Developed by Iron Galaxy and released by Activision, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 follows the footsteps of its predecessor (1+2) and re-releases the two classic games with updated graphics, physics and several new skaters.
If you've played both of these games in their original forms or 1+2, not much has changed. The gameplay is very much the same with few tweaks. It's a third-person skating boarding game that requires you to complete various goals in a variety of levels, with each level being unlocked after a certain number of goals are met.
For any newcomer, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is the definition of a button-mashing game and that's pretty much what has made the series so addicting. Having played the series since its debut (1999), I can honestly say it's still just as addicting now as it was then.
With that said, 3+4 does have a few flaws that were not really seen in 1+2. One big change is that, unlike before, there are a few differences between the third and fourth game. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 was when the series started changing the gameplay design and goals were more selective and less time-based. It's also when the games started venturing into unlock-able features and bonus gameplay material. Bonus features were in the previous games but nothing really that added to the gameplay.
Due to this, some of the features were removed but Iron Galaxy do their best to keep this from interfering with the end results. Some older gamers will be bummed but it's not a huge deal. With that said, this game does take unwanted advantage of a trope with today's games and that's locking additional material behind higher priced editions of the game, which will definitely not sit well with many.
Another flaw, that's really only a flaw for us old farts, certain tracks missing from the original soundtracks.
With all that said, the game looks and runs great. It's always nice to see a game that runs without a hitch at release. The gameplay is smooth and the levels are recreated beautifully.
One massive improvement here is the online multiplayer. 1+2 I thought ran a bit shoddy at times with the multiplayer connection. 3+4 connects so fast it caught me completely off guard.
So overall, it's a great nostalgia trip for older gamers. It's also a great introduction for newcomers. A few flaws here and there but it hits perfectly where it matters. I am curious what Underground would be like with this sort of upgrade.
