Review: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (PS5)

A few years prior, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 rejuvenated the legendary skateboarding franchise in outstanding fashion, delivering the first two titles reimagined and consolidated into a single package.

It proved to be so triumphant in its objectives that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 essentially follows the identical model. Although the final product is yet another remarkable arcade skating endeavor, modifications to the latter game specifically hinder it from being the guaranteed success it ought to have been.

However, before diving into that, let’s discuss what is presented. THPS 3 + 4 employs the same technology and architecture as the earlier remake collection, merging the third and fourth entries of the series into a unified experience.

The positive aspect is that it feels indistinguishable from its predecessor, ensuring that it remains incredibly smooth and responsive to navigate. It might take a few attempts to shake off the cobwebs, as these are high-speed games that require you to effectively utilize the tools at your disposal. Nonetheless, once you’ve warmed up, playing feels as enjoyable as it ever has in the series.

3 + 4 also appears stunning and performs excellently on PS5. An unwavering 60 frames-per-second is prioritized over maximum graphical fidelity, but that doesn’t imply this is an unattractive game; the environments look especially impressive.

While still recognizable for nostalgic enthusiasts, every level has undergone an impressive makeover that revitalizes their appearance, and the outcomes are predominantly excellent. A few of our favorite visually striking stages are Tokyo, London, San Francisco, and Canada, but every locale displays beautiful image clarity throughout.

Developer Iron Galaxy faced a challenging task in merging the two games into a cohesive experience. While the first two titles shared considerable structural similarities, 3 + 4 does not possess the same advantage, resulting in more alterations this time around to facilitate their integration.

Throughout both titles is a consistent approach to objectives and competitive stages, and while THPS3 remains largely unaffected, THPS4’s tour has significantly diverged from what you might recall from the PS2 classic.

The most significant alteration is that THPS4 adheres to the timed runs structure prevalent in previous titles. The original embraced a more freeform setup; you could initiate specific goals at your convenience, and levels were larger, designed for exploration without a timer.

In this remake, the levels have been modified to comply with THPS3’s timer. While this results in a more uniform game overall, it sacrifices the original’s intent. Nostalgic fans of THPS4’s career mode may feel let down by this change that seems somewhat heavy-handed.

Moreover, Kona and Zoo have been transformed into competitive levels. Unlike standard stages, these forgo objectives in favor of minute-long heats in which you must score as highly as possible. Consequently, they lack all their original goals. Carnival and Chicago are entirely omitted, though they were more akin to bonus stages and not precisely crowd favorites, so this isn’t a tremendous loss.

What may irritate some more than the absence of stages is the soundtrack, featuring only a limited selection of songs from the original 3 and 4. The bulk of music from those classic soundtracks is absent, replaced by new tracks. What remains at least captures the right vibe, but once again, fans of the original games may be displeased that this remake doesn’t quite echo their experience.

While all of this might seem like adverse news, THPS4’s levels continue to be a delight to navigate, even with the timer imposed. Several objectives from the original game remain intact, while others have been relocated to Pro goals, which unlock after completing both campaigns, ensuring you’re still getting the bulk of what you would desire. It is unfortunate that 4 couldn’t be recreated without significant modifications, but what is present is still enjoyable to race through.

A trio of brand new stages rounds out THPS4’s career — Movie Studio, Waterpark, and Pinball. The first is a competitive level, while the latter two are your standard stages with objectives and similar features.

Each of them represents strong Tony Hawk levels, complete with engaging themes and layouts that mesh seamlessly, feeling like natural complements to all the classic levels you remember.

On top of that, there are hundreds of additional challenges for the most dedicated skaters, along with numerous customization options and an extensive roster of professional skaters to choose from. It features all your past favorites like Rodney Mullen, Bob Burnquist, and indeed, Bam Margera, while also welcoming a younger generation.

New additions like Chloe Covell, Rayssa Leal, and Yuto Horigome are excellent newcomers to the series, and alongside the new stages, they indicate a desire from Iron Galaxy to look forward as well as back.

There are clever enhancements to other elements of the game as well. Create-A-Park now includes custom goals you can establish, enabling you to add specific objectives to your own levels. It’s arguably the most comprehensive level editor the series has ever offered, so if you’re inclined towards that aspect of Tony Hawk, you’ll find ample fulfillment here.

Online multiplayer remains largely the same as 1 + 2, but there’s an additional mode — HAWK. Again, it’s a wonderful addition; the initial phase involves hiding the letters that spell out HAWK, and then you must search for the letters your opponents have concealed. It’s an enjoyable new mode that rewards knowledge of the map and exploration.

Conclusion

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is yet another exceptional skateboarding title that revives some timeless classics, although with some caveats. It’s unfortunate that 4 couldn’t be restored more faithfully, but what is offered still contributes to a fun arcade skating experience that devotees of the series ought not to overlook — particularly in light of the brand new stages and other intriguing surprises. It may not stand as the ultimate remake, but it further demonstrates that there’s still vitality in this enduring series.