Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4

Posted on by marios12

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4: The Peak of a Skating Game Dynasty

When the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series launched in 1999, it revolutionized the sports gaming genre, merging fast-paced arcade gameplay with the rising popularity of skateboarding culture. By the time Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (2001) and Pro Skater 4 (2002) rolled out, the series had reached a creative and mechanical peak—cementing its legacy in gaming history.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3: Pushing the Limits

Released in October 2001, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was the first entry in the franchise to debut on sixth-generation hardware, including the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox. It was also the last game ever released for the Nintendo 64 in North America and one of the first PlayStation 2 games to offer online play—a groundbreaking feature at the time.

Key Innovations

  • Revert Mechanic: The introduction of the revert move (triggered after vert tricks) allowed players to link combos more effectively when combined with manuals, drastically expanding the combo system.
  • Online Multiplayer: On PlayStation 2, THPS 3 was among the earliest titles to offer online multiplayer via broadband adapters, paving the way for future console-based online play.
  • Creative Level Design: Iconic levels like Airport, Suburbia, and Tokyo offered players varied terrain and complex layouts that encouraged exploration and experimentation.

THPS 3 received universal acclaim for its tight controls, innovative mechanics, and addicting gameplay. It holds a Metacritic score of 97 on PS2, making it one of the highest-rated video games of all time.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4: Evolution Over Revolution

Released in October 2002, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 marked a significant evolution in the series. It moved away from the two-minute timed objectives and introduced a free-roam career mode, allowing players to explore levels and accept challenges on their own terms.

What Changed

  • Free-Roaming Levels: Instead of fixed timers, players now navigated large maps freely, talking to NPCs to trigger objectives—a major structural change.
  • More Complex Goals: Objectives ranged from high scores and gaps to trick-specific goals, game-specific challenges, and competitions.
  • Expanded Roster and Customization: The game featured a broader selection of pro skaters and unlockables, including real pros, secret characters (like Jango Fett on certain platforms), and a deeper Create-a-Skater system.

THPS 4 was praised for its ambition and was seen as a stepping stone toward Tony Hawk’s Underground, which would further evolve the series into story-driven territory.

Cultural Impact and Legacy

Together, THPS 3 and 4 represent the franchise’s golden era. They balanced arcade-style fun with refined mechanics and a cultural edge that reflected early 2000s skateboarding.

Soundtracks That Rocked a Generation

Both games featured legendary soundtracks, mixing punk, metal, hip-hop, and underground acts. Standouts included:

  • AFI – “The Boy Who Destroyed the World” (THPS 3)
  • Del the Funky Homosapien – “If You Must” (THPS 3)
  • AC/DC – “TNT” (THPS 4)

These songs became synonymous with late-night sessions and skating culture, deeply embedding themselves into gamers’ nostalgia.

Influence on Future Games

The combination of open-ended design, fluid mechanics, and cultural style influenced not just future Tony Hawk games, but also other sports franchises and sandbox titles. Elements introduced in these games can be seen in modern skating games like Session, Skater XL, and indie throwbacks like OlliOlli.

Conclusion

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 didn’t just refine the series—they redefined what a skateboarding game could be. From mechanical depth to cultural relevance, these entries still hold up as shining examples of smart game design. Whether you played them at launch or discovered them through re-releases, they remain iconic milestones in the history of video games.