I played this version over the vanilla THPS2 because I figured this would have the best engine and most content, and I was indeed right. This game not only includes the entirety of THPS2 in the THPS3 engine but also includes all the maps from THPS1 as well to just make this game have a ton of content and things to do. There are even unique bonus stages that are cool. This game introduces manuals to the gameplay formula, and they do so much to make the game more freeform that it basically makes it impossible to go back to the first game. You can now continue your combos literally anywhere as long as there is a short enough distance between your next rail/ramp to keep your manual going for. The new levels are also pretty well designed though I do think some of them are a bit too big and prefer the THPS1 levels overall. The soundtrack is also a step down from game 1 imo. Despite those minor setbacks the gameplay improvements are so vast that this game is still absolutely worth playing and better than the first game.

Reviewed on Mar 16, 2023


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