If you grew up in the 2000s playing video games, you’ve at a minimum heard of the iconic Tony Hawk Pro Skater series, if not devoted hundreds of hours to playing the classic games. The simple but satisfying mechanics were addictive for an entire generation of gamers.
In 2020, Activision released Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, a combination of the then 20-year-old games that kicked off the Pro Skater series with reimagined graphics and gameplay. On July 11, Activision followed up by releasing Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Like 1 + 2, 3 + 4 is not a remaster of the original games, but rather a complete rebuild with all new graphics and smoother animations.
3 + 4 offers a great variety when it comes to customization. Players can create their own skater and choose from a plethora of hairstyles, clothes, sneakers, skateboards and accessories. 3 + 4 contains a deep roster of iconic skaters as well as fantastical options like a glowing rainbow Tony Hawk, Doom Slayer from the Doom video game franchise and Michelangelo from the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”
As far as maps, 3 + 4 brings back fan favorite maps such as Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles while also introducing new parks, Waterpark and Movie Studio. Easily one of the best features is Create-A-Park, a sandbox-style mode which allows players to construct their own skate park completely from scratch using ramps, rails, slopes and more. Players can also choose from the hundreds of parks created and published by fellow gamers.
When it comes to the soundtrack, 3 + 4 combines returning classics like “Motörhead” by Ace of Spades with new tracks such as “C U Girl” by Steve Lacy. The game also includes a much-appreciated skip button, allowing users to seamlessly shuffle through songs.
Regarding the gameplay itself, 3 + 4 is a blast to play. The old-school mechanics and sound effects mixed with an expanded selection of combos and tricks strike a good balance between nostalgia and refinement. One can easily lose track of time while playing and revert (pun intended) back to their childhood.
