Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4
| Company type | Video game developer |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Products | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series |
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 is a skateboarding video game released in 2002, developed by Neversoft and published by Activision under their Activision O2 label. This title represents the fourth entry in the Tony Hawk's franchise. It was initially launched on platforms including GameCube, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Game Boy Advance during 2002. Subsequently, versions for Windows and Mac OS X were made available in 2003, developed by Beenox and published by Aspyr. In 2004, a port for the handheld Tapwave Zodiac was introduced.[1] Additionally, the Game Boy Advance edition served as a launch title for the digiBLAST, a Linux-based handheld console aimed at children that debuted in 2005.[2][3]
An updated version of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 is featured within the compilation Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, which was released on July 11, 2025.[4]
Gameplay
Unlike earlier entries where Career mode featured timed objectives, Pro Skater 4 introduces an untimed Career mode that revolves around completing challenges assigned by in-game characters. This approach served as a foundation for the narrative-driven Story modes seen in subsequent titles such as Underground, American Wasteland, and Project 8.
Building upon mechanics from previous installments, Pro Skater 4 retains all prior combos while adding new tricks like the spine transfer, which enables smoother movement between quarter-pipes, and skitching, allowing players to grab onto moving vehicles.
The game formalizes "hidden combos" introduced in Pro Skater 3, though these are less complex than those found in later releases. Enhancements such as grind and lip extensions expand combo possibilities by linking moves; this system was simplified in future games. Notably, this installment is unique in that players do not buy tricks—instead, trick sets are predetermined according to the selected move type.
Multiplayer functionality supports up to eight participants via broadband connections and three through dial-up, with shared access to multiplayer rooms across connection types.
Available multiplayer modes include:
- Trick Attack: Competitors aim for the highest cumulative score.
- Graffiti: Players claim objects by executing superior scoring tricks; the player with the most tags wins.
- Combo Mambo: Victory goes to the player with the highest scoring single combo.
- King of the Hill: A capture-the-flag style mode where holding the crown longest determines the winner.
- Slap: Players attempt to knock each other down.
- Free Skate: A mode dedicated to practice without objectives.
Featured pro skaters and characters
The roster includes fourteen professional skateboarders along with several unlockable original characters, which vary depending on the version. Licensed guest characters such as Jango Fett and Eddie, the mascot of Iron Maiden, also appear. Additionally, pro skater Mike Vallely and Daisy—a female skater modeled after and voiced by Jenna Jameson—are featured.
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Template:Note unlockable Template:Note PlayStation-exclusive Template:Note Game Boy Advance-exclusive
Reception
The game was met with widespread critical praise. IGN awarded the Xbox edition a 9 out of 10, describing it as "the premier skateboarding game available, surpassing its rivals by a significant margin." The PlayStation 2 version achieved the highest score from IGN, receiving a 9.3 out of 10, commended for its expanded maps and heightened challenge level, despite graphics remaining consistent.
GameSpot recognized Pro Skater 4 as the top Xbox title and ranked it second among PlayStation 2 and GameCube releases for October 2002. It secured GameSpot's "Best Alternative Sports Game" accolades on both GameCube and Xbox platforms, while also earning nominations for "Game of the Year" on GameCube and "Best Online Game" on PlayStation 2. Additionally, at the 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, it was nominated for "Console Sports Game of the Year" by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.
Game Boy Advance version
For November, GameSpot placed this version as the second-best Game Boy Advance game, trailing only behind Metroid Fusion. It was also shortlisted as a finalist for the publication's yearly "Best Sports Game on Game Boy Advance" award, ultimately won by Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3.
Legacy
The career mode introduced in Pro Skater 4 was brought back in the 2003 release Underground, becoming a staple feature in subsequent Neversoft-produced Tony Hawk's games. A remastered edition of Pro Skater 4 is part of the compilation Pro Skater 3 + 4, which launched in July 2025.[4]
External links
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