Played from a third-person perspective, each stage usually gives you two minutes to complete score goals, collect SKATE letters, find secret tapes, and discover hidden items. The control system revolves around jumps, grabs, flips, grinds, and the new Manual move, which lets players link tricks after landing to build much longer combos. Career mode unlocks new parks by clearing objectives, while single sessions and free skate help you practice routes and experiment with custom skaters.

Tony Hawk

Legendary professional skateboarder and the game's central icon, known for powerful aerial tricks.

Rodney Mullen

A technical flatland innovator whose presence reflects the game's expanded combo focus.

Steve Caballero

A veteran pro skater with balanced performance across many course types.

Bob Burnquist

A daring pro skater well suited to high-risk aerial lines and big scores.

Learn Manual timing as early as possible, since it is the foundation of advanced scoring. In career mode, clear fixed objectives like SKATE, secret tapes, and hidden collectibles before focusing on score thresholds. Start combos from ramps or small transfers, land safely into a Manual, then extend with grinds for extra multiplier value. Do not overextend when the balance meter gets unstable. Use free skate to map efficient routes and identify high-value lines in every park.

Complete all Career Mode objectives

Unlock Spider-Man as a playable skater.

Earn enough cash and purchase stat points and gear

Improve your created skater and unlock additional board parts and equipment.

Tips

Manuals are the key to long combos, so practice the landing timing first.

Tips

Short, reliable combos are often better than risky long strings when clearing goals.

Tips

Collect cash and tapes early to improve stats and make later stages easier.

User Reviews

The Manual mechanic transformed the series and made the combo system far deeper.

User Reviews

Its parks, soundtrack, and controls still make it one of the greatest skateboarding games ever made.