Review: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4

Developer – Iron Galaxy Studios

Publisher – Activision

Platforms – PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PS4, PS5 (Reviewed)

Review copy given by publisher

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is a vibrant return to the golden era of skateboarding, delivering both a nostalgic rush and a modern technical refresh. I remember as a kid I always wanted to learn how to skateboard in real life. How cool would it be to do an olly, and wear Vans at the same time. Pro Skater 3 + 4 is not so much a narrative-driven experience as it is a celebration of arcadey mastery, but its campaign structure and objectives still weave a loose story of skate culture, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of high scores. 

Every level is a playground, where you can chain together grinds, manuals, and aerial tricks at your own leisure. The controls are exceptionally tight and responsive, making even the most complex combos feel attainable with enough practice. I really appreciate that Tony Hawk himself guides you through a robust tutorial system, making the game more approachable for newcomers and returning fans.

At the heart of the experience is the classic two minute run format, where you attempt to complete as many goals and rack up as many points as possible before the timer runs out. Each level is packed with challenges like collecting skate letters, finding hidden tapes, achieving high scores, and performing specific tricks at designated spots. The game encourages replayability, as mastering each park’s layout and uncovering its secrets often takes multiple attempts. But, the campaign for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 that originally featured an open-ended mission structure, allowing you to freely explore levels and tackle objectives at your own pace, has been removed in the remaster. Why?!

Tricks are executed with crisp, responsive inputs. Flip tricks are performed by pressing the flip button in combination with directional inputs, while grinds are triggered with the triangle button on a PS5 controller. The camera does get a bit wonky and takes a while to get used to though. The game rewards experimentation with button combinations, allowing for a wide variety of moves, including advanced double flips, grind transitions, and flatground tricks. Nonetheless, there is a bit of a learning curve before you get the hang of things.

As you play, you unlock new levels by completing a set number of objectives in the current park. This structure pushes you to improve your skills and experiment with different skaters and trick combinations. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 includes 9 parks such as Tokyo and Airport whereas Pro Skater 4 includes 7 parks such as San Francisco and Zoo. The remaster introduces three brand new parks: Waterpark, Movie Studio, and Pinball, which are unlocked as you progress through the tours.

Progression is not limited to unlocking new parks. You also earn stat points by completing specific challenges, which can be used to enhance your skater’s abilities such as speed, balance, and jump height. This way you can tailor your favorite skater to your preferred playstyle, whether you like to perform technical grinds or big-air tricks.

The remasters also expand on customization through the Create-A-Skater and Create-A-Park modes. As you play, you unlock new gear, apparel, and park elements, providing a steady stream of rewards that incentivize continued play. There’s also new game plus mode that allows you to replay parks with retained stats and progress so there’s plenty of gameplay here.

When you’re bored of the single player content, the game also features online multiplayer features such as Free Skate and competitive modes. Free Skate is exactly what it sounds like, where you get to hang out and explore parks with friends in a relaxed, untimed environment, perfect for practicing lines or just enjoying the game’s atmosphere together.

The competitive modes include classics like Trick Attack, Score Challenge, Combo Mambo, Combo Challenge, and Graffiti. Thankfully there is cross-platform multiplayer allowing up to 8 people to skate together, regardless of whether they’re on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, or PC! But did you also know there’s local split screen cooperative play? That’s a win right there.

On a base PS5, the game boasts a consistently smooth 60 frames per second, with high-resolution textures. The environments are not only more detailed but also more dynamic, with enhanced effects like rain, snow, and destructible features. However, the visual models for skaters, while improved, sometimes lack the authenticity and personality of their real life counterparts, and the limited customization options for classic skaters are a little disappointing.

Visually, the remaster looks great compared to the original 2001 and 2002 games. The lighting is crisp, the colors are bold, and the environmental effects breathe new life into familiar parks. The graphical overhaul manages to capture the spirit of the originals while elevating them to modern expectations. 

The audio experience is a double-edged sword. The board clacks, grinds, and the satisfying thud of a perfect landing are as punchy as ever, and the option to customize the soundscape is a welcome touch. However, the soundtrack, a crucial element of the Tony Hawk legacy, is where the collection falters. A significant portion of the original games’ iconic soundtracks is missing. The original Tony Hawk titles were celebrated for their memorable song selections, which became synonymous with the skateboarding culture of that era. In this remaster, licensing issues have resulted in the exclusion of many classic tracks, which is unfortunate to say the least.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is a content rich package that delivers hours of addictive gameplay and arcadey old school fun. Its technical polish, responsive controls, and lovingly recreated levels make it an essential experience for both veterans and newcomers. Yet, the mishandling of Pro Skater 4’s campaign and the gutted soundtrack prevent it from achieving true greatness.