If you were born in the 20th century, you probably couldn’t imagine your childhood gaming without Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater – a series that made every little gamer want a skateboard. We saw the success of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’s return with the 1+2 remake in 2020, and now it’s time for the sequels, 3 and 4, to get that much-needed coat of paint and introduce them to a brand new generation.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is fuelled by nostalgia, bringing your favourite maps to modern graphical standards. Just like the previous remake package, every aspect of this game feels refined, but not to the point where it loses the magic the original games had.
If you’re new to the series, in Career mode, you progress through a series of maps, unlocking the next one by completing a number of challenges set in each map. These challenges range from achieving high scores, interacting with specific people or objects in the map, or just reaching areas that are difficult to get to. The beauty of these challenges is that they require a strategic approach to accomplish them within the 2-minute time limit. You can also find Stat Points hidden throughout each map, which allows you to upgrade your Skater’s stats.
Playing through each map, it’s evident that some maps aren’t as well-designed as the last. While some feel more fluid in chaining tricks, others feel like the aesthetic took a higher priority when designing the level. This prompted me to focus on the challenges that didn’t require high scores, something that proved more challenging the more I progressed. That being said, the maps feel very varied, and I enjoyed discovering the secrets in each of them.
As you complete challenges and find collectibles, you will earn currency, which can be used to purchase cosmetics, ranging from your skateboard, apparel, and even skaters. There are 29 skaters unlocked from the beginning of Pro Skater 3+4, with additional ones to unlock through secret means.
If you are a returning player who wants to relive these games through their soundtrack, you may be disappointed. Eurogamer reported that only 10 of the 69 tracks in Pro Skater 3+4 have returned from the OG games. As someone who hadn’t played either of these games originally, I found the soundtrack still quite nostalgic, even with the newer featured artists present. The soundtrack remains ingrained in its punk rock, hip-hop, and metal roots, which fit the aesthetic perfectly.
Outside of Career Mode are Create a Park mode and Multiplayer mode. In Create a Park, you can design your own skate park however you like and even set challenges just like the ones in Career Mode. In Multiplayer mode, you can play locally split-screen with one other player, or up to seven other players online in a variety of modes.
The series of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater remakes feels warranted with each release. I’m a huge advocate for remaking old games to introduce them to both returning and newer audiences. This generation of gaming hasn’t seen much in the way of skating games. It’s brilliant bringing something new to the table, even if it is a dish we’ve eaten before.
TONY HAWK'S PRO SKATER 3+4 REVIEW
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 reheats the series’ nachos, bringing back both games with a fresh new coat of paint. Old fans and newcomers are sure to find this next slew of remakes just as entertaining as the last.
PROS
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Career Mode is fun and has so much replayability
- Character roster is decent
- New soundtrack, while omitting a lot of the original, still fits like a glove
- Feels refined, both graphically and mechanically
CONS
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A few map designs aren’t to the player’s favour
- Sometimes, 2 minutes just doesn’t feel like enough time
Reviewed on PS5. A review code was provided by the Publisher for purposes of this review.
