
Back in 2020 when Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 first arrived, I gave it a "Great" 8/10 in our Pure Xbox review - highlighting it as a superb return to form, but with a few issues around its career mode, multiplayer and customisation.
However, with five years' worth of playtime under my belt, I'd actually give it a 9/10 based on how much I've enjoyed it since, putting it up there as one of my favourite Tony Hawk games ever. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 gets an 8/10 instead, as I feel like it's a fantastic follow-up in many ways, but doesn't quite reach the heights that 1+2 did.
As you'd expect, THPS 3+4 revolves around remastering (and low-key remaking) the third and fourth games in the series, and although the developer isn't Vicarious Visions anymore, Iron Galaxy has done just as good of a job beautifying these levels for the modern era. A lot of the maps in THPS 3+4 are more ambitious than in those original couple of games, featuring much larger environments, more NPCs and even some cutscene-like moments, and they've transitioned brilliantly into this stunning new collection.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, in particular, is an absolute blast to play in THPS 3+4. The levels look amazing, the gameplay feels more polished than ever, and everything about it still holds up incredibly well in 2025.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 is a slightly different matter because it includes a time limit in THPS 3+4, even though the original game didn't have one. Instead of skating up to people and taking on challenges like in the OG version, they've tried to make it more like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, which includes changes to the goals and maps and that may not prove all that popular. Personally, I still think the positives outweigh the negatives and THPS 4 is a lot of fun in this new release, but it's best to think of it as more of a reimagining than the "definitive" version of that game's career mode.

In terms of the character roster, it's a very good selection featuring lots of legends alongside a bunch of younger skaters, and it's fun to see the likes of Bam Margera and the DOOM Slayer (for Deluxe owners) appearing in the list. I also have to give mention to the new levels - the likes of Waterpark and Movie Studio are packed with creativity and a blast to play through, proving that Iron Galaxy has potential to create an all-new THPS game down the line.
I wasn't all that bothered by multiplayer and Create-A-Park a few years ago, and I'd still kinda say the same in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, but they've definitely improved both of them. Multiplayer has a new mode called HAWK that I'm enjoying - it's basically a game of hide-and-seek with letters - while Create-A-Park has finally added the ability to include goals for people to complete. Yes, both of these areas of the game still offer more potential for the future, but there's fun to be had with them, and it's great that multiplayer features crossplay as well.

And finally, I have to mention the soundtrack. If you're coming into this hoping for all the classic tunes from THPS 3 and 4, you're going to be disappointed - only a few have made the cut from each title. I'm loving the likes of Ace of Spades and Holidays in the Sun (as well as the DOOM tracks you get with the Deluxe Edition), but there are some notable absentees here, and the new stuff generally doesn't compare to the selection of songs in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 in my opinion. Your mileage may vary though - I just haven't found much I really like yet.
Conclusion
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is another great entry in the series that's bound to prove popular on Xbox Game Pass and beyond. Developer Iron Galaxy has done an excellent job bringing these legendary maps into the modern era, and the gameplay feels just as good as it did in THPS 1+2. The structural changes to the fourth game along with the significantly altered soundtrack may irk some people, but there's still a ton of fun to be had overall - and now we're just hoping Tony Hawk's Underground 1+2 becomes a reality!





Comments 21
I've never played a TH game but given it's hit Game Pass, I'll give it a spin. I never got into it back in the day given that there was no real goal, y'know? Kinda like Crazy Taxi?
@Kaloudz Tony Hawk and Crazy Taxi were probably my most played games in late 90s/ early 2000s.
I'm 5 hours in and I agree it's not as good as 1+2 but that game let us use manuals, reverts, and spin tranfers on maps we never could before. And yes, the soundtrack was better.
Thanks for the review, lovely stuff!
I suppose back in the day each entry iterated and added something new to the moveset. Now all 4 have the same pretty much so I was expecting it to be more of 1+2. Still, I'll be playing it coz there's nothing quite like a THPS game
@M20B25 I won't lie I had a copy of Crazy Taxi, but after a few rounds of "pick up a person and drive" only to constantly repeat the process with no progression or goals, just felt so... Meh.
I'll try TH for sure but I certainly would never have purchased it.
Definitely going to be playing this today since 3 is my favorite Tony Hawk game. So many memories with the original on PS2. As for the soundtrack it probably wont bother me to much as I only remember Ace of Spades really. If its as good as it appears to be, it looks like I can finally retire my original Xbox copy of THPS3.
A little upsetting to hear about the compromises to Pro Skater 4 and having a good chunk of the original soundtracks missing.
That said, I’m still very excited for this. The 1 and 2 remakes were some of my favorite games in recent memory. This weekend is going to be a lot of fun.
I actually applaud the soundtrack changes, it's in line with the ethos of the original games, introduce people to new bands... the exact same soundtrack would have been disappointing... it''s a remake, so changes are implied!
I only ever played THPS 1-3 back in the day, so none of the cons in the review are cons for me. Can't wait to play this!
Its really good but yeah not as good as 1+2 and part of me thinks it should have been an expansion rather then full game.
I will say i adore the Secret Shop and what it offers.
I never really cared for the more open world feel of the 4th game (and most subsequent games that followed) I didn't like having to skate around to find someone to talk to to start a mission.
I've always very much preferred the 2 minute timer model with a set of goals to achieve, so the fact they've decided to strip the 4th game back and make it like THPS 1, 2 & 3 is actually a good thing IMO
Definitely playing this weekend
Paywalling two characters is sort of a junk move, but I expect this one will be a good way to sail out the last nine days of my Gamepass sub. It’s a pro that the whole game is on disk, as well. As safe as the game sounds to be, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the most overall solid Xbox Games Studios game of the year.
Only an 8. I bet it's a 9. But if course, that's a thing of perspective. Mine arrives delayed, sadly.
@Nintendo4Sonic Easily could be a 9 if you look at it a certain way. I just think it loses an extra point for some of the THPS4 changes and the soundtrack. That's just me though.
@Kaloudz I am with you on it. I need the progression, either by story or mechanics, etc. Also timed challenges are my biggest pet peeves in gaming overall...
@Kaloudz they're very different games THPS has an ocean more depth than Crazy Taxi(and saying that as someone who adores both games).
@FraserG soundtrack could be a point. I listened to it at Spotify already. Some great tunes in it, but a lot of the original songs are gone, sadly.
@Kaloudz there is a goal in Tony Hawks, it's the career mode with its challenges and stuff.
You can skate around with no goal in these games, but that won't be much fun for long.
But if you never played these, I'm pretty sure, you don't need to start now.
To some of us, these are the pinnacle of videogaming.
I can't play because the game crashes EVERY SINGLE TIME I load it.
@Balta666 Yeah same. And I'm with you 110% on time challenges in games. They're the most irritating design choices bar-none. They don't rely on skill to the average player, it's all about freakin' luck... I can't stand them lol.
@elpardo1984 @Nintendo4Sonic Yeah but that's my point. The only thing (unless I am wrong) that you can do in a game like this, is either skate a course, earn points, or do a specific trick? Like, even in career mode, right? I could probably find a tiny bit of enjoyment in a career mode, but I still think it's going to be samey-samey. I'll give it a smash as it's free but I don't hold hope I'll be hooked haha.
When I started this game up the first song playing was Lupe fiasco kick push!!
I knew then and there me and this game are going to get on well😃
Got my PS5 version today. It is a 9 to me so far, if not even a 10. I love it, It's brilliant.
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