Five Essential Tips for Mastering Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 from Day One

Alright, let’s dive into the chaotic world of thoughts and words about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Ready? Here we go.

So, you know when you’re a kid, and there’s that one game that just, I don’t know, burrows its way into your heart and sets up camp there? Yeah, that’s Tony Hawk for a bunch of us. Hours spent obsessing over digital skateboards, and then, let’s be honest, a pitiful attempt or two at a real skate park—didn’t usually end well for me. (My knees still wince at the memory.)

Anyway, they’ve mashed up Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 into one epic remix, and if you pre-ordered the Digital Deluxe Edition, congrats, you’re already in the club with early access. Everyone else has to wait till July 11—it’s dropping on just about every platform you can think of, like Xboxes, PlayStations, PCs, and even the Switch. Plus, it’s on Xbox Cloud Gaming and all that jazz. What’s up with all these techy terms like Smart Delivery? Doesn’t matter, I guess. Let’s ride.

These games are like a reunion tour with old band members, but better. Legendary skaters are back, plus some new faces and secret ones too—Andy Anderson and Bam Margera, if you’ve been keeping track. And the soundtrack? Seriously, it’s like they cracked open a time capsule and threw in some fresh beats just for kicks.

But let’s cut to the chase—or the skate, whatever. If you’re new to this dizzying world of ollies and kickflips, here’s a crash (pun intended) course from a fellow skate enthusiast whose biggest trick is, well, not crashing.

Find Your Footing on the Streets

Trust me, landing those moves like Impossible Flips and 50-50 Grinds feels frustrating at first. Start simple. Nail your ollies, maybe a kickflip or two if you’re feeling brave. Master the street before you aim for the stars—or ramps.

Once that’s down, mix it up with some grinds. Like seasoning in a really good dish, the more variety the better. It’s like this magic multiplier fairy dust—they just accumulate and boom, you’re pulling off sick combos. Street’s a good start; the rest will follow.

Goal? What’s the Goal Here?

Ah, goals. They’re like those elusive little monsters in each level calling out to you. And no, you don’t have to get all of them to move on. Who makes these rules anyway? Focus on the ‘collect-a-thon’ goals first—like picking up letters for S-K-A-T-E. Helps you learn the lay of the land.

In Foundry, there’s a path, almost invisible but kinda there if you squint hard enough. Glide through it, bag some letters, roam around. Then, mix in some tricks. No rush; we’ll get to the really wild goals when we’re ready. Pro goals? Yeah, sounds intimidating but fun, right?

Don’t Be Afraid to – Ahem – Bail

Half-pipes are basically the ultimate thrill ride. And 360 Melons? Pure adrenaline. But unless you want to lose those virtual teeth, figure out when to pull back. Yes, there’s an art to bailing out. Do it right, save that Special meter, and maybe your dignity too.

Explore and Exploit Pockets of Opportunity

Each map is like a motherlode of potential trick spots. Find a perfect grind rail, mix in an Impossible Flip, and play with that multiplier. Like behind the College ticket office—there’s this long strip with parallel rails leading to half-pipes. Just made for score-chasing.

Every level’s got hidden gems, so nosedive into exploration mode. Maybe a pool here, a ramp there—it’s a treasure hunt without a map.

Hangtime, Air, and Speed: Your Three Amigos

As you rake up those Stat Points (hidden treasure!), toss them into Hangtime, Air, and Speed first. Trust me on this; everything else can wait. They’re the key ingredients for that flawless trick of jumping through, over, and between everything and anything.

End of the day, if you’re just getting on board with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, there’s an in-game tutorial narrated by the man himself—yep, Tony Hawk’s doing the honors. Dive in. Or don’t. You’ll make your way, either way.

And hey, if you pre-ordered, dive right in with that early access. Add-ons galore: You get to skate as Doom Slayer! For the rest, July’s not that far off. So, throw on your digital skates and hit those parks. Skate or cry, right?

Alright, time to grab a board and see if I can remember how this all works. Wish me luck, I feel like I might need it.