Grab your helmet, chug a surge, and hop on your skateboard, because Tony Hawk is back with Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3+4. As with Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1+2, 3+4 attempts to capture that early 2000s vibe by remaking two classic games that made us think we could skate like a pro up and down our parents’ driveway. Tony Hawk and Rocket Power, what other motivation would a kid need to go outside?
There are many similarities between THPS 3+4 and the originals while adding in some new features, as well as removing some key elements that may not be well-received by returning players. This game features 19 playable levels that include every level from Pro Skaters 3 and 4, as well as three all-new locations players can try out. There are close to 30 skaters available for you to choose from at the start, plus the option to create your own, while more can be bought with in-game cash in the shop, which also sells other cosmetics for your character.
Although the game has a few different modes, most players will spend most of their time in Career mode. Here you play through all 19 locations from each game while tackling each level’s set of specific goals with a two-minute timer. The objectives of almost every level are similar, including reaching a specific score, collecting letters that spell out S-K-A-T-E, performing four location-specific tricks, and collecting a secret tape, which you can view in the menu.
You can also choose to ignore the goals and timer and jump into free skate instead, when you just want to have a good time. The speedrun mode, which tests how fast you can complete every goal while ranking you against others, I wasn’t too fond of. It just felt unnecessary to do the same set of challenges once again for bragging rights and slap a game mode onto it.
Outside of career mode, players have the ability to create their very own skate park that they can upload and share with the world. The few that I dabbled in were quite enjoyable and creative, while the best part is that they can help in obtaining achievements/ trophies for all you hunters out there. If you prefer others to join in on the fun, multiplayer is also present with competitive and free skate options. Honestly speaking, I’ve never been one to think that having multiplayer included would make my experience with this game any better. Tony Hawk has always felt best to me as a single-player experience, but others are welcome to their own opinion.
As for gameplay, skating is fast, smooth, and very pleasant once you get the hang of how it works, especially after going through the tutorial. New players will find the controls easy to learn, while experienced skaters will enjoy the challenge of combining more difficult tricks into a longer combo to rack up a higher overall score. If you find the game to be difficult and you just can’t seem to get the hang of things, you can find a list of mods within the settings to assist you further.
You are able to toggle options for perfect balance while grinding, performing lip tricks, manuals, and skitching. Others include no bails (falling), double score, and always having a special so you’re able to pull off signature tricks. Out of all the mods, my favorite was extending the time limit up to an hour so I could be free to relax and take my time completing as many goals as I wanted before moving on to the next level. They may not be for everyone, but for some like myself, it makes the game feel more laid back and fun.
The soundtrack has always been a large part of Tony Hawk games, and my favorite growing up was Pro Skater 4’s. Unfortunately, not nearly enough of the original music of 3 and 4 made a return to the game. Out of the 60+ tracks included in the game, only ten make an appearance from the originals. It would have been great to feel the nostalgia of skating to songs like Spokesman, Drunken Lullabies, and All My Friends Are Metalheads again, but the newer tracks fall short of what I was expecting. To me, the music is what gave the game its spirit. And while I understand why not all the original tracks returned because of licensing, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t alter the very soul of this remake.
On the topic of missing content, also left out from the originals is Pro Skater 4’s open-world career mode. The original career mode had players free-roaming around the map, interacting with NPCs to complete a set of different goals to upgrade their stats. While it’s been reworked in the remake to a two-minute timer to complete goals, the feeling of having a mini open world gave players more breathing room to complete goals at their own pace. Between the hilarious voiced NPCs (Ollie the bum) and the well-thought-out challenges, career mode was the heart of the original Pro Skater 4, which only makes it a shame it didn’t reach its full potential in the remake.
Whether you are a first-time player or a returning pro, Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3+4 is an overall good time. A game that is simple enough to pick up, sit back, and lose yourself in for hours. With career mode, create a park, and multiplayer available, as well as optional game mods, there is plenty of content for players to grind their way through. Even without THPS4’s original career mode and lack of returning music, it still captures much of the essence and nostalgia of the originals while updating the visuals and adding new content. If you are a fan of the series or have ever dreamed of picking up a skateboard, I recommend checking it out.
