Activision and Iron Galaxy’s remaster of THPS 3 and 4 is excellent, but the changes to 4 are bold and controversial.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 is both a bolder and more conservative sequel to its 2020 predecessor. In the nearly five years that have passed since Vicarious Visions remastered Pro Skater and Pro Skater 2, new developer Iron Galaxy has stepped in to remaster 3 and 4, adding a few ideas of its own and making a strong case that the studio should be given the reins to the franchise. While some of the changes to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 are controversial, the implementation of those ideas shows that the developers were right.
First, let’s make something clear: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is one of the best video games of all time. Originally released in 2001, the third entry in the THPS series added new tricks, like the revert, and special combos that expanded the tricking system for more elaborate combos. THPS 3 featured some of the series’ best levels, including the iconic Foundry (looking more gorgeous than ever), and cleverly designed locations Canada and Airport, and a series of smartly designed objectives. THPS 3’s levels, objectives, and skaters — including the return of skater/rascal Bam Margera — remain in tact, play wonderfully, and look spectacular.
The third game in the franchise was a generational leap at the time, and added new combo extenders like reverts, spine transfers, and wall plants. These moves were retrofitted into 2020’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2, so the gameplay in the latest remaster doesn’t feel like the leap forward of games past. Instead, the gameplay of THPS 3 and 4 constitutes more of a continuation of that experience, now slightly more refined.
I’ve loved relearning the levels and tricks of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 in the remaster; the original was an important game to me, and it’s been a thrill to revisit that time with a glossier coat of paint (and having the experience of playing THPS 1 and 2 behind me).
