The highly anticipated return of skateboarding legends in Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater 3 + 4 brings back classic levels, smooth tricks, and, as it turns out, some truly unexpected humor. Players diving into the digital streets of the remastered collection, particularly those with early access via the Digital Deluxe Edition, have stumbled upon a peculiar audio anomaly that`s less about lost luggage and more about a certain absorbent, yellow friend.
To catch this oddity, you need to navigate to the sprawling Airport level, pulled directly from the Tony Hawk`s Pro Skater 3 portion of the remastered collection. Once your board hits the tarmac and skateable surfaces, the key is to pay less attention to nailing perfect grinds and flips and more to the ubiquitous background noise – specifically, the public address system announcements. Airports are notoriously known for their typically dull, functional PA messages, but this particular announcement offers a moment of pure, unadulterated silliness.
Amidst the usual calls for passengers, updates on delays, and gate changes, keep your ears keenly peeled. You might hear a distinct, official-sounding voice deliver a rather specific, and frankly, quite bizarre message directed at a motorist: “The driver of a white sedan, you left your lights on.“
Now, if that sentence rings a bell, congratulations, you`re likely a connoisseur of classic animated television. This isn`t just a random, mundane airport mishap intended for ambient noise. It`s a thinly veiled reference to the iconic SpongeBob SquarePants episode, “Band Geeks.” The original line, delivered by the lovable, if conceptually simple, Patrick Star, occurs during a chaotic pre-performance sequence for the Bubble Bowl halftime show. Patrick, having been subjected to a rather brutal (in a purely comedic, cartoon physics sense) beating that culminates in him being shoved head-first into a trombone, dizzily points towards a white sedan and utters this very line as a complete non-sequitur. It`s a moment of pure, absurd humor that has resonated with fans and achieved meme status.
The developers behind the remake, Iron Galaxy and publisher Activision, have clearly demonstrated a certain… affection for Bikini Bottom. This audio cue, slightly altered perhaps for the delivery style of an official airport announcer or just as a subtle tweak, is a direct, unmistakable nod to that unforgettable scene. It joins other, more overt SpongeBob references already known to be included in the game, such as the presence of a whole *Bikini Bottom* themed level, confirming that this audio easter egg isn`t a random occurrence; it`s deliberate fan service designed to delight players who share the developers` particular sense of humor and nostalgia.
Finding such a specific, niche pop culture reference tucked away in a background audio loop of a skateboarding game is a testament to the developers` attention to detail and willingness to inject a bit of playful absurdity into the environment. While your in-game skater might suffer spectacular, ragdoll-physics-assisted bails down stair sets, thankfully, none of them involve being forcibly inserted into a brass instrument, maintaining a slight degree of realism compared to the cartoon source material. It`s these small, unexpected easter eggs that make re-exploring familiar digital spaces feel fresh and rewarding, adding a delightful layer of fun beyond the core objective of landing that perfect 900 for players who appreciate a good, hidden reference.
Callum Darby