Sometimes being a millennial has its payoffs. Sure, a lot of us will probably never own a home and are riddled with student-loan debt, but anyone born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s was blessed to witness and experience the incredible evolution of both video games and skateboarding.
I remember the first time I played Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games. It was Christmas 2001 when I got Pro Skater 3 for GameCube, along with my first skateboard ever, a World Industries Flame Boy deck. I got obsessed with playing Pro Skater 2 on N64 with my fellow gaming buddies and had to finally snag a copy of my own. Not only did Pro Skater inspire me to explore the world of skateboarding more, leading to binge-watching X Games and convincing my parents to take me to Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam, but it also got me to explore more of the Southern California punk scene, which basically became my main playlist for the next 20 something years of my life. Those years were crucial to developing my personality, and although I stopped playing the series after Pro Skater 4 and Underground, I often bring up how much those early THPS games shaped the 35-year-old dorky punk I am today.
Fast-forward many years, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remakes were released and became a huge success that essentially turned the series around after the failed Pro Skater 5. When I heard that a combined Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake was finally happening with a new studio, Iron Galaxy, who previously worked with Activision and Vicarious Visions on the 1 + 2 remakes, I was ecstatic to see how it would turn out. Will my muscle memory come back, or will it feel like learning a brand-new game? Will it keep the same silliness and passion as the originals, or fall off the rails–no pun intended? After having the opportunity to explore a few hours of the remake, I’ve just got to say: The sassy, skating 12-year-old me could not be happier.
Our Childhood Revamped
Before I decided to dip into the new features, I needed to regain my muscle memory and hit the nostalgic feels by booting up classic Pro Skater 3 level The Foundry–the iconic factory is a meta-rail paradise for players, so it would be interesting to see what Iron Galaxy decided to change about it, if anything.
In Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remake, Iron Galaxy recreated old maps from the ground up instead of simply remastering them. The new engine feels fresh but still remains true to the original design; just flying through those vibrant fiery spouts and annoying all the factory workers still feels the same, except now it’s so crisp, you can almost feel the heat from both. I haven’t experienced this level in over 20 years, yet I immediately felt like I was back in junior high, grinding pipes and guard rails as Rodney Mullen while blasting AFI’s “The Boy Who Destroyed the World.”
It wasn’t a challenge for me to dip back into my groove because the controls felt so flowy and freeing, making it easy to get into a comfortable routine of practicing nose grinds and finding creative ways to max some wild combos. At some point, I felt like I was invincible, hitting those 50-70K point combos within an hour of just messing around. At the preview event, there were a few pro players showing off their skills to demonstrate how smooth the gameplay is. One player particularly kept doing 10-25 million point combos, making it look so seamless, further showing how graceful the controls are. Even if you’ve never played a Tony Hawk game or were never skilled at them, it’s so fun and easy to just ride around on your board, explore the maps, and practice.
Although I enjoyed reliving my childhood days with better graphics and gameplay, there is one controversial feature Iron Galaxy brought back in the remake. Instead of offering the free-roam career mode from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, Iron Galaxy decided to revert back to the original two-minute timer from the first three Pro Skater titles. Many fans were skeptical about this decision, including me, but after spending hours trying to check off each challenge within that stressful time limit, I came to a realization: There’s something instantly engaging about that two-minute timer. The initial momentum and the memories of constantly restarting and mastering repetitive patterns to nail a specific run were a nostalgic challenge for me, sort of like attempting a no-hit run or testing a new weapon with a tough boss battle.
Game Director Kurt Tillmans told the group the idea behind bringing back the two-minute timer was to create “one, cohesive product that wouldn’t overwhelm new players”, and felt that Pro Skater 3’s format best represents the series’ roots and gameplay. They did mention there will be an option for players to have a longer time limit, but they encourage everyone to start with two minutes. I’m curious to see how both longtime fans and new players will react when the game is released.
Gnarly New Stuff
It’s been over a decade since Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater added new maps, so I had to check out the most anticipated one added to the remake so far: the abandoned Waterpark.
This park truly represents everything Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is all about: a fun, explorative map full of silly Easter eggs and seemingly endless and obscure ways to land new and creative combos. The moment you start the level, you are on top of a water slide ride that’s perfectly designed for testing out some new tricks, and presented with a gorgeous view of the map, which I could only describe as a skateboarder’s Disneyland.
You can’t have a Tony Hawk game without the iconic soundtrack, but this remake makes do by adding lots of amazing new songs to an assortment of fan-favorite classics. On top of some of the greatest hits in the series like Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” and CKY’s “96 Quite Bitter Beings” (both of which shaped my angsty, teenager years), we have modern skate anthems like “Dog Years” by Urethane and “uknowhatimsayin” by Danny Brown. I almost forgot how satisfying it was to ride around Suburbia while blasting Bodyjar’s “Not the Same,” which immediately brought back memories of my many failed attempts to 360 flip the weathervane.
When it comes to skater selection in the Tony Hawk series, I usually stick with the OG pros I grew up with, like Rodney Mullen, Eric Koston, or Bob Burnquist, but when I heard Bam Margera and Andy Anderson would be joining the roster, I got so stoked to test out their gameplay. Bam Margera has been anticipated by fans since his appearance in Pro Skater 3, and is also another pro skater I grew up with. When being interviewed about joining the 3 + 4 remake, Bam responded with “I’m gonna have to let myself play video games again, ’cause this one will be well worth it.” Andy Anderson, on the other hand, is a newer skater known for his unique blend of classic and modern tricks and always wearing a helmet. During my interview with Andy, he mentioned he grew up on Tony Hawk games, with American Wasteland being his favorite, so it was a dream to be invited. Andy said when he saw himself as a playable character, all he could think was, “Damn dude, that’s literally me, from every angle.” We have yet to see gameplay of Bam, but Andy Anderson’s character seems to adopt his style almost perfectly.
I’m very curious to see how the online multiplayer will work, considering that it has been an issue in past Tony Hawk titles, which had gameplay limitations. According to Iron Galaxy, THPS 3 + 4 can support up to eight players with cross-platform play, so hopefully there will be more variety for online play and we won’t have to deal with those long loading screens.
A Beautiful Sandbox
From what we’ve seen so far, the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake is a beautiful sandbox for classic and new players alike. The stunning new and revamped maps, huge roster of beloved skaters, and incredible playlist packed into the game give me high hopes for Iron Galaxy as the next studio to take the reins. The remake manages to feel brand new while also respecting the roots of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and the aspects that make it one of the most unique and beloved video game series of all time.
