At the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, Activision and Iron Galaxy revealed that the demo for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, titled Foundry Demo, was now playable for those who had pre-ordered or subscribed to Xbox Game Pass. This is the public’s initial chance to experience gameplay from the upcoming remaster, which offers two characters to play as (Tony Hawk and Rayssa Leal) across two levels (Foundry and College). For fans who opt for the Digital Deluxe Edition, an extra playable character, the Doom Slayer from the popular Doom series, will be included.
I’ve spent around three hours playing the demo of THPS 3 and 4, giving each playable character a spin and exploring the accessible levels. Just as anticipated, it appears this will be a strong continuation from its predecessor, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. Regarding gameplay, THPS 1+2 was more akin to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, making it sensible to carry that exact gameplay style into this remake. However, there’s one significant issue that could potentially undermine what should otherwise be a home run.
Before diving into the downsides of THPS 3+4, let’s first discuss its upsides. The core element that truly defines a Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game is the gameplay, and it’s worth noting that this aspect is remarkably similar to THPS 1+2. This familiarity made me feel instantly comfortable as I took control of characters like Tony, Rayssa, and the Doom Slayer, executing combos with ease in the freshly redesigned levels.
My main concern is that it appears there aren’t too many fresh techniques incorporated. Iron Galaxy did include skitching, which was initially found in THPS 3. Nevertheless, I had hoped for the addition of the space walk, a manual trick that provides a skater with momentum if they are stuck in a stationary manual. If the method to perform it has changed – it previously required left-right-flip trick button – then I couldn’t find it. However, this is a relatively minor issue in an otherwise excellent remake of these two classics.
In the enhanced stages of THPS 3 and 4, a delightful sight indeed. Particularly noteworthy is the Foundry stage, which serves as the initial skating ground in the remake. The juxtaposition of the environment’s cool blue tones with the fires of the molten metals is quite striking. While it may not match up visually to the more outlandish areas, the College level from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 still looks fantastic.
My primary concerns with THPS 3 and 4 weren’t their appearance or ambiance. As Iron Galaxy adhered to the formula established by Vicarious Visions in THPS 1 and 2, I felt confident this remake would be strong. But as I navigated through the College level, a potential significant issue crossed my mind.
For those keeping up with THPS 3+4, it’s clear that the remake will incorporate a Career Mode much like that found in THPS 1+2. This implies that each level will come with objectives for players to accomplish within a two-minute time frame. While this isn’t an issue for the levels in THPS 3, as the original game already featured a goal-oriented Career Mode, it’s the THPS 4 sections that are causing concern.
If you’re not familiar, THPS 4 marked a significant departure from the traditional two-minute, session-based Career Mode. Unlike its predecessors, it allowed players to freely skate through each level and collect goals from various NPCs positioned within the levels. This innovative approach laid the groundwork for the much-loved Tony Hawk’s Underground, setting a trend that continues in subsequent games. This change was a pivotal moment for the franchise, and one that fans still appreciate today.
Fans who hoped for an accurate recreation of every level in the games THPS 3+4, particularly those from the fourth installment, were disheartened when it was announced that all levels would incorporate a two-minute, goal-oriented Career Mode. At first, I thought the response to this change seemed somewhat exaggerated. While it’s true that this isn’t exactly what fans had in mind, I still believed it would result in an enjoyable gameplay experience. However, my perspective shifted after trying out the College level in the THPS 3+4 demo.
A significant part of my current thought process has been influenced by my recent foray into the remastered version of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. What stands out to me are the smaller stages that I find myself gravitating towards in Career Mode, such as Warehouse, Mall, and Hangar. These levels offer a delightful gaming experience. Even some of the larger ones, like School, School II, and Philadelphia, present an enjoyable test of skill. However, it’s when these larger stages become too expansive that issues start to arise.
The issue isn’t primarily about the size of these game levels; instead, it’s about their design and goal placement that can make them challenging. For instance, Minneapolis is often frustrating due to the sudden interruption of gameplay caused by the positioning of each goal, which feels more like a treasure hunt. On the other hand, Warehouse allows players to smoothly combo through every goal without problems because of its design. Similar difficulties can be found in levels like San Francisco and New York, where it’s hard to establish a rhythm due to how goals are placed.
These large levels, particularly those from earlier versions like San Francisco in THPS 1, are among my all-time favorites from the series. However, the layout and structure of these expansive levels don’t seem to flow as smoothly as their smaller or medium-sized counterparts in terms of goal design.
When I commenced playing College level in THPS 3+4, a familiar sensation arose as I embarked on a run in Minneapolis. The park appears partitioned in a manner reminiscent of THPS 4’s distinctive Career Mode, where objectives are collected sequentially. Transitions between sections aren’t seamless; however, it’s not inherently negative in THPS 4; it’s simply unique, and the levels seem intentionally crafted to accommodate this design.
In THPS 3+4, they’ve added a two-minute timer to levels similar to THPS 4. However, because THPS 3 levels were designed with the Career Mode in mind, it appears there may be challenges in maintaining the same quality in the fourth entry. As I’ve only experienced the Single-Session mode in the demo, my final verdict is yet to come once I play the full game. It seems Iron Galaxy might face a tough task, ensuring the new entry delivers a Career Mode experience as satisfying as its predecessors.
As a die-hard THPS fan, I’ve gotta say I’m pumped about the revamped THPS 3+4! The sneak peeks from the demo and the updates since its unveiling in March by Iron Galaxy and Activision have me thinking this remake is going to be one for the books. Here’s hoping that any tweaks they make to these beloved games are meaningful rather than just for the sake of change.
On July 11th, the combined versions of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 will be released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, a potential new Nintendo Switch model, and PC.
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2025-06-14 00:11