Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater remains one of the most iconic skateboarding game series of all time. First debuting in 1999 on the original PlayStation, it became a nostalgic staple for millions of players worldwide. The series saw a major revival with the 2020 release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, a critically acclaimed remake that set a high bar for what fans could expect from modernized classics. Now, Activision returns with a remake of the third and fourth installments—Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. But does this new release deliver an equally compelling experience? Let’s find out in our full Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Review.
Game Content and Features
The first remake was developed by Vicarious Visions and included the original two titles from 1999 and 2000. It scored high with both critics (89) and players (8.5). This time around, the job was handed to Iron Galaxy, who took over the third and fourth entries after their initial cancellation. In this review, we explore whether they managed to meet expectations.
Upon entering the game, you’ll find that THPS 3 and 4 are presented separately in terms of maps. However, the overall experience is unified—shared in-game currency, characters, and skills are consistent across both titles and the multiplayer mode. Still, each skater’s progression is independent.
The game features a total of 17 stages: 8 from THPS 3 and 9 from THPS 4. These include both redesigned classics and brand-new levels. Players can also create their own custom parks via the revamped Create-A-Park mode, which now supports objectives and challenges, not just map layouts.
Level Design and Variety
Level settings are diverse—ranging from urban environments like San Francisco to factories, snowy areas, and more. This wide range guarantees a fresh feel for every stage.
There are two primary modes: a solo Career Mode featuring all 17 levels, and Multiplayer Mode, which includes three main game types:
- HAWK: Hide letters for others to find.
- Competitive: Various classic competition formats.
- Free Skate: Freeroam mode with up to 7 other players.
Multiplayer is enjoyable and varied, although it lacks a map voting system—an odd omission compared to titles like Call of Duty, which may irritate some players.
Skaters and Customization
The game offers over 30 skaters, including new additions like Chloe Covell and Yuto Horigome. Returning legends such as Bam Margera can be unlocked through in-game currency via the Secrets shop.
Each skater features unique stats and specialties, such as Vert or Street, and players can also create a fully customized skater, including their board, outfit, and attributes.
Addictive Gameplay and Realism
The game is fully focused on skateboarding mechanics, with strong emphasis on balance and combo execution. Fortunately, tutorials are available for newcomers. The realism is notable—every trick requires manual balance using the analog stick.
To ease the challenge, Game Modes (essentially cheat codes) allow for toggling unlimited balance or extended level timers (up to 60 minutes), though these are disabled in multiplayer.
Gameplay centers on score-building through trick combos and completing objectives like collecting the SKATE letters or performing specific tricks in designated zones. Unfortunately, a key feature from the original THPS 3—character-specific objectives—is missing here, which reduces replayability and disappoints long-time fans.
THPS 4 Changes and Design Decisions
The THPS 4 remake diverges notably from the original 2002 version. Instead of offering open-world exploration and NPC-driven quests, this version adopts the traditional 2-minute timed challenge format. While still enjoyable, this design change strips THPS 4 of its unique identity.
Despite this, the levels remain compelling and encourage replaying. The core gameplay remains addictive, especially due to the smooth mechanics and variety of objectives.
However, the remake omits or alters several original elements—such as animal interactions in the Zoo level—which have been replaced with competitive rounds, diminishing the richness of the original experience.
Visuals, Audio, and Technical Performance
Visually, THPS 3 + 4 delivers a major upgrade over the early 2000s originals. Environments have been redesigned with sharp detail, 4K resolution, ray tracing, and improved shadows. Highlights include the molten metal flows in Foundry and the golden sunsets of San Francisco.
New stages like Movie Studio and Waterpark showcase inventive themes—complete with movie backdrops and water rides you can skate on.
Performance is excellent. Across dozens of hours, we encountered virtually no glitches or frame drops. The game runs at 60fps in Quality Mode and up to 120fps in Performance Mode (with a compatible 120Hz display).
Sound design is strong, from the clatter of wheels to ambient environmental effects. The soundtrack includes 59 tracks—10 of which are classic songs from THPS 3 and 4. While this may disappoint some, especially those hoping for more nostalgia, the new additions are well-curated.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Review Final Verdict
Despite a few missteps, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is one of the most enjoyable and addictive skating games in recent memory. It’s not as groundbreaking as the previous remake, but it remains a must-play for fans of the genre and long-time followers of the series.
Dont forget to check:
