In a surprising turn of events, the developers of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 have been left investigating a mysterious Easter egg in the remake that some fans believe references the long-gone Guitar Hero series. This ‘Easter egg,’ which appeared shortly after the game’s release, was spotted on the new Waterpark level of the game.
It features what appears to be a boxed copy of a game called ‘Banjo Champion,’ which some players have noted looks suspiciously like the Guitar Hero game box, albeit with a slightly altered name.
The addition is puzzling for several reasons. First, the Guitar Hero franchise was originally developed by Neversoft, the same studio that created the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games. As fans began speculating whether the presence of ‘Banjo Champion’ was a subtle jab at the Guitar Hero franchise or a lighthearted Easter egg, the game’s developer, Iron Galaxy, issued a statement clarifying the situation. They assured players that they had ‘the utmost respect for anyone who makes games’ and promised to investigate how the reference found its way into the game. They also confirmed that the box would be removed in a future update.
Interestingly, ‘Banjo Champion’ references have appeared before, dating back to the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 remake, released five years ago. Whether this is a long-running joke among the developers or just an Easter egg that didn’t land as intended, players have had mixed reactions. While some have seen it as a harmless joke, others have called it a ‘benign’ addition that isn’t worth over-analyzing. However, not all fans are impressed. Some believe that the inclusion of the reference tarnishes the legacy of both the Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk series.
Despite the controversy, many players are still enjoying the game, with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 being widely praised for its faithful recreation of the Pro Skater 1+2 remake. The game maintains the same nostalgic charm while refining its design and atmosphere. Whether or not the ‘Banjo Champion’ Easter egg will be remembered as a quirky moment in gaming history remains to be seen.
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