Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 Should Just Be DLC

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The long-awaited moment is nearly here! This week, we finally got a glimpse of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, set to launch on July 11th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Much like its predecessor, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, this new installment rebuilds the levels from THPS3 and THPS4 from scratch. It will feature the skaters, tricks, and tracks you’ve grown to adore from each game, along with some fresh faces on your skate team and unexplored locations to conquer. As a die-hard fan who places THPS3 at the pinnacle of my THPS rankings, this feels like a wish come true!

There’s one particular aspect of this disclosure that has been bothering me. It’s a matter that many fans have been pondering since the chatter about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 started circulating. To be specific, I’m referring to THPS4, a crucial installment in the series with a profound impact. Unlike the first three games which had two-minute challenge runs, the fourth opted for an “open zone” design allowing players to skate across the level at their leisure and accept quests from characters within the game.

The “quest” style from this game will carry over into all subsequent entries until Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground, which was Neversoft’s final installment of the THPS series. THPS4 is known for this design, and many assumed it would be carried forward to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4. However, a recent announcement clarifies that this will not happen.

The statement reads: “The parks featured in THPS3 and THPS4 have been faithfully recreated in stunning 4K resolution, offering streamlined objectives in a compact, two-minute format,” according to the announcement.

In simpler terms, the levels found in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 are going to incorporate the two-minute goal format from earlier games, like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2. As a fan of the series, I must admit this news is disappointing for me, as I was expecting a fresh, modern take on the game. Given its unique status among the series, it would have been intriguing to see how Iron Galaxy approached its design. However, it seems that won’t be the case.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but ponder if the design and visual aesthetics reminiscent of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 were intentionally meant to feel like an expansion rather than a standalone game. Honestly, it seems plausible that this could have been DLC for the acclaimed 2020 release. There’s definitely a compelling case to be made for this perspective.

In simpler terms, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 isn’t the first time they attempted to revitalize the series by remaking its top games. Back in 2012, a studio named Robomodo developed Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD, an HD version for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC that featured the stages and mechanics of the original THPS1 and THPS2. Unfortunately, it didn’t include the “revert” trick from THPS3, a move that significantly shaped the series in later games. However, they eventually released downloadable content for the game called Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 DLC, which added new levels, tricks, and yes, even the revert.

I’d like to point out that this isn’t unfamiliar ground for the series, as it demonstrates. There’s no denying the gap in quality between Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. Robomodo’s remake is respectable, but Vicarious Visions was so well-received that Activision felt compelled to create a sequel even though it had been initially canceled. Interestingly, Robomodo’s additional content significantly improved the game. Introducing similar DLC to a game many people already own could be a strategic decision, given the similarities in gameplay, except for the skitching feature.

If the aim was to unify the experience across all games in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, it seems logical to incorporate all the levels and changes from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. Apart from skitching, it appears there are no new tricks being introduced specifically for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4. While there may be some unique specials, they don’t seem to significantly alter the gameplay as skills like skitching, spine transfers, or reverts do. Adding skitching to the levels in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 doesn’t have a major impact and could even entice players to re-explore those classic levels once more.

Additionally, it’d be pretty cool if all four Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games were collected in one spot, similar to how Activision has gathered Call of Duty titles. The menu for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is already well-designed and adding two more options wouldn’t significantly alter the overall user experience. It would be a great moment for dedicated players of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 to witness the game transform suddenly into something larger and improved overnight.

A point I’ve observed regarding Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 playable characters is that, as promised, new professional skaters such as Yuto Horigome, Jamie Foy, Chloe Covell, Rayssa Leal, and Zion Wright will be included in the game. Interestingly, it appears that the rest of the roster will consist mainly of the characters from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, including the new skaters introduced there. This is supported by social media posts from Riley Hawk, Tyshawn Jones, Shane O’Neill, and Leo Baker, suggesting that this might indeed be the case. It seems like the developers are expanding the existing roster by adding more characters.

It appears as though the additional content from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 resembles an expansive downloadable content (DLC) pack for the already exceptional Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. The integration of these extra features seems to align perfectly with the 2020 edition, making it somewhat disappointing that they aren’t incorporated as part of the game. In essence, it could have emulated the all-encompassing experience of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate within the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (THPS) universe. Instead of showcasing popular video game characters, Activision and Iron Galaxy could have orchestrated a “everyone is here” moment featuring pro skaters. As an ardent THPS fan, I can’t help but feel that such an integration would have been quite remarkable.

As a devoted fan, let me take a moment to clarify that when I suggest an addition as DLC, it’s not because I view it as inferior to what’s already being promoted. Instead, it appears to be a continuation of the thrilling experience offered by Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, aligning perfectly with Iron Galaxy and Activision’s vision. However, given the familiar elements, it seems to tread on territory we’ve visited before. Without substantial changes, it feels like content that could have been incorporated in the previous release.

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2025-03-07 02:15