Evolution of Gameplay: THPS 3+4

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 was straight fire, making OG fans like me catch feels for those quarter pipes and rails all over again. It was a sick throwback to the 1999 and 2000 classics, but lowkey, the big L was not having Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 in the mix. If you're itching to relive those legendary sessions or catch up on what you missed, you can always buy cheap PS5 games to round out your collection. THPS 3 was ghosted from the first remake, which kinda messed with the vibe since it’s the one that really leveled up the series. Now, even though THPS THPS 3+4 dropped to fix that, Iron Galaxy made some sus choices that might make the real ones side-eye it, even if the game’s still dope.

The OG three games were like a whole squad, each one adding new tricks that made the gameplay peak by the third. The setup was always the same: two-minute runs to smash goals, flex tricks, and rack up points before moving on. It’s so addictive, you’ll keep saying “one more run” for days.

But THPS 4 flipped the script, ditching the timed runs for open-world vibes where you roll around and get missions from random peeps. The clock only popped up when pros like Geoff Rowley wanted you to do wild stuff like snatch cops’ hats or get back at frat bros. Now in THPS 3+4, they tweaked the 4 levels to play like the old-school ones — fewer goals, no mission NPCs, and yep, the timer’s back to keep you on your toes.

Zoo and Kona Level Changes and Impact on THPS 4’s Unique Feel

Switching up THPS 4’s levels to just copy the OG trilogy vibes? Kinda a bummer, even if it’s still fun to cruise around. THPS 4 was when the game really started getting some personality and edge, and that only got wilder in the Underground series. Now, instead of helping Ollie the Bum dodge his trippy pink elephants, you just chase some random floating elephants ‘cause the game says so. Plus, a bunch of iconic goals like racing that inline skater at College or feeding hippos at Zoo? Totally missing.

Zoo doesn’t even have animals now. Along with Kona, it’s been flipped into competition levels, which back in the day were only in the first three games. These comp maps are just three quick one-minute rounds with no real goals — just grind for a high score and try to win. It’s way less exciting. The old two-minute rounds with a bunch of different challenges would’ve been way more lit. So, THPS 4’s unique flavor is basically ghosted, making THPS 3+4 feel less like a passion project and more like a cash grab, just slapping together stuff that doesn’t vibe.

Then, THPS 3 side got some weird tweaks too, with small changes that just kill the fun a bit. Career mode starts you off with a fixed list of goals per level no matter who you pick — and you can switch skaters but keep your progress. Back in the day, each skater had their own tour, and goals would change depending on if you were a Vert or Street skater. Like, a Street skater wouldn’t have to do the tough Airwalk over the airport escalator, but instead a Crooked Grind by baggage claim. Now, 3+4 just makes everyone do the Airwalk, no matter what. Also, the S-K-A-T-E letters that used to hide in spots tailored to your skater type? They’re now all in one set of spots for everyone in Career mode. Pretty lame flex, ngl.

Level Upgrades and Visual Enhancements

Getting to Solo Tour is kinda a vibe — feels like a dope endgame flex — but the grind to unlock it? That’s straight-up sus for the series. THPS 1+2 dropped Solo Tours later on, but you never had to unlock them. So now, making the main way to play the OG trilogy the locked endgame? That’s kinda wild. Also, keeping stat points for each skater in Solo Tour is kinda meh, ‘cause by then you should be able to max out everyone’s stats, making all the skaters feel like clones — boring!

That said, no matter the receipts, THPS 3+4 is still a Tony Hawk banger. Smashing those classic button combos and seeing your fave tricks with fresh animations is mad satisfying — whether you’re throwing a Kickflip into a Benihana, then sliding into a manual, or chaining crazy grind extensions that go on forever.

The levels? They got a serious glow-up. Maps that felt stuck in the PS2 era now pop off — like THPS 3’s Foundry with steam and sparks flying everywhere, or THPS 4’s San Francisco sunset giving you straight-up scenic views while you shred. Even though THPS 4 maps got fewer NPCs, they’re still sick playgrounds to skate. Yeah, Zoo’s missing animals, which is a bummer, but skating there now feels like you’re rolling through an old spot years later — closed down, abandoned, but still decked out with fresh ramps and half pipes.

Soundtrack Energy and Create-A-Park Improvements

Besides having sick mechanics and dope levels, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater has always been the plug for introducing us to a whole squad of pro skaters plus a wild mix of bands and rappers. THPS 3+4 keeps that energy, bringing back almost every skater from 1+2 and the originals — but no Darth Maul or Wolverine, sorry — and throwing in some fresh faces to the crew. For a game that’s so arcade and extra, it’s awesome how it still pulls you into the real skate world, hyping up the new generation of skaters. My only side-eye moment? You gotta unlock Bam Margera, but they left out his decks and alternate fits. Weird flex.

On the music tip, THPS 3+4 slaps with a soundtrack packed with the best bangers from the OG THPS 3 and 4, plus some killer punk, metal, and hip-hop tracks that vibe perfectly. No “I’m a Swing It” by House of Pain, but lowkey I’m vibing hard with “Norf Norf” by Vince Staples stuck in my head again. When you fill your special meter, the music gets that extra reverb sauce, making the whole game feel next-level lit.

Create-A-Park is back from 1+2 with some fresh moves, like being able to add goals to your custom park. The first remake had some wild user-made levels, but none really kept me glued for long. Adding goals is a smart move that might get players grinding those parks longer than just a quick sesh. We’ll see if creators actually show up, but the tools are def on point to make it a hit.

THPS 3+4 Strengths and Career Mode Critiques

Multiplayer is back with a bunch of hype competitive modes like Trick Attack, where you go head-to-head for the highest score; Combo Mambo, where it’s all about linking those insane combos; and Graffiti, where you tag parts of the map with tricks to claim your turf. Jumping into a lobby with voice chat on? It’s pure chaos and mad fun trying to flex as the best skater in the squad.

But the real MVP is the new HAWK mode. It’s split into Hide and Seek rounds. In Hide, you gotta skate around and stash your H-A-W-K letters in spots you hope no one finds. Then in Seek, you hunt down other players’ letters and rack up points for finding them — plus you keep points for your own letters that stay hidden. On maps like Airport, it turns into a hype race to snag those letters first, with tense trick battles to hit those clutch spots. On bigger maps like Waterpark, knowing all the sneaky spots gives you the edge. HAWK is a fresh, fire addition to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and I’m lowkey hyped to grind it more as more players jump in.

THPS 3+4 is straight-up a dope skate game, and OG fans would rush it if it weren’t for some weird calls with Career mode and the THPS 4 levels. Some changes feel unnecessary, and THPS 4 just doesn’t slide in as smoothly with the original trilogy’s style. It’s a bummer new players won’t get the full OG THPS 4 vibe. But once you get past that, the game still skates better than ever, and honestly, it’s worth playing no matter who you are.