will only be usable in the DLC levels. Activision has stated that this is because the original levels weren’t designed with the revert mechanic in mind. While I certainly understand this, why not include the option to enable the revert for classic levels? Not only would this make the DLC not be useless, but it would allow purists to be able to play the originals in the way they were intended.
Update: It seems I was mistaken. The revert will be useable in the classic levels but it won’t continue your combos. Despite this, I still feel it’s crossing the line to charge for a new gameplay mechanic.
Um, what? The revert was first introduced in THPS3. The original two didn’t have it, and therefore the levels weren’t designed with the revert in mind, unlike THPS3.
The author of this article is clueless about THPS, the revert is in fact available in the normal game, but it is only part of combos in THPS3 which is why it will only work as part of combos in THPS3 levels. And it is a very reasonable price for the game anyway and the DLC is dirt cheap. I have no problem with anything they are doing and I don’t see why anyone would.
Updated! Every article I had looked into when I first wrote this had said the revert wasn’t useable in the base levels. My apologies for the mistake!