From foundries to flips, everything lands
By Paul Hunter
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater didn’t just define a genre—it defined a generation. If you were around in the early 2000s, you probably knew someone who couldn’t land an ollie in real life but could rack up a million-point combo in their sleep. Whether you had the balance of a shopping cart in real life or could barely kickflip in a parking lot, the series always made you feel like a star.
This remaster picks up where the 2020 re-release of 1 + 2 left off. Iron Galaxy steps in to finish the job, giving these two games a new look and a few fresh tricks to keep things rolling. The result blends the tight gameplay of the originals with updated features and visuals built for today’s hardware.
Some elements have been reworked, like how Pro Skater 4’s open structure has been completely reworked to feel more like earlier games. The soundtrack also makes big changes, with only a fraction of the original tracks returning. Still, what remains is a solid mix of classic design and modern polish that captures a lot of what made these games click.
So with the full remastered collection now complete, does Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 still manage to land the trick—or does it wobble on the landing? Let’s find out!
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 sticks to the series’ classic format. The tight, combo-heavy gameplay returns with the same satisfying rhythm of manuals, grinds, and airs chained together across detailed maps. The two-minute run timer is back, and the objective-based structure will feel familiar to anyone who’s spent time in the earlier remakes.
Each level offers score challenges, collectibles, and quirky goals that make repeat runs worthwhile. You’ll track down S-K-A-T-E letters, locate secret tapes, and complete tasks like spine transfers or grinding strange objects. Hitting the “Sick” score targets demands practice and planning, especially in the later stages. The mix of returning and reworked maps gives the game a nice sense of variety, with the abandoned water park being a highlight.
Pro Skater 4 doesn’t use its original open format. Instead, it now mirrors the rest of the remakes, with objectives packed into timed runs. That might upset purists, but it keeps the structure consistent. For me, jumping into a quick two-minute session and trying to knock out three or four goals felt like slipping back into an old habit.
There’s a wide selection of skaters, including guest characters with unique boards and moves. You can choose from iconic skaters like Bam Margera or Tony Hawk himself, plus silly characters like Michelangelo the Ninja Turtle or the Doomslayer if you pick up the Digital Deluxe Edition.
Unlockables include boards, gear, and modifiers, like SFX trails. I found those visual effects distracting, but unlocking new shoes was always satisfying. The expanded trick system and responsive controls make everything click the way you’d hope. After one session, I lost nearly an hour chasing a combo that would’ve made 14-year-old me proud. This isn’t a reinvention of the formula—but it doesn’t need to be.
Online features in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 are built around quick sessions and shared creations. You can jump into online lobbies and compete in trick attack or combo-driven modes with others, with solid performance across most connections. Whether on console or PC, matches load quickly and run smoothly.
The Create-a-Park mode brings a surprising amount of variety. You can browse through a large selection of community-made parks, many of which show a lot of creativity and technical skill. Uploading and testing parks is simple, and you’ll find maps that range from straightforward lines to pure chaos. I spent an evening skating through fan-made levels that felt more like puzzle maps than traditional parks.
On the flip side, Create-a-Skater feels a bit stripped down. There aren’t many face options, and there’s less overall control than you might expect from a modern game. You can still pick outfits and decks, but it doesn’t go much deeper than that. For a series that once let you scan your face into the game, it feels like a step back.
That said, unlockables and gear options add some flavour. Combined with the online tools and a steady stream of user-made content, there’s enough here to keep you checking in.
Visually, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will wow you with big of an upgrade it is compared to the originals. Animations are also silky smooth, trick transitions snap cleanly, and everything responds instantly. The rock solid frame rate and responsive controls make every combo feel right. The level designs from both games have been rebuilt with care, and carry the same high energy as before.
Where things get rocky is the soundtrack. Booting up the game drops you into music right away, but the mood shifts wildly from track to track. One minute it’s aggressive rap, the next it’s gritty punk, then back to pop-sounding alternative. Past games in the series leaned into a tighter vibe that matched the action on screen. Here, the mix feels scattered. It’s not bad music—it just doesn’t always match the flow.
It's simple to fix that though: headphones and a custom playlist. But that shouldn't be necessary in a game that once set the standard for how music and gameplay could work together.
The upside? Load times are fast, and even with lots going on—grinds, flips, reverts—the sound effects holds up well. Skating over metal, wood, or concrete all has that crisp pop you’d expect.
Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Developer: Iron Galaxy
Publisher: Activision
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater didn’t just define a genre—it defined a generation. If you were around in the early 2000s, you probably knew someone who couldn’t land an ollie in real life but could rack up a million-point combo in their sleep. Whether you had the balance of a shopping cart in real life or could barely kickflip in a parking lot, the series always made you feel like a star.
This remaster picks up where the 2020 re-release of 1 + 2 left off. Iron Galaxy steps in to finish the job, giving these two games a new look and a few fresh tricks to keep things rolling. The result blends the tight gameplay of the originals with updated features and visuals built for today’s hardware.
Some elements have been reworked, like how Pro Skater 4’s open structure has been completely reworked to feel more like earlier games. The soundtrack also makes big changes, with only a fraction of the original tracks returning. Still, what remains is a solid mix of classic design and modern polish that captures a lot of what made these games click.
So with the full remastered collection now complete, does Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 still manage to land the trick—or does it wobble on the landing? Let’s find out!
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 sticks to the series’ classic format. The tight, combo-heavy gameplay returns with the same satisfying rhythm of manuals, grinds, and airs chained together across detailed maps. The two-minute run timer is back, and the objective-based structure will feel familiar to anyone who’s spent time in the earlier remakes.
Each level offers score challenges, collectibles, and quirky goals that make repeat runs worthwhile. You’ll track down S-K-A-T-E letters, locate secret tapes, and complete tasks like spine transfers or grinding strange objects. Hitting the “Sick” score targets demands practice and planning, especially in the later stages. The mix of returning and reworked maps gives the game a nice sense of variety, with the abandoned water park being a highlight.
Pro Skater 4 doesn’t use its original open format. Instead, it now mirrors the rest of the remakes, with objectives packed into timed runs. That might upset purists, but it keeps the structure consistent. For me, jumping into a quick two-minute session and trying to knock out three or four goals felt like slipping back into an old habit.
There’s a wide selection of skaters, including guest characters with unique boards and moves. You can choose from iconic skaters like Bam Margera or Tony Hawk himself, plus silly characters like Michelangelo the Ninja Turtle or the Doomslayer if you pick up the Digital Deluxe Edition.
Unlockables include boards, gear, and modifiers, like SFX trails. I found those visual effects distracting, but unlocking new shoes was always satisfying. The expanded trick system and responsive controls make everything click the way you’d hope. After one session, I lost nearly an hour chasing a combo that would’ve made 14-year-old me proud. This isn’t a reinvention of the formula—but it doesn’t need to be.
Online features in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 are built around quick sessions and shared creations. You can jump into online lobbies and compete in trick attack or combo-driven modes with others, with solid performance across most connections. Whether on console or PC, matches load quickly and run smoothly.
The Create-a-Park mode brings a surprising amount of variety. You can browse through a large selection of community-made parks, many of which show a lot of creativity and technical skill. Uploading and testing parks is simple, and you’ll find maps that range from straightforward lines to pure chaos. I spent an evening skating through fan-made levels that felt more like puzzle maps than traditional parks.
On the flip side, Create-a-Skater feels a bit stripped down. There aren’t many face options, and there’s less overall control than you might expect from a modern game. You can still pick outfits and decks, but it doesn’t go much deeper than that. For a series that once let you scan your face into the game, it feels like a step back.
That said, unlockables and gear options add some flavour. Combined with the online tools and a steady stream of user-made content, there’s enough here to keep you checking in.
Visually, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will wow you with big of an upgrade it is compared to the originals. Animations are also silky smooth, trick transitions snap cleanly, and everything responds instantly. The rock solid frame rate and responsive controls make every combo feel right. The level designs from both games have been rebuilt with care, and carry the same high energy as before.
Where things get rocky is the soundtrack. Booting up the game drops you into music right away, but the mood shifts wildly from track to track. One minute it’s aggressive rap, the next it’s gritty punk, then back to pop-sounding alternative. Past games in the series leaned into a tighter vibe that matched the action on screen. Here, the mix feels scattered. It’s not bad music—it just doesn’t always match the flow.
It's simple to fix that though: headphones and a custom playlist. But that shouldn't be necessary in a game that once set the standard for how music and gameplay could work together.
The upside? Load times are fast, and even with lots going on—grinds, flips, reverts—the sound effects holds up well. Skating over metal, wood, or concrete all has that crisp pop you’d expect.
The Verdict
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 stays true to what made the originals fun—tight controls, clean trick systems, and replayable maps. Career mode is a blast, free skate keeps things loose, and online custom parks add serious variety. While the soundtrack’s a bit uneven and THPS4 feels slightly pared back, the deep combo system still slaps. With plenty of unlockables and smooth mechanics, this remake doesn’t just skate by—it lands solidly.Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 details
Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PCDeveloper: Iron Galaxy
Publisher: Activision
Genre: Sports
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.