Ready to master one of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4’s most thrilling challenges? The castle and fountain gap in Waterpark isn’t just a epic jump – it’s a hardflip test that demands precision, timing, and unlocking a secret arcade power. Whether you’re on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, learn how to restore the arcade power, access the hidden path, and nail the flawless hardflip that clears this iconic gap like a pro. Get your controller ready; this guide will take your skater skills to the next level.
Finishing this mission requires you to restore the power to the arcade, which unlocks a secret entrance to the castle. To do so, you’ll need to find a pair of keys that is hidden around the map, like you’ve already done in other levels in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 4. Although this might seem like a long process, it’s worthwhile since unlocking the area is mandatory to hardflip the castle and fountain gap.
Our Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 guide covers how to restore the power to the arcade and how to hardflip the castle and fountain gap.
How to restore the power to the arcade in THPS 4
To restore power to the arcade in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4’s Waterpark level, start by locating the arcade keys near your spawn point. Head down the water slides and follow the right wall-you’ll find a narrow passage under a large slide where the keys are hovering above a pipe. Pick up the keys, then proceed to the arcade entrance, which is nearby at ground level. Delivering the keys to the people outside the arcade restores power and permanently unlocks access to the arcade and the castle entrance, allowing you to attempt the hardflip over the castle and fountain gap.
Before you can hardflip the castle and fountain gap, you’ll need to first restore the power to the arcade to unlock the entrance to the castle.
To restore power to the arcade, you must get the keys to the arcade. You find them not far from where you start the Waterpark level.
Go down the water slides and go to your right. Follow the wall to your right and you’ll will find a short passage under a large slide where the key is floating over a pipe. Get closer to the keys to collect them. When you have them, a key symbol appears on the left side of the screen.
With the keys in hand, take them to the people outside the arcade. From where you found the keys, jump down to the area below, turn to face the direction you came from, and go forward to find the people.
By delivering the keys, you unlock not only the arcade, but also the entrance to the castle, which stays permanently open.
How to hardflip the castle and fountain gap in THPS 4
To hardflip the castle and fountain gap in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, first make sure you’ve restored power to the arcade in the Waterpark level, as this unlocks access to the castle area. Build up speed using the quarter pipes on the far side of the castle, then approach the ramp facing the fountain gap. As you launch off the ramp, hold the up-left direction (using the joystick or D-pad) and press the flip button (Square on PlayStation, X on Xbox/PC) to perform a hardflip mid-air over the gap. You may need to use a Boneless (press up, up, and jump) for extra height and distance if you’re having trouble making the jump. Timing and speed are crucial; practice the approach and trick input for consistent results.
This is a mission with many layers and the most important factor is knowing how to hardflip. In Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, you execute this flip trick by pressing Left Up and Square/X. Like other flip tricks, you can only perform a flip trick while in the air.
When you feel comfortable doing hardflips, it’s time to complete this mission. First, go to the arcade and look to the left. You will see the word “Entrance” above a door. Go through it to teleport to a giant slide.
From this slider, you get into a bowl. You need to go straight and spine transfer (hold R2/RT) to fall and reach a new ramp from where you jump and hardflip. This last ramp puts you right above the fountain, so you don’t need to worry about anything else besides landing the hardflip.
What secret steps are essential to successfully hardflip the gap in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
To successfully hardflip the castle and fountain gap in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, there are several secret and essential steps you must follow:
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Restore Power to the Arcade: The first crucial step is to restore power to the arcade in the Waterpark level. This restoration is necessary because it unlocks access to a secret entryway to the castle area where the gap is located. To do this, you must find and collect a set of hidden arcade keys scattered around the map. This task is similar to some challenges from previous Tony Hawk games and enables you to reach the special ramp for the gap jump.
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Navigate the Environment and Perform Spine Transfer: Once the power is restored and the secret area is accessible, you need to approach the gap by going straight, then perform a spine transfer move (holding R2/RT) to fall onto a new ramp. This maneuver puts you in the correct position to jump for the hardflip over the gap.
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Execute the Hardflip at the Ramp: After reaching the new ramp above the fountain, perform the hardflip trick right off the ramp. The hardflip combines a frontside shove-it and a kickflip, requiring precise timing and control. Practice the hardflip beforehand as you’ll need to press the appropriate controls (e.g., on PlayStation: up-left + square) accurately to clear the gap.
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Be Mindful of Approach Angle and Timing: Successful landing depends on precise speed, angle, and timing off the ramp. Some players recommend practicing the hardflip multiple times before attempting the gap to gain consistency.
In essence, the essential “secret” steps are unlocking a hidden area first by restoring the arcade’s power via collecting keys, then using spine transfers to position yourself on the special ramp, and finally executing a perfectly timed hardflip over the castle and fountain gap. Without restoring the arcade’s power, it isn’t possible to reach and attempt this gap at all.
This challenge is available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox versions, and the exact controls may vary by platform, so adjust accordingly.
If you’d like, I can provide a detailed controller input guide or tips for mastering the hardflip itself.
What specific ramp angles are needed for the hardflip over the castle gap
The sources do not provide an exact numeric value for the specific ramp angle needed to hardflip the castle and fountain gap in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4. However, the guidance from gameplay videos and walkthroughs indicates the key points:
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You must restore power to the arcade to access the secret ramp for the jump.
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After spine transferring onto this ramp, perform the hardflip right off it.
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The approach involves going up and slightly to the left on the ramp with sufficient speed.
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The ramp angle is just enough to launch the player across the gap, not explicitly quantified, but in typical skateboarding and game design, such ramps tend to be around 20° to 30° for effective jumps of this nature.
In skateboarding theory and gameplay style, precise timing and positioning on the edge of the ramp are more critical than an exact ramp angle, as the game physics simulate a realistic but adjustable jump arc. The controlled timing of the hardflip trick off the ramp is what determines success.
So while no source states a clear angle measurement, expect the ramp to have a moderately steep incline (approximately 20°-30° range typical for big jumps) to get enough airtime, and concentrate on the proper approach, spine transfer, and trick timing.
If you want further exact ramp angle details, you may need to extract level geometry via game modding tools or developer documentation, as publicly available guides and videos focus on gameplay technique rather than precise ramp metrics.
Would you like tips on trick timing or controller inputs next?
