The Alcatraz level on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 is among the greatest in the series by merging old-school skate action with one of the world’s most infamous real-life locales. The level takes place on San Francisco Bay’s infamous old federal penitentiary island and features frayed concrete, decaying cellblocks, and perfectly skateable ruins. One of its many missions, and one of its most entertaining and story-driven, is “Release the Prisoner.”
It’s a mix of exploration, platforming, and precision stunts in the establishment of the dark, gothic atmosphere of escape and defiance. It’s a cinematic side mission that’s an easy one to fit into Alcatraz’s ominous world.
Objective Overview
Your mission is to find and trigger five switches to unlock the sealed prison cell. The switches are found in different locations on the level. Once all the switches have been triggered—grind, wallride, or ollie—the cell will be unlocked, and a grateful inmate will vacate voluntarily.
It’s a challenge that’s worth it with cautious discovery and strong board control. There are some extremely well-concealed switches, and there are switches that must be accessed on the basis of innovative use of ramps, quarter-pipes, and transfers.
Specific Switch Locations
Let’s analyze exactly where each of the five switches is required to score the goal:
Switch 1: Close to the Starting Zone
- At the beginning of the level, go left immediately and skate over to the outer wall rail.
- The red-lit switch hangs off this rail.
- This one gets you in the mood and is well placed—situated to make you ride the ledges of the level.
Switch 2: Prison Yard Ledge Wallride
- Head to the big open middle prison yard, full of open space, bleachers, and a few rails.
- Look for a wall behind a ledge that you can grind—there is a switch on it high up.
- Wallride or ollie off the ledge or quarter-pipe nearby.
- Try to maintain speed to land it on the first attempt. Well-angled approach will save time and aggravation.
Switch 3: Guard Tower Corner
- Go towards the corner of the map where a guard tower sits next to a huge quarter-pipe.
- Use the quarter-pipe to launch upward toward a ledge near the tower. You’ll see the red glow of the switch waiting.
- Either wallride through or grind up the ledge into the switch to activate it.
- This location uses vertical motion to emphasize Alcatraz’s multi-level design.
Switch 4: Back of the Bleachers
- Skate on over to the bleachers or spectator seats in front of the exercise yard.
- At the back of the bleachers is a raised concrete platform with a grind rail.
- Grind up and down rail to activate the fourth switch.
- Take note of your approach angle—a shallow one lets you readily maintain your speed.
Switch 5: Cell Block Rooftop Access
- The final switch is actually on the rooftop itself and is most fragile.
- Look for a quarter-pipe or kicker ramp which lets you reach the rooftop section.
- Once you’ve reached the top, locate the switch near a skinny beam or ledge. Grind or wallride to hit it.
- Take it slow here—it’s a section that can be challenging due to the available limited landing spots and cramped quarters.
With all five switches set, skate back to the cell block area—you can’t miss it by the steel bars and small peephole. The bars will be opening up automatically after setting the fifth switch. You will see a quick animation of releasing the prisoner. He will be celebrating or running around freely, and that peculiar quest is done.
