I remember really enjoying some Tony Hawk games on the PC back in the day (I don't remember which specific game), and I thought since my girlfriend has got a PS3 now I might get her something like that. From memory, it seems like something she might enjoy (or quite possibly something we both might enjoy together). Fact is, I'm really disconnected with the franchise, so I'd like to hear from you guys first which PS3 installment of Tony Hawk's you think is the best, just to get a rough idea.

Edit: Oh yeah, in case it matters, online play is not really a consideration here.

I don't know much about the series either, but whatever you do, stay away from Ride and Shred.

Um....

Skate 3?

I didn't even know people played Tony Hawk ever since Skate came out

It's not super great, but Tony Hawk Project 8, is decent.  It's at least better than American Wasteland, which is an abortion.  It doesn't do anything super well, but is just nostalgic enough to "kind of" pull it off.  Honestly, ANY of the Skate series is probably better.  It's harder/more realistic, but less focused on dumb shit that the Hawk series got tied up in.  Project 8 (PS3 version) doesn't have online play, but considering that your girlfriend has a PS3, that's not a huge issue anymore.

EDIT:  Scratch that, American Wasteland never came to the PS3.  So, you're stuck with Project 8, Ride, or Shred.  Between those  3, it's ZERO contest.  But, like I said, any of the Skate games are miles better.

Also, totally forgot about Proving Grounds.  That should tell you something about the declining quality of the Tony Hawk games.

Project 8 is a great Tony Hawk game. Do not, I repeat, Do not get Proving Grounds. That game is ridiculously broken.

If I were you I'd just get Skate 2 or 3. The Tony Hawk games are not what they used to be.

Buy an old copy of Pro Skater 3 and play in TNT tonight, you'll end up with a better game anyway.

You just have 2 real options here, and that's Project 8 and Proving Grounds. I enjoyed Project 8 more, but it might be just because I hadn't played Skate by then. Proving Grounds bored me almost instantly. Project 8 has a bit more charm to it, I think.

get skate, tony hawk sucks since THPS3

The last one I had a lot of fun with was Project 8. I haven't played anything else past that in the TH franchise.

" If I were you I'd just get Skate 2 or 3. The Tony Hawk games are not what they used to be.

Edit: So says Mr. Stewart

"

Yeah, unfortunately the Tony Hawk games haven't been good since the PS1/PS2 era entries. Is it a backwards compatible PS3 by chance?

Project 8 is the best Tony Hawk game besides 3, so get that. Proving Ground cranked up the difficulty level and isn't as good either.

the tony hawk games for the ps2 are the best for me. i have a ps3 and a big fan of the old tony hawk games (thps/thug/thaw) but right now they sort of declined. or even disappeared. i also didnt like proving grounds, it was sad.

The predominant opinion seems to be that Tony Hawk has declined in quality of late. I wasn't aware of that. I've never heard of Skate, but if it's that much better than Tony Hawk, I should probably go for that instead. Doesn't have to be Tony Hawk, I just happened to have good memories associated with that name.

@SuperfluousMoniker said:

" Yeah, unfortunately the Tony Hawk games haven't been good since the PS1/PS2 era entries. Is it a backwards compatible PS3 by chance? "

I like the Skate series as much as the next guy, but recommending it is like recommending Gran Turismo to a guy asking which Mario Kart to get.

project 8 was the last one i enjoyed, 4 is still the best though.

the first skate is also good, i didn't enjoy 2 or 3 as much

skate is really different, there's less of a focus on mashing out billion point combos that are hundreds of tricks long, and more focus on the skill in more realistic skating. you turn with the left stick, push with square/x, and the right stick controls the board. it just feels really good and is a nice change of pace for how insane the later tony hawk games got.

The correct answer, is Skate 2, yeah there is a Skate 3 but trust me, Skate 2 is the far superior game and you'll find it cheaper

" skate is really different, there's less of a focus on mashing out billion point combos that are hundreds of tricks long, and more focus on the skill in more realistic skating. "

@BombKareshi:

Dude get any of the skate games, miles better than the shit fest tony hawk is now. You won't regret the choice.