Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 Review, Gameplay Impressions, Videos and Top Features

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 from developer Iron Galaxy is the latest revival of a classic to hit the video game realm. 

Not that the series is a stranger to updates in modern eras. This one is a remake of the beloved Pro Skater 3 (2001) and Pro Skater 4 (2002) and it follows on the heels of 2020’s Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 in bringing the iconic series up to date and on modern platforms. 

THPS 3 + 4 doesn’t settle for just bringing up the classic, as there are some new levels, gameplay elements and even shakeups to campaign structure, atop some semi-controversial music changes, too.

As always, a key part of any trick is the smoothness of the landing, with THPS 3 + 4 boasting the potential to reignite interest in the genre and series if it can stick it. 

Graphics and Gameplay

THPS 3 + 4 arrives with enhanced textures, crisper animations and stunning lighting effects that update the nice blend of realism and arcade-like mannerisms in a great way. 

On its own, the game isn’t going to take down best-looker-of-the-year awards. But in its little realism-arcade niche, THPS 3 + 4 stands out and has the impressive sound design, whether it’s clanking grinds on railings, wheels clacking down or fun sound effects for finding tapes and combo letters to make it all work. 

The real star of the presentation show is the maps, as always. They’re a little staggering in size and depth, even by modern standards, and varied enough to keep things fresh. Stages have a way of making a player feel small in a good way, as there’s always something off in the distance to explore (or shred) and the promise of little secrets to uncover. 

Some of the longstanding maps look great and will punch the nostalgia button, of course. Getting hot in the foundry or shredding up Alcatraz is still an all-timer of a moment. But also impressive are the new maps, highlighted by the abandoned waterpark. It’s as fun as it sounds and one of those 'how has a skating game never used this idea before??' things. 

Much has been said and will continue to be said about the lack of music that made it over from the original games here. It’s very disappointing to boot this up for the first time and see that so many iconic tracks are missing. 

But at the same time…discovery of new music and bands was a memorable part of the process when playing a new Tony Hawk game. That’s sort-of true here, too. Maybe that was the intention, maybe not, but it’s one angle to view the situation from and who knows, with enough pushback, maybe some of the classics come back in later updates?

As for the arcade skating action…it’s still as great as one would expect in 2025. 

This series exploded onto the scene for many reasons, but first and foremost was the ability to just drop in and shred a course. Over time, popping open the tricks list and mastering those while seeking high scores was and still is a blast. 

Controls here, as expected, are punchy and understandable enough. Whether just cruising around looking for secrets and/or tapes or going after very specific goals, there’s always something to do. 

THPS 3 + 4 very much enjoys the same gameplay loop as the past greats. Players will often drop into a map with one goal in mind, only to accomplish quite a few more or simply get distracted…in a good way.

That pick-up-and-play ability, paired with the immense skill ceiling for high-score chasers and otherwise, is a blend that simply holds up uncannily well in this modern era. 

Story and More

Many of the well-known faces and tasks return in THPS 3 + 4, which is nothing short of a good thing. 

In a notable mix-up, the career aspect of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 is out. For the most part, that skating around in an openish world to converse with other skaters is out. 

In its place, THPS4’s levels now neatly fit into that two-minute timer box found in the other games. It’s bound to be a polarizing decision. For those who want the same exact experience as the original game, it’ll bristle. But the change feels about as natural as it gets and there’s a certain refreshing charm to seeing the game through a sort-of-new lens.

Of note, progression is handled as smoothly as previous remakes. Skill points earned in one game translate to a player’s skater in the other game. Currency earned is universal. 

This remake also boasts a nice, diverse roster of original names, some of the new arrivals from the prior remake and some new names. Someone, somewhere, will find a nitpick, but it’s robust enough to keep things fresh. 

Modern times mean modern gameplay trappings, too. Eight players can partake in cross-platform play online and that’s just the beginning when it comes to features that will help the game thrive for years.

The Create-A-Skater suite is robust with plenty of attire options and the like. But as impressive as it is, it manages to pale in comparison to the excellent work put into the Create-A-Park feature. 

Create-A-Park now includes the ability to create goals, in addition to all of the other normal stuff like assets. 

And it’s just hard to understate just how important this one little tweak can be for the longevity of the game and community around it. User-created levels aren’t just fun little setpieces to check out and bounce off of quickly now. 

No, now players can hop into a fresh-feeling level every time they boot up the game, attempt challenges created by other users, lean into boost pads, avoid NPCs, etc. And the maps they like enough? Players can add those to their permanent THPS 3 + 4 rotation. 

Like its remake predecessor, THPS 3 + 4 runs well and includes the expected modern suite of options, as can be expected of an offering already looping in needed modernizations like crossplay and future-minded creative features. 

Conclusion

The latest great remake, THPS 3 + 4 captures the essence of those early 2000s gaming vibes and loops in some smart modern features sure to help it thrive for a long time. 

There are drawbacks. The soundtrack will polarize, as will the tweak to the fourth game’s campaign. 

But as a whole, THPS 3 + 4 looks and sounds great. It sticks the landing with flair, offering up that super fun, deep-as-you-want it and just-one-more-session gameplay that illustrates how wrong later sequels got it and just how right the series can be, even in 2025.