The release ofTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4is imminent, and hopes are high for the remake bundle. This is especially true thanks to2020’sTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, which packaged the first twoPro Skatergames in a shiny, polished wrapper, providing both old and new fans with the nigh-definitive version to play these classic skateboarding games.
Indeed, theTony Hawk’s Pro Skaterrevival project is off to a successful start, and one can only hope thatTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4will continue this burgeoning tradition of excellence. The news of these upcoming remakes may be particularly pleasant for many following the series up until this point, sinceTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4was reportedly canceled following the Activision-Blizzard-Xbox acquisition, according to the titular skateboarding star himself. The fact that the game is still on its way suggests that ABK and Microsoft may be more open to the continued development of the franchise, meaning that moreTony Hawkremakes could be waiting in the wings, if3 + 4is successful enough. If this comes to pass, then there’s an obvious detour that ought to be made.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2was developed by Vicarious Visions, butTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4is being developedby Iron Galaxy.
After Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, Activision Should Start On Tony Hawk’s Underground
The Tony Hawk’s Underground Games Are Underrated
While theTony Hawk’s Pro Skatergames are focused on arena-style skateboarding for the most part—even its more “grounded” levels feature massive half-pipes, ramps, and tall drop-in points—theUndergroundgames follow the world of street skating. In this way, theUndergroundgames are like the edgy siblings of thePro Skaterseries, whose more polished and professional premise puts it in a different league.
There are a number ofdifferences between thePro Skatergamesand theUndergroundones, and not all of them are a simple matter of tone or setting. To facilitate its more off-color and crass sense of humor, theUndergroundgames have more structured, traditional story campaigns, wherein players create their own custom character and move through aJackass-style series of missions with the ultimate goal of reaching the professional level. In this way,Tony Hawk’s Undergroundis at once more compelling, complex, and relatable than itsPro Skatercounterparts, and it’s these strengths that ought to be targeted in a potential remake.
While there are a total offive games under thePro Skaterbanner(not including remakes), there are only two releases in theTony Hawk’s Undergroundseries.
Tony Hawk’s Undergroundis interestingin the sense that it hones in on the themes of rebellion and individuality that were so prominent in 2000s skater culture. It’s this thematic core that drives much of the games’ narrative and gameplay content, and it’s also what would make a proper, new entry in the short-lived series even more captivating.
Many elements of theUndergroundgames, like the ability to explore levels on foot and the character-first story, would be a natural fit for today’s landscape of story-driven, open-world games. The series’ unique narrative and tonal flavor could serve as a breath of fresh air for the modern sports game fan, who may be feeling a bit burned-out by live-services and sanitized AAA projects likeRider’s Republic. WithSkate 4falling into the former category, and granular simulation-stylegames likeSession: Skate Simbeing the only real alternatives, a modern spin onTony Hawk’s Undergroundwould be the perfect middle-ground. Whether this middle-ground will come in the form of just a remastered collection or a proper new release, only time will tell.
