I feel like I haven’t gotten enough skateboarding games these days. So, of course, when Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 returned in 2020, it felt like we were all waiting.
As a collection, it felt like the ultimate packaging, with improved visuals and mechanisms, all kept the core intact.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 may not redefine or refresh the genre as much as the original collection, but it is still a great package and can bring together the best of these two later titles.
Package at a glance
As you can imagine, both Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 combine most gameplay mechanics with one cohesive trick and skill. It could have been that case with THPS 1+2, but if you were playing that first collection, you’d find yourself at home.
The only real difference here is that compared to the original game, THPS 4 applies a classic 2-minute timer to the park rather than roaming the goal freely, instead of completing the goal and scoring it on the go.
Credit: Activision
Progress takes place throughout the mode, allowing you to select skaters throughout each career in the list of goals for each level. Still, there have been some changes to THPS 3. THPS3 originally had a specific task based on the skater you selected and added a replay value for that original carrier mode.
I felt that the pacing of THPS 4 was totally different to THPS 3 in that sense, but it helps to feel that things are a little more streamlined here. In a way, I missed the original formula a bit, so it would have been good to keep it for diversity and nostalgia.
But at the end of the day, you’ll end up aiming for a high score, collect secret tapes, skate letters and combo lines, impressing onlookers and assisting people with random tasks around each level.
Again, rather than breaking the equation, it relies on some of its greatest strengths. And for that reason, I admire it.
Do a kick flip!
A total of 20 levels are available in both career modes, with most of them being an absolute nostalgic explosion to the face. Levels like Foundry on THPS 3 and Alcatraz on THPS 4 have lost their appeal and look much better in this new collection.
There are some notable absenteeism like the Chicago in THPS 4, but some new additions like the Water Park and Secret Pinball Level make their own case as one of the best levels in the entire collection. Skating a giant pinball machine is actually surreal as the giant Tony Hawk looks down at you.
Most goals for each level are taken from the original game, with some goals in this new collection being slightly adjusted. That being said, this is obviously what you’ll notice with THPS 4, as it’s clear that developer Iron Galaxy is trying to achieve his goals with a new 2-minute timer formula.
Captured on PlayStation 5 Pro
Apart from the main career modes of both games, you can also create your own custom skater, unlock merchandise such as new boards, clothing, secret skaters, and interact with creators of SkatePark to create a park of dreams.
Parks can also be shared between platforms. As much as you can imagine, there are already some crazy things. It may be a little difficult to line up things the way you want, but the options are virtually endless.
Finally, with THPS 3+4, players can jump online with a party of up to 8 players, and it’s also completely cross-platform. There are also private and local play, with all of your favorite existing modes, including Trick Attack, Score Challenge, Combo Mambo, Combo Challenge, Graffiti and more.
Credit: Activision
The new Hawk mode incorporates the game’s main goals and levels within a 2-minute timer formula to see who can do the most at once. I think this will test most hardcore fans.
Please look at the parts
Both the skater and the level are given a huge graphical upgrade with plenty of detail and impressive lighting effects.
However, the original charm has not been lost in this collection. It’s great to see older versions of these characters like Tony Hawk and Bum Margiela return as old skaters, like Michelangelo of the Teenage Ninja Turtles, among secret skaters that can be purchased by collecting cash from levels.
Even on the PlayStation 5 Pro, THPS 3+4 runs with stable clips.
Captured on PlayStation 5 Pro
Finally, what would be a good THPS game without a killer soundtrack? We don’t really know either. The THPS 3+4 brings merchandise with classics like Motörhead, Kick, Push by Lupe Fiasco, and even newer bangers like Schoolboy Q, Travis Barker and Kennyhoopla.
Final Thoughts
While some people may not like Got Got Got with the changed changes in THPS 4 career mode, there is still a lot to love about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4.
As a complete package, it is incredibly cohesive and functional, disrupting some incredibly new levels, tracks and skaters.
It doesn’t feel as groundbreaking as the first collection, but there are still solid skate romps to ask to shred again.
4 stars (out of 5)
Highlights: It’s still incredibly satisfying to play. Sleek visuals and new levels. Lots of new return skaters
Low Light: The changes made to the carrier mode of THPS 4 feel quite noticeable
Developer: Iron Galaxy
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, Windows PC
Available: Now
Reviews conducted on the PlayStation 5 Pro are conducted using pre-release code provided by the publisher.
Highly popular header images provided by the publisher.
