Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Review - Timeless Gameplay Paired with A Side of Nostalgia

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is one of those iconic franchises that made a massive impact on a generation. Many Millennials and some younger Gen Xers can look back at their childhoods and reminisce about the joy they had playing these games. That’s why, when Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 was announced, the excitement was loud and clear, as people missed these kinds of arcadey skating games, despite other titles attempting to fill the void left by Tony Hawk’s absence in recent years. 

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 delivers that same nostalgia by remaking the third and fourth mainline entries in the series. It’s a blast from the past that modernizes the franchise’s core appeal while adding new content and features, such as new skate parks, a mix of skaters from both old and new generations, a robust skate park editor, and competitive multiplayer. It’s a solid remake through and through.

A Remake Built on Nostalgia

This remake keeps the skateboarding gameplay mostly the same. You have a limited amount of time to rack up points by pulling off tricks within a skate park. Whether you’re grinding rails, pulling off the 900, or doing silly objectives to unlock the next level, it’s all about maintaining momentum, building score multipliers, and not crashing headfirst into the pavement. It’s fun to plan your routes, avoid repeating tricks, and explore just how far you can push your combo potential within the playground you're given.

Each skater has specific stats that can be improved by collecting stat points scattered throughout the stages. That said, it's hard to notice a major difference between a skater with maxed-out stats and one at default. I'm sure there are benefits, like more air time to land complex tricks. Whether you're fully upgraded or not, the enjoyment doesn't change much.

It was great revisiting these two games in one package. You unlock new skate parks by completing a certain number of objectives in previous levels. Each completed objective earns you money, which in turn unlocks more skaters and cosmetics. It’s fairly extensive and even expensive in-game, so completionists will have plenty to grind through. There’s no story or filler here, as it leans into its arcade roots. You boot up the game, pick a skate park, and start skating. It’s straightforward, something we hardly see in today’s games.

Gameplay That Still Holds Up

What makes these remakes shine is how they capture what made the original games special. Cool tricks, sick soundtracks, and silly objectives. Quite frankly, this type of arcade sports game has aged surprisingly well. I easily spent hours trying to complete all the objectives in a single park. It’s truly a nostalgic trip for me, having played these games as a kid. The soundtrack helps too, as it’s integral to the vibe. The music hit hard, as there are tracks I haven’t heard in years. While I personally prefer the tracklist from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, that’s more a matter of taste than quality. The 3 + 4 soundtrack still delivers, just with less emotional weight for me.

I grew up with some of these songs and have vivid memories of playing Pro Skater at a friend’s house. This package is essentially selling nostalgia, and they nailed it. If you had fun with these games back then, you’ll have fun now. The upgrades make 3 + 4 (and even the first remake) feel modern, both visually and technically.

Controls can feel awkward at times, especially when trying to reach certain areas. You need the right momentum to grind upward, and some locations require specific trick setups. It takes a bit of learning, but it’s manageable. But it’s hard to fault the game, as my occasional struggle with the controls feels genuine, just as it did back in the day, another indicator that they retained the series’ spirit without drastically changing it.

The only aspect that didn’t age as well (and I wished they changed) are some of the objectives in Pro Skater 3 and 4. The tougher ones, like grinding specific objects, collecting SKATE letters, or completing obscure tasks in under two minutes can feel more like chores than skill challenges. I would’ve preferred more or alternate trick-based goals instead of finding the proper way to grind electric wires to “repair” a satellite dish, or catching pickpockets at the airport by bumping into them. These objectives sometimes distract from what makes the game fun.

Not a complete 1:1 of the original

The new additions are welcome: three new skate levels, a solid park editor, and a multiplayer mode with various game types for competitive play. I had never played a Tony Hawk game online before, and it made me realize just how much better some players are. The single-player campaign can make you feel like a pro, but once you go online the illusion dissipates in your first online match as you’ll see players hitting 50x multipliers like it’s nothing.

It’s tough to finish in the top three. But that challenge is part of the fun. Playing multiplayer gave me a better appreciation for what’s possible. It also pushed me to experiment more in single-player. Slowly, I found ways to extend my combos, land smoothly, and set myself up for higher scores. Landing a 900, doubling my score, grinding into another trick, and sticking the landing. It all feels cool to do as the player has a plethora of tricks and ways to skate, from wall grinding, acid dropping, to attempting to transition from a flip, land, then grind to keep the score going. That sensation alone is a big win for the game.

I hope Activision is taking notes on how well these remakes have been received. Revisiting these titles through a modern lens reminded me just how fun skateboarding games can be. No intrusive monetization, no always-online requirements, no ultra-realistic visuals trying too hard to impress. All we have is just fun gameplay that respects your time and the game that, to many, will always be a part of their childhood.

My time with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 made me realize how overdue we are for a brand-new entry. This is a franchise that doesn’t need to reinvent itself to stay relevant. Sometimes, being fun is enough.

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Verdict: 4 / 5 (Fantastic)

PROS

• Same skateboarding gameplay from the original games

• A decent uplift to modernize the the third and fourth game of the Tony Haw Pro Skater series, both technically and visually

• New additions and a functioning multiplayer mode is major plus

CONS

• Objectives that require you to collect things feels outdated and tedious

• Maneuvering can be a pain for some players

What I’ve Played 

• Completed all tasks for certain parks on both THPS 3 and THPS 4

• Unlocked all available skate parks

• Did multiple matched in multiplayer to try every possible mode

*A PC review code was provided by the publisher for the purposes of this review.

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