Better4

Better4 is a THPS4 modpack that includes modern gameplay and QOL features while maintaining the spirit of the original game.

Warning

Better4 is beta software and may contain bugs. See Known Issues.

Installation

First, verify THPS4 is installed. Download the latest GitHub release and drag Skate4.exe from your THPS4 game directory onto install.bat.

If you have an existing PARTYMOD-THPS4 installation, you may copy partymod.ini to better4.ini to reuse the same configuration. Alternatively, you may run better4config.exe and configure from scratch.

Better4 does not modify any vanilla game files. Any game data created by the installer is contained in **/better4/** subdirectories, which are only referenced when better4.exe is run.

Note

If THPS4 is installed to Program Files (or another directory which requires admin access to write files), you may have to run as admin for config changes to save. The installer script will prompt to re-run as admin if needed, but better4.exe and better4config.exe must be manually run as admin. This may be set persistently by right-clicking on the exe and going to Properties > Compatibility > Change settings for all users > Run this program as an administrator.

Features

Gameplay

Better4 ships with THPS4 default controls, but can be configured to your liking.

• Left and right dropdown
• Left and right manual spin
• PS2-exclusive manual float glitches (MFG, MQT, etc.)
• Single-tap WalliePlants
• Boneless tricks (beanplant, fastplant, MikeV)
• Configurable:
  • Double revert after dropdown
  • Lip tricks
  • Rail spin
  • Wall spin
  • Wallride bail (enables THUG1 BP)
  • Stance change
• Restored unused animations:
  • Benihana flip
  • Nollie 360 flip
  • Kickflip to indy
  • Kickflip to crail
  • THPS3 specials (handspring layout, etc.)

Online

• Added in-game server browser
• Added better observe functionality (observe after 0, don't need to leave game)
• Added "exit observe" and "sit out" options

CAS

• Added board scales
• Added X + Y + Z + XYZ sliders for all scales
• Widened min/max scales (0-200)
• Unlocked full RGB range
• Restored hidden CAS items for pros, secret skaters, and neversoft devs
• Added custom boards (banana, hoverboard, old school, ollie)
• Added bunched cargos
• Unassign trick in "Edit Tricks" menu

Misc

• Disable pause on unfocus
• Disable board scuff
• Configure buttons font (PS3, Xbox, PC)

Known Issues

• Can't navigate pause menu in online games with arrow keys

Credits

A special thank you to the following people, without whom this project would not exist:

• @zedthps, @voss10, and @1borgy for their contributions
• @PARTYMANX for their work on partymod-thps4
• @DCxDemo for their work on THPSQScriptEd
• PunishedFiddle for their work on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 Gamepad Prompts

For Developers

Clone the Better4 repo with the --recurse-submodules option:

git clone --recurse-submodules git@github.com:better-4/Better4.git --config core.autocrlf=false --config core.eol=lf
cd Better4

Building with Docker

Using Docker is the easiest way to build Better4, as it automates the process of pulling build dependencies and building a release.

Install Docker Desktop, then verify the Docker Engine is running and run:

docker build -f Dockerfile --target export -o build/out .

Build artifacts will be exported to the build/out directory.