Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 abandoned the time limit that constrained the previous three entries in the series, replacing it with a freer mode in which the player completes tasks at their own pace directly within the open level, without a countdown clock on display. This change allowed for more varied and narrative-driven objectives - from the classic collecting of SKATE letters to comedic, sometimes downright absurd tasks set in environments like an airport, a zoo, or an amusement park full of rides.

The core gameplay, with fluid chaining of tricks, grinds and manuals, remains an improved version of the proven formula that Neversoft had been gradually refining since the very first entry on the original PlayStation. The fourth entry added a system of lucky items hidden throughout the levels and an expanded roster of professional riders, plus the ability to create your own levels in the park editor, which became a popular part of community creation and allowed players to share their own designs with friends and other players around the world. Graphically, the game leveraged the PS2's power for more detailed and expansive environments than the previous entries on the older console, which made it possible to design more open and interconnected levels.

Pro Skater 4 was received very positively by critics, and many players and reviewers still gladly cite it as the peak of the original part of the series, before it was replaced by the more story-driven Underground format. The soundtrack, with a selection of punk and rock music, was again one of the important components of the overall atmosphere, and many players still associate numerous tracks with the game today. Its influence on the structure of sports arcade games - free movement through levels instead of a time limit - is visible in many later titles, and the game remains one of the technically most polished skateboarding experiences on PlayStation 2. For fans of the series it often represents the frequently cited peak of its original, arcade phase.

Why play it: For fans of the series, it's the technically most polished peak of Tony Hawk's original arcade phase, with free movement through levels instead of a time limit and an unforgettable punk-rock soundtrack.