XBOX REVIEW | Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4

What a blast from the past! I have always loved the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, and I was especially excited to hear that 3 and 4 were getting the remake treatment, just like 1 and 2. The developers have changed, though, Iron Galaxy has taken over, but they’ve done a really good job of recreating the feel of the originals… mostly. Let’s grab our boards and ollie over the gap to what we loved, and what might have left us scraped up after a nasty bail.

Things I liked!

• Graphics | As I always say, graphics do not make a great game, but they certainly don’t hurt. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 has improved upon even the last remake, with beautiful-looking scenery, awesome character models, fantastic shadow detail, and even some pretty gnarly reflections. The levels you know and love from the original have been recreated to keep with the more modern aesthetic, including some wear and tear on the parks and streets where needed. There is just so much more to see when you are skating your way to a sick score, and Iron Galaxy has done their best to make this game look absolutely stunning.

• Sound | The Tony Hawk series has always had a fantastic array of music, and this remake is no different. I know some people have been complaining that there are tracks missing from the originals that they really wanted to have on the soundtrack, but for me, one of the great things about playing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games is discovering new music you might never have heard before, as well as some old familiar tracks. And hey, if you don’t like the music, you can always make your own track list via platforms like Spotify and play it in the background. Other than that, the sound effects of the skateboarders and boards are top-notch, as per usual, with very realistic-sounding effects that make the game feel more real as you play. The environmental ambient sounds are amazing too, a lot of attention to detail was put into this game.
  
  
• Gameplay | One of the things I love about the Tony Hawk series is the pick-up-and-play aspect; you don’t have to be an expert to grab a controller and jump into the game. You can just have fun and enjoy it for what it is, and I miss that about games sometimes. Now, that isn’t to say you won’t need to learn some tricks, but the tutorial is extremely good at giving advice for what you will need to complete each of the tasks set before you throughout the game. There is a learning curve to some of the more complicated goals, but again, it’s not so tough that you won’t want to continue. Rather, it gives a sense of completion when you finally get that tricky gap or find your way to that secret tape. All in all, I think Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 has it down when it comes to giving players of all skill levels something fun to play.
  
  
• New Levels | Ok, so this might seem a little controversial, but I really like the new levels that have been added to the roster, even with some omissions from the original games, which were more than likely due to licensing issues. Anyway, on to the new levels. The water park is just a lot of fun: there are flumes, slides, pirate ships, a castle, and even an arcade to be found in this gem of a park. The movie studio has a lot of wee Easter eggs and references to be found, but it’s a solid competition park if you’re into the street skate style. And finally, the pinball level is just a lot of fun, although seeing a giant Tony Hawk controlling the flippers is a sight that may haunt some people.
  
  
• Secrets | There are so many secrets to discover in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 that even when you finish the game, you’ll still have a tonne of reasons to go back and play more. I won’t get into it too much, as you should be finding a lot of these things for yourselves, but there are a fair few secret characters, not just to play, but to discover in the levels as well, including Felipe Nunes, who I honestly would have loved to play as a secret skater. There are also boards to be found and secret shop items which, yes, include the awesome Bam Margera as a purchasable secret character. Then again, some people want the original secret skaters back, but licensing is a fickle mistress.

Mixed & disliked!

• Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 | Ok, I need to get this one out: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 was a fantastic game; it introduced free roam and allowed you to go to NPCs for your tasks. It was an innovation in the series, which led to the Underground games and more. In Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, all of that has been removed, and instead, 4 is basically 3 with 4’s level design. Gone is the free roam and a lot of the tasks. For purists, this was not a great idea, and I would have personally loved just an extended version of 3, with a remake of 4 at a later date. But love it or hate it, this is the game we have now, and it’s still enjoyable for what it is.

• Online Play | I tried the online multiplayer functionality, and at the time of writing, I found it to be a little buggier than I would have liked. Crossplay functionality might sound good on paper, but there was quite a bit of lag, and a few tricks were just not landing as they should have, coupled with some long wait times. I think perhaps waiting for a patch might be a good idea for now.
  
  
• General stuff | As with the previous game, there are some things I do think should have been optional to players, like blood effects instead of the strange rewind system that is in place, and perhaps the more crude humour could have a switch for those of us who remember the older games more fondly. Oh, and Jack Black. Now, I don’t mind Jack Black being in the game, but just have him as himself instead of Officer Richard. Other than that, I feel like you are either going to accept this game for what it is, or you aren’t going to play it. So, make up your own mind and just enjoy yourselves.

How long did I play the review before publishing? 16 hours
How long to beat the story? 10 hours
How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 16/ 32
How long to achieve 1000G | up to 30 hours
You’ll love this game if you like these | Any other Tony Hawk game

CONCLUSION

Score: 87/100

All in all, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is an awesome, if only slightly flawed, addition to the franchise. Not everyone is going to agree with some of the creative choices made in regard to the music, levels, and of course, the reimagined Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 playthrough style. But if you take it as what it is meant to be, a fun throwback to a more fun era of gaming for the older gamers, or an introduction to some awesome tunes, skaters, and shenanigans for the younger generation, then you will have a great time. I personally will be playing this for a good while yet.