Compare Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 vs Hollow Knight: Silksong

Reviewers appreciated forgiving modifiers such as longer timers, perfect balance, and comfort-oriented options, especially for newcomers or returning players who need help easing back in.

Accessibility is criticized as limited, with reviews noting the game is not trying to be accessible to everyone and lacks broader options.

Animation quality was positively noted when tricks, jumps, and redone moves looked satisfying and modernized.

Animation quality has limited but strong evidence, with reviewers noting gorgeous animation within the hand-drawn presentation.

Art direction was usually strong, but some darker or altered level presentations, especially Zoo/London comments, were criticized.

Art direction receives near-universal praise for hand-drawn beauty, color variety, style, and a distinctive visual identity.

Atmosphere was mixed where reviewers felt personality had been stripped from THPS4 or some altered levels.

Atmosphere is a major strength, described as surreal, haunting, dreadful, beautiful, and full of wonder and horror.

Boss design is broadly praised as memorable, choreographed, varied, and exciting, though some reviews dislike spongey health pools, rewards, or runbacks.

Bug frequency was not dominant but some reviewers reported black screens, clipping, out-of-bounds moments, or repeated bugs.

Camera behavior had isolated criticism due to a stuck-camera issue.

Camera and hitbox-adjacent behavior draws criticism where bosses or damage windows appear from off-screen or feel overly generous.

Character customization was one of the weaker areas, with several reviewers criticizing Create-A-Skater as limited or disappointing despite unlockable clothing.

Character development is praised for Hornet softening through Pharloom and for character arcs that counterbalance the harsh world.

The skater roster was generally viewed as large, modern, and more diverse, with some disappointment around missing classic secret characters or unlock handling.

Checkpointing is a common concern, with long runbacks, sparse benches, paid benches, and poor placement repeatedly criticized.

Combat is a major strength, described as fast, precise, tense, dance-like, and rewarding, though some reviews tie its highs to demanding difficulty.

Community features were praised through Create-A-Park, custom goals, shared parks, and creator tools that could extend playtime.

Content variety was considered generous, with many modes, skaters, goals, unlockables, and new levels, though missing THPS4 stages and music hurt some scores.

Content variety is praised through multiple game-like challenge types, many systems, and plentiful options, while remaining tied to high difficulty.

Controls were one of the strongest points, with reviewers calling them responsive, precise, smooth, and central to why the game still works.

Control feel is strongly praised, with one review emphasizing complete control of Hornet and another calling the Switch 2 Pro Controller perfect.

The two-minute arcade loop remained a major strength, producing strong one-more-run momentum and familiar Tony Hawk flow.

The core loop is praised as pure Metroidvania satisfaction: tough encounters, discovery, and rewarding progression through new areas.

Crafting has negative evidence where shard requirements pull the player away from action into repetitive resource hunting.

Crash stability was a concern mainly on Switch versions, where reviewers reported multiple crashes or home-screen returns.

Cross-play support was consistently seen as useful for playing with friends and broadening multiplayer availability.

Cross-save support was only discussed as a missing/wanted feature, so it scored poorly.

Dialogue is mixed-to-positive: one review calls it shockingly good, while another says it can feel dry at times.

Difficulty was treated as fair but demanding, with tough Pro Goals and satisfying high-score execution once players learn the systems.

Difficulty is the most divisive attribute: many reviewers call it rewarding and intentional, while others find it cruel, too punishing, or unfairly frictional.

The rosary and shard economy is the most repeated systems complaint, often described as stingy, grindy, or slightly misbalanced.

Emotional impact is strong, ranging from adrenaline and triumph to reviewers saying they shed tears or were moved by events.

Endgame content receives strong support from optional endings, zones, bosses, and post-credits discoveries.

Enemy variety is strong in scope, but evidence is mixed because flying enemies, monster rooms, and certain mobs can feel annoying.

Environmental detail was mostly praised, but NPCs and some character/environment population details were criticized in places.

Environmental detail is repeatedly praised, from dense small touches to rooms and backgrounds that make Pharloom feel lived-in.

Exploration was praised when goals, hidden routes, and level secrets encouraged players to learn maps rather than just chase scores.

Exploration is a standout, with most reviewers praising dense secrets, rewarding routes, and curiosity-driven discovery, though a few disliked sparse rewards or risk pressure.

Facial or head rendering received limited criticism, mainly around underwhelming skater heads or NPC appearances.

Faithfulness to franchise was mixed, praised for preserving skating spirit but criticized for losing THPS4 identity, original edge, and PS2-era personality.

Faithfulness to franchise is strongly supported by reviews saying it captures, continues, and improves on Hollow Knight while standing apart.

Fast travel is praised in one review for reducing backtracking tedium through well-marked routes.

Frame rate stability was often solid, especially on PS5/Series X/Switch 2, but some Switch, split-screen, and performance-mode caveats appeared.

Frame rate stability has limited but positive evidence from a Switch 2 review calling 120fps performance perfect.

Fun factor was one of the strongest themes: even critical reviewers often admitted the game was fun, addictive, or joyful to play.

Fun factor is high overall, with reviewers repeatedly saying they had great fun, wanted to return, or found the game compelling despite pain.

Core skating mechanics were consistently praised as smooth, tight, polished, and satisfying, even by reviewers disappointed in other remake choices.

Review evidence frames the broader mechanics as more complex than the original, especially through Hornet’s expanded combat and movement options.

Graphics were praised across most reviews for modernized stages, strong lighting, and nostalgic reconstruction, with some platform and art-choice caveats.

Graphics quality is praised for a stunning hand-drawn world and a visual style that feels playful, dark, and richly realized.

Grind level is criticized where resource depletion and boss attempts can push players toward needless grinding.

Handheld suitability has positive evidence from Steam Deck performance and battery life comments.

Haptic feedback had limited but positive evidence, especially Switch 2 and DualSense rumble impressions.

Horror tension receives limited positive support from the dream/nightmare tone described in one review.

HUD/readability evidence was limited but positive where reviewers emphasized clear visibility of ramps, rails, and collectibles at speed.

Immersion is strongly supported by one review’s comment about Pharloom lingering after play.

Innovation is positive but measured: reviewers praise new directions and system changes, while one calls it evolutionary rather than revolutionary.

Most reviewers saw the game as approachable but still skill-heavy, with simple basics and a higher ceiling once combos, balance, and precision matter.

The learning curve is steep, with reviewers noting hours of mastery and occasional git-gud walls, but also rewarding skill growth.

Level design was broadly positive, especially THPS3 classics and the new Waterpark/Pinball/Movie Studio stages, though some THPS4 conversions drew criticism.

Level design is strongly praised for seamless area flow, purposeful rooms, thoughtful platform placement, and dense Metroidvania structure.

Load times had limited evidence, with Nintendo versions and character loading drawing the clearest criticism.

Loot and rewards are a weaker point, with reviewers complaining about bosses or difficult paths that provide little or disappointing material payoff.

Lore depth is praised for hidden mysteries, optional heritage threads, and deeper history that rewards curiosity.

Map and navigation design is mixed: several reviews praise map structure and direction, but others dislike incomplete map support and 100% cleanup.

Matchmaking quality was positively mentioned by reviewers who found matchmaking smooth or issue-free.

Review evidence supported this attribute with mixed reviewer sentiment.

Mission and goal design was divisive: some praised the streamlined objectives and new goals, while THPS4 fans missed NPC missions, original goals, and structure.

Mission design earns positive evidence where missions give players reasons to revisit areas and make NPC discoveries feel more purposeful.

Movement and skating feel earned very high marks, with reviewers praising physics, momentum, board control, and the joy of simply skating around.

Hornet’s movement is one of the clearest consensus wins, with reviewers praising her speed, agility, sprinting, and dance-like traversal.

Multiplayer design was generally praised for returning modes, HAWK mode, Graffiti, and arcade competition, with some playlist and choice caveats.

Narrative quality is praised as more focused and engaging than the original, helped by Hornet’s voice and guided exploration.

Onboarding is a weak spot for some, especially in the opening hours where resources, checkpoints, and tutorial clarity are less generous.

Online stability was mostly positive in tested sessions, but one reviewer disliked the always-online requirement.

Open-world design scored poorly overall because multiple reviewers disliked or mourned the removal of THPS4’s freer career structure, even when they accepted the compromise.

Originality is praised where Silksong is seen as firmly on its own path rather than a simple copy.

Pacing usually benefited from the traditional timer and quick restart loop, though that same choice was controversial for the THPS4 half.

Pacing has a notable concern around long checkpoint placement that interrupts practice and repetition in challenging sequences.

Performance optimization was strong on current hardware for many reviewers, though platform-specific issues and crashes prevented universal praise.

Performance is praised on lower-end hardware, Switch platforms, and 120fps contexts, with only minor visual caveats.

Platform-specific support was mixed, with Switch 2 called solid but missing mouse support and other platform-specific caveats noted.

Platform-specific support has positive evidence from ultrawide support that improves immersion.

Platforming precision is mixed: reviewers admire Hornet’s acrobatics, but several criticize the diagonal pogo or inconsistent bounce feel.

Polish is praised through meticulous design and presentation, though only one scored review directly supports the attribute.

Progression was viewed as useful and content-rich, but some reviewers disliked simplified goals or locking endgame challenges behind completion layers.

Progression is generally praised for fresh upgrades and satisfying forward motion, but one review criticizes opaque true-ending requirements.

Hornet is consistently praised as an excellent, charismatic, well-rounded protagonist with stronger presence than the silent Knight.

Puzzle design receives limited but positive evidence, with one review saying Silksong makes puzzle-solving and hidden-path discovery feel effortless.

Quest design is split: some reviewers like wishes and missions as structure, while others criticize boring or grindy fetch quests.

Remake/remaster quality was the central tradeoff: most reviewers liked the package as a modern Tony Hawk game but disagreed sharply on THPS4 changes and missing content.

Replay value was strong thanks to Pro Goals, solo tours, challenges, unlocks, custom parks, speedruns, and reviewers expecting long-term returns.

Replay value trends high for completionists and build experimenters, though one reviewer said they were glad to play it only once.

Side character depth receives positive evidence from a review praising Pharloom’s supporting characters as charming and motivated.

Social features had limited but positive evidence around relaxed public free skate and skating with others.

Sound design had limited evidence, with one reviewer noting odd audio dips that disrupted flow.

Sound design earns strong support from praise for surface-specific details and top-notch audio touches.

Soundtrack quality was the most polarizing attribute: many liked the new mix, but many longtime fans strongly disliked the missing original tracks.

The soundtrack is one of the clearest strengths, repeatedly described as magnificent, excellent, world-class, and emotionally fitting.

Split-screen quality had limited negative evidence because split-screen halved frame rate on Switch 2.

Tutorial coverage was repeatedly praised as useful for onboarding, refreshers, and explaining systems clearly enough for new or rusty players.

Tutorial quality is criticized through comparison with Hollow Knight’s clearer early tutorial structure and more generous opening support.

Crests, tools, and upgrades are widely seen as flexible and creative, though a few reviews found early limitations or resource-linked tool use frustrating.

User interface design has limited positive evidence around attractive mission HUD illustrations and attention to detail.

Value for money was mixed-to-positive for fans and Game Pass users, though strongly negative from a reviewer who saw the remake as not worth it.

Value for money is exceptional across reviews, especially because of the low price, large content volume, and long completion potential.

World-building is one of the strongest areas, with reviewers praising Pharloom as immaculate, complex, sad, and worth exploring.

World interactivity has limited but strong support from one review that praises evolving locations, reactive hubs, and organic backtracking.

Writing quality receives strong praise where reviewers call it top-notch and tied to Hornet’s conversations and character insight.