Title:  Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Publisher:  Activision O2(2001)
Platform:  PlayStation 2(buy one, bitch)
File under:  Skateboarding on speed.
As cool as:  Nailing one of Barker's Beauties backstage at "The Price is Right" after winning $10,000 on Plinko.
Score: 10
 
You heard right, this game is one cool cat.  One might figure that after two incarnations of the same idea (THPS 1&2), the series might be a bit played out.  Bull tits.  Rambo did it thrice, and I hear Arnold's gonna give it another try in Terminator 3, so why not Tony Hawk?  Obviously, there must be something new about this game that gives you even more of a sore thumb than the last two versions, right?  Yesiree.  All the usual shit has improved(graphics, sound, etc), but the real kicker here is the introduction of on-line play, not just to the series, but to the PS2 in general.  That's right, now you can take your mad (or sad) skills on-line and play against other nerds.  Better yet, it's free.  You just need the right kind of modem connection and your up and running.  The levels are better, the tricks are crazier, and the combos are even more mammoth than before.  I damn near landed a trick worth 1,000,000 points.  Instead of landing it, I crashed and left a bloody smear behind me, slammed the controller on the floor, and said "Aw, fooey!".  This game might have you cussin' like a sailor as you get too greedy and blow those money combo's, but it'll also have you wasting your life away two minutes at a time(with a dumb grin on your face) and soaking your hands as much as MJ soaks his ankles.

Mr. Pickles says:  Play this game, don't rent it.  If you rent it, I can almost gaurantee a late fee.  Late fees suck