Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 Has Been Butchered For The Switch Remake

Introduction: A Legacy Tarnished

When Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (THPS4) launched in 2002, it revolutionized skateboarding games with its open-ended level design, innovative career mode, and iconic soundtrack. For years, fans have clamored for a faithful remake, hoping to relive its glory on modern platforms. Unfortunately, the recently released Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 remake for the Nintendo Switch has sparked outrage, with players and critics alike decrying it as a hollow, inferior shell of the original. From technical shortcomings to missing content, the Switch version has butchered what many consider a masterpiece.


Downgraded Gameplay and Clunky Controls
The heart of THPS4’s appeal was its fluid, responsive controls that empowered players to chain tricks seamlessly. The Switch remake, however, suffers from laggy input responses and oversimplified mechanics. Reports highlight that the game’s physics feel “off,” with grinds and manuals behaving unpredictably, stripping away the precision that made the original so rewarding. The Joy-Con’s analog stick, already criticized for its fragility, exacerbates the issue, making complex combos a frustrating endeavor.


Technical Woes: Performance Over Passion

The Switch’s hardware limitations are no secret, but the extent of the remake’s technical flaws is staggering. Players report frequent frame rate drops, blurry textures, and draw distance issues that make levels like Alcatraz and College Campus look barren. Loading times are inexplicably long for a game two decades old, and crashes during saves have erased progress for some. While the Switch isn’t a powerhouse, comparisons to the polished THPS 1+2 remaster on other platforms reveal a glaring lack of optimization effort.


Missing Content: A Soundtrack Scorned

THPS4’s soundtrack, featuring bands like AFI, Iron Maiden, and The Offspring, was a cultural touchstone. The Switch remake cuts nearly a third of the original tracks, replacing them with generic royalty-free music. Iconic levels have also been altered: the iconic “London” map, once dense with secrets, now feels stripped-down, with key gaps and Easter eggs removed. The career mode’s structure has been simplified, ditching the open-world “goal checklist” format for a linear progression that betrays the original’s freedom.


A Mobile Port in Disguise?

Digging deeper, fans discovered the Switch version appears to be a port of THPS4’s 2022 mobile release, not a ground-up remake. This explains the watered-down visuals and missing features. Activision’s decision to prioritize cost-cutting over quality has backfired, leaving Switch players paying full price for what feels like a cash grab. The lack of online multiplayer—a staple of the original—further underscores the half-hearted effort.


Community Backlash and Broken Trust

The backlash has been swift. Social media platforms and gaming forums are flooded with disappointed fans. Reddit user u/SkateOrDie_91 lamented, “This isn’t the THPS4 I grew up with. It’s a cheap imitation.” Critics note that the botched remake risks damaging the franchise’s resurgence, especially after the well-received THPS 1+2. By treating the Switch audience as an afterthought, developers have eroded trust in a fanbase eager for redemption after years of mediocre entries.


Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity

The THPS4 Switch remake could have been a celebration of skateboarding culture. Instead, it’s a cautionary tale of how corporate shortcuts and disrespect for legacy titles can alienate loyal fans. For now, players are better off dusting off their PS2 copies or waiting for a patch—though hope for meaningful fixes seems slim. As Tony Hawk himself once said, “Do a kickflip!” But in this case, maybe don’t bother flipping the Switch version into your cart.

Final Score: 3/10
Pro Skater 4 on Switch is less a remake and more a wreck—a disservice to one of gaming’s most beloved titles.