Activision
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4: the return to skateboarding of the classics that defined a generation
Nostalgia on wheels is back.
During my teenage years, skateboarding became a sport I loved to watch with passion, more than doing the sport itself. Along with that, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise became an outlet where I could do what I couldn’t do in real life: get on a skateboard and perform spectacular jumps and spins. The rise, fall and eventual resurgence of skateboarding is back. After a long wait -and what seemed like a definitive cancellation- we finally have Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, a title that takes us skateboarding like in the old days.
Remastering of two classics
As its name suggests, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is a game that brings together in a remastered version the third and fourth installments of the iconic series, originally released in 2001 and 2002. It recreates its levels with greater life and detail, maintaining the arcade style that defined the saga 25 years ago. The result is a faithful and, at the same time, visually renewed experience.
The heart of the game is still the Career mode, which allows us to go through emblematic locations of both installments, now restored with an impressive level of detail. In each level we have two minutes to complete as many missions as possible: reach high scores, collect items, help characters or perform impossible jumps. We can also find money to spend in the store, as well as secret items such as decks, ribbons or points to improve our character’s skills.
Being a pro on the skateboard
As was the case in the original installments, we can use one of the Pro Skaters that the game presents us with, a mix of past legends like Tony Hawk himself, the genius of Rodney Mullen or the style of Geoff Rowley, to a new generation of board geniuses like Rayssa Leal, Aori Nishimura or Riley Hawk. We can also create our own character with an editor that, although not very robust, allows a great customization in clothing, accessories and even in the design of the board.
Alongside the Career mode, the game offers a series of additional challenges, well documented so that we can keep track of our progress. Completing them unlocks new items and cosmetic content. Although the game already presents a good level of difficulty in the style of classic titles, these challenges considerably extend the amount of hours you can spend on it.
In terms of visuals, the game shines. From 4K resolution and better animations to modern lighting effects, everything is designed to take advantage of current technologies without losing the essence. Performance is solid, remaining stable at all times. In addition, it includes a simple but functional photo mode.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 also includes online modes. You can compete against other players in various challenges, create your own skate parks or play in community-created ones. These options give longevity to the title and allow for more varied experiences.
An incomplete return to the past
Like other reinterpretations of products from the past, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 suffers from musical licenses. While the previous compilation managed to bring almost the entire soundtrack of the original titles, this version did not make the same effort, in fact, it seems that it was not done. There are barely 10 songs that appeared in the original titles. For those of us who grew up with those songs in the background of our games, this absence hits the nostalgic component hard and takes away some of the soul of the game.
Beyond whether the new songs are good or not, the real problem is that it loses part of the spirit that a remastering should have: bringing us back to that emotional place of the past, where music played a crucial role.
Another aspect that is still lacking is that of the secret characters. While the inclusion of Michelangelo from the Ninja Turtles is a pleasant surprise, the rest of the additional characters do not have the same charm as in previous installments. Again, it’s a matter of licenses and fashions, but bringing in Jack Black doesn’t have the same impact that unlocking Jango Fett or Eddie from Iron Maiden did back in the day.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is a solid tribute to one of the strongest eras of this franchise, accurately capturing the arcade style that marked an entire generation. The improved graphics, the stable performance, and the mix of legendary skaters with current ones make it a complete and robust experience. However, it is a title tha,t by relying on nostalgia, it is easy to find the flaws with which it fails to deliver. The absence of much of the original soundtrack is a harsh blow to the experience, as is the lack of those iconic unlockable characters from that era. Despite what this downfall represents, the title manages to pick itself up to prove that it can still pull off the tricks of yesteryear.
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