Review: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (PS5) – An Imperfect Remake, But a Great Skateboarding Game

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Recently, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 reintroduced the classic skateboarding franchise with a polished touch, combining remakes of the initial two games into a single collection.

The original versions of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 followed almost identical designs because they were so effective at achieving their goals. However, certain modifications made to the sequel slightly detracted from what could have been a perfect follow-up in the arcade skating genre.

Before we dive deeper, let’s discuss what this new package offers. The THPS 3 and 4 combo utilizes the same technology and structure as the earlier remake series. It brings together the third and fourth installments of the franchise into a single game.

As a fan, I’m thrilled to share that it feels just like its predecessor, offering an incredibly smooth and responsive gaming experience. After a couple of warm-up sessions to shake off the initial rust, these fast-paced games demand your full engagement with their tools. But once you’re warmed up, let me tell you, it’s as enjoyable to play as the series has ever been!

On my PS5, the combination of 3 plus 4 performs beautifully and smoothly, maintaining a steady 60 frames per second. While the focus is on delivering a smooth gameplay experience over the most visually stunning graphics, let me tell you, the environments in this game are nothing short of impressive!

Refreshed with a modern touch while maintaining familiarity for nostalgic fans, each stage underwent an impressive makeover that gives them a fresh new look, and the outcomes are generally excellent. Among our preferred stages visually are Tokyo, London, San Francisco, and Canada, but every level boasts an attractive design with high-quality graphics throughout.

As a passionate admirer, I must say, Iron Galaxy had an enormous task on their hands when they set out to merge these two epic games into one seamless experience. While the first duo shared a similar structural foundation, the third and fourth installments didn’t enjoy that luxury. Consequently, we see more transformative changes in this iteration to ensure a harmonious blend of the games.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve noticed that both versions of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater share a similar approach when it comes to objectives and competition levels. However, if you think back to the iconic PS2 version of THPS4, you might be surprised to find that its tour is quite distinct from what you remember.

In contrast to its predecessors, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 follows a structured timed run approach, while the original game offered a more open-ended, freeform structure. In the original, you could activate goals whenever you wanted, and the levels were expansive, allowing for exploration without time constraints.

In this revamped version, the time limits are adjusted to match those in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. While this makes the game feel more seamless as a whole, it may disappoint fans who cherish the career mode of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, as this change could be seen as overly forceful and not faithful to the original game’s spirit.

To elaborate, Kona and Zoo have been transformed into competitive modes instead of standard stages. Unlike typical stages, these do not feature goals; instead, they consist of short, one-minute heats where the aim is to achieve the highest score possible. This change results in these areas no longer having any goals as they originally did. Carnival and Chicago are omitted entirely, though they were more akin to bonus stages and not particularly popular levels, so their absence isn’t significantly impactful.

As a dedicated fan, I must admit that one aspect of this remake that might rub some of us the wrong way is the soundtrack. Instead of featuring a vast majority of the iconic songs from the original versions 3 and 4, it primarily includes just a few tunes. It’s not that the existing tracks don’t capture the right atmosphere; they do, but true fans of the classic games might feel let down because this remake doesn’t fully mirror our cherished musical experiences from those games.

Despite the seemingly disappointing aspects, such as the timer, the levels in THPS4 continue to be enjoyable to navigate. Many objectives from the original game are preserved, while some have been moved to Pro goals, which can be unlocked after finishing both campaigns. Consequently, you’ll find most of what you’d expect is still present. It’s regrettable that THPS4 couldn’t undergo a complete remake without significant alterations, but the experience remains entertaining to play through.

In THPS4’s career, three fresh levels have been added: Movie Studio, Waterpark, and Pinball. The first one is a competitive level, while the latter two function as usual stages with objectives and such.

The Tony Hawk levels are incredibly powerful, boasting enjoyable themes and designs that fit seamlessly, giving the impression they belong naturally among the classic stages you recall.

On top are numerous extra hurdles for the most passionate skaters, along with plenty of customization possibilities and a vast array of professional skaters to select from. It encompasses your classic champions such as Rodney Mullen, Bob Burnquist, and indeed Bam Margera, but also caters to a new generation.

Chloe Covell, Rayssa Leal, and Yuto Horigome are impressive fresh faces in the series, and together with the newly introduced levels, they reflect Iron Galaxy’s ambition to move forward while still honoring their past.

In addition to enhancing other game elements, Create-A-Park now offers personalized goals that you can set. This means you can establish objectives for your custom levels. It’s one of the most comprehensive level editors in the series, so if you enjoy the creative aspect of Tony Hawk’s games, this should be right up your alley.

In essence, online multiplayer gaming is quite similar to playing with two players, but there’s an exciting new twist: a game mode called HAWK has been introduced. To start, you hide the letters of HAWK, followed by finding the letters your opponents have concealed. It’s a fresh and engaging addition that rewards those skilled in map navigation and exploration.

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2025-07-11 19:07