Welcome to the complete guide for the Foundry level in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. This comprehensive walkthrough has all the objectives, secret data, and play tips to effectively accomplish 100% completion. Whether you’re coming back to this classic or simply playing it, this guide will get you through all the objectives and find all the secrets within this industrial park skate spot.
Objectives Overview
Foundry is the first level of THPS3 and a great representation of the game’s central gameplay. Having an industrial setting, it is anything but sterotypical and boasts a varied list of rails, quarter-pipes, environmental hazards, and specialty challenges. In order to obtain completion, players will need to reach a combination of goals made for each level, including score goals, letter collecting, secret finding, and interaction with the level world.
Score Goals
There are three scoring challenges in Foundry: High Score (10,000 points), Pro Score (30,000 points), and Sick Score (60,000 points). All levels of scores must be reached on one run, but not necessarily within a single play session. The scores are reached by chaining massive combos. Start running at the nearest half-pipe to the starting line, doing vert tricks such as Indy 900s or special grabs. Alternate these with manuals and reverts to keep your combo meter filled.
Utilizing the rails too is important. Yellow TC rail and lava zone rails are excellent for grinding, and by alternating manuals and flatground tricks between rails, you can nearly double your base points. Special tricks are your best allies here—feed tricks with a fast time to hit (such as the Kickflip McTwist or the Heelflip Darkslide) and try to have them triggered inside combos in order to build your multiplier.
Collecting S-K-A-T-E
The word “SKATE” is concealed around the level and must be collected on one run. There is one in each, and they are all positioned in a position to prompt the player to locate them by discovery and creative use of the environment:
- The S is located next to the beginning half-pipe. Use a quarter-pipe to pick it up in mid-air.
- K is located near the lava pool, positioned on a narrow beam. Use a grind or precision ollie from an adjacent ledge to collect it.
- A is more challenging, floating over a large molten pit. You’ll need to build speed and execute a transfer jump from one platform to another to grab it.
- T is positioned over a rail bridged by the catwalk above, close to TC’s rail. Approaching here from the right requires little more than the right moment of a jump.
- E is in auly position to necessitate launching off of the roll-in ramp and landing over a gap onto a raised quarter-pipe.
Planning a collection route beforehand before your run will make smooth movement without losing time making repeated orbits around the level.
Finding the Secret Tape
The Secret Tape is cleverly hidden in the air duct system above the main foundry area. To access it, skate toward the raised catwalk and break through the glass window found at the top. Inside, you’ll encounter a narrow metal beam suspended over the floor. Grind this beam all the way across without falling. On the far side of the path is the tape. Hold your balance firm, for a botched grind means retracing the path from the catwalk.
Performing the Cannonball Trick
This is a test of your skill to execute a particular grab trick over a large gap. Cannonball is done by Down + Grab while airborne. Drive fast to get this achievement and utilize the half-pipe to the left of the spawn point to jump over it and activate the Cannonball in mid-air. Provided it is successfully triggered, the game will count the trick as you land on the other side of the pipe.
Drenching the Foreman
One of the level’s less difficult objectives is to soak a bucket of water over the foundry foreman. Go to the control room which is next to the enormous lava pool, where the foreman NPC sits. There is a lengthy metal rod hanging behind him. Grind upstairs and use the rod to shower down a gout of water that soaks the foreman below. This trial is done in a brief cutscene and as part of the level’s interactive environmental elements.
Grinding the Molten Bucket
This is an environmental test by time limit. There is a big bucket alongside the lava side of the level and it’s full of molten metal. The bucket overflows every few seconds to pour its contents onto the ground. To finish the objective, wait for the bucket to start tilting, then swiftly use the kicker ramp to jump up and grind the beam beside the bucket once metal starts to flow. Timing is very important—too early or too late and the cutscene won’t occur.
Unjamming the Five Valleys
There are five red industrial valves throughout the level. All the valves have to be unjammed by grinding over them. Most valves are up high or in tight spots, which promote players to seek vertical lines and utilize adjacent quarter-pipes or ramps. After all five valves are activated, a secret spiral catwalk at the rear of the starting point is opened up, revealing new lines and combination potential. Find the flashing red lights-they’re the quickest way to identify the valves.
Finishing the TC’s Rail Challenge
This requires you to do a regular 50-50 grind along the bottom part of the map on the long yellow TC rail. Just drive forward straight to the rail at normal speed. Just ollie on the rail without pressing any of the direction buttons, and your skater will automatically go into a 50-50 grind. Roll in smoothly to finish the task. It is an easy task but must be done in the right rail.
Recommended Run Strategy
In order to make effective progress efficiently, it is best to divide the goals across three runs. In your first run, focus on obtaining the score and collecting the SKATE letters. Begin with the half-pipe in order to have some vert combos under your belt and then follow a clockwise route around the map to collect each letter without backtracking.
For your second playthrough, make sure to look at the vertical sections of the level. Tackle the Secret Tape by smashing the glass and going into the air vents, then proceed to get the foreman soaked and mill the molten bucket. These usually have timed or specific locations, so getting them done in their own playthrough ensures concentration.
Use your third run to unclog all five valves and complete the TC rail challenge. These two can be combined effortlessly, and the unlocked spiral walkway could even grant bonus points or combo value for any remaining score-based objectives.
Pro Tips for Mastery
Mastering THPS3’s combo system with the revert-manual is important because it is a prerequisite for obtaining high scores. Start vert tricks with a revert, then a manual, then go on to the combo using flatground tricks or grinds. This increases your point multiplier significantly. Use special tricks that are quick to perform, particularly on ramps or grinding. Some of these include quick grabs like the Cannonball or flips like the Double Kickflip, and they’re good for combo strings.
Also watch for environmental timing. The goo bucket only tilts periodically—don’t stand around wasting time waiting for it. Rather, make your run time count and come back when finished. Look for other quarter-pipe lines for ways to get into letters or valves creatively.
