OlliOlli World Review

OlliOlli came very close to perfecting the idea of skateboarding across a 2D playing field, though it’s pixelated visuals and fast-paced gameplay were held together with a complex control scheme that didn’t make it easy for newcomers to come to grips with. In OlliOlli World, developers Roll7 set out to rectify that issue by simplifying the experience while hoping to maintain the same level of high speed, high scoring gameplay. The result is a world brimming with personality and plenty of action, though it isn’t without its flaws.

Radlandia is a place where skateboarding is revered, a utopia full of mad ramps, epic grinds and colourful characters all looking towards you in your quest for immortality amongst the skater gods of Gnarvana. As much as that may sound like a 90s cliché, it’s rather obvious that the colour and pageantry of OlliOlli World is played for genuine laughs. It’s a stylish choice, a far cry from the retro aesthetic of the original games in the series, but it works wonderfully to introduce newcomers and fans alike to its outlandish concept.

Looking rad is easy when there are so many options

Before everything, you’re given the opportunity to create your own character in whatever style you choose. The options are seemingly endless; you’ll probably settle on a cool look only to change it twice or three times over as you unlock even more items across the campaign and beyond. Representation matters, and it must be applauded that Roll7 went with a system whereby gender isn’t a traditional video game option, it’s more about what how badass you want to look when tricking yourself out.

The opening few levels serve as a tutorial, introducing you to the cast of kooky sidekicks who teach you the ways of skateboarding and the potential of discovering your inner trickster. But once the levels start expanding, from simple one lane jumps into bigger, bolder skateparks and lanes full of rails and wall grinds, the enjoyment level equally rises and makes for some genuinely fun times. All of that, however, would be for naught if the control scheme was far too difficult to get your head around, but Roll7 have handled that issue rather effectively.

All your normal, advanced and special tricks (flips, ollies and the like) are handled with the left stick, which you’ll pull down and flick up to achieve a result or gain enough air to reach a platform further along the path. As you land, whether on a grind rail or down a path, you’ll flick the stick again in any direction to keep your momentum and combo going. Essentially the left stick is your board, though you can combine that with the right stick to create grab tricks, or the A button to land manuals. It may sound complicated, but in action it feels incredibly natural to move the sticks in time to the action on screen, and within a few runs you’ll find an agreeable rhythm.

Radlandia is split into five distinct locations, from the sunny beaches of Sunshine Valley to the deserts and potential alien encounters of Burnt Rock, and each location brings with it new environmental hazards, bigger ramps for even more air and even more speed. Some of the later challenges can be tricky to get right on the first go-around, whether timing a jump just right or finding the best path for your skill level. You’re also given the option of going down more difficult paths (called Gnarly Routes) by pressing a button at a junction, so if the challenge is too great, you can stick to the simpler lane and just enjoy the run to the goal in style.

Grabbing the air up there, gnarly style

OlliOlli World is all about risk taking in the best way, taking a punt on pulling manuals between each possible rail or ramp to continually increase your score multiplier. The more tricks you pull within a combo the higher the score, but one wrong move will empty out your result in a heartbeat. Luckily each level has a decent amount of checkpoints, allowing you to start at a certain spot instead of all the way back at the beginning (unless you so choose). That’s a godsend for those players struggling to reach the end goal, but it can also play into how far you want to push yourself. Do you combo all the way to the end or bank a good combo before a checkpoint so you don’t lose it all? It’s the kind of gamble that makes a game like this really shine for those looking for a formidable challenge.

Completing the campaign to the end credits only takes a few hours, which may not seem like much, but the amount of extra content and objectives per level more than makes up for that. Each stage has its own set of extra incentives, bonus challenges and local high scores to beat, and on top of that you can revisit them all once you master new tricks to increase your score, competing against your nearest rival on the online scoreboards in the process. For those looking to fully complete OlliOlli World, it’s going to take a lot, lot longer, but it’s worth the price of admission if only for its striking, vivid visuals and its collection of super chill music tracks. It all culminates in a feeling that you’re just here to relax and unwind, even if that one jump keeps messing you up.

Outside of the campaign’s enjoyable story and challenging levels, there’s a small handful of other optional modes to partake in. Once you unlock Gnarvana, you’ll be able to compete in daily challenges with other players along a predetermined level in Gnarvana League, but the more entertaining mode is the Portal, a place where you can create your own level and share it out to other players via Postcodes (think the Nintendo friend code system). I say create, but unfortunately this isn’t a build-a-stage mode as the options are limited to choosing which world, how long or short it may be and whether it’s a more casual run or a high score-inducing challenge fest. It’s a nice addition, and Postcodes can be shared and played across all consoles and PC, but it doesn’t fill the gap of a true create-a-park system that lent the Tony Hawk franchise some much needed longevity.

Wiser words have never been spoken

Sadly, there’s also very little in the way of true multiplayer or co-op modes either. The campaign is entirely played solo and there’s no option to allow friends to join in on a session and play together at the same time, with the League mode coming close to that but feeling more like a Mario Kart time trial mode. It’s an unfortunate decision that may come back to bite OlliOlli World after launch, its depth resting solely on the campaign’s many optional challenges. It does hurt the overall package, only because it feels like it should be there, but ultimately if you want an experience all to yourself and high scores are your jam, then OlliOlli World will fill that need rather compellingly.

Final Thoughts

OlliOlli World is an enjoyable, imaginative platformer, one that nails the feeling of speed and precision with a control scheme that’s easy to manage and challenging to master. Though the campaign has plenty of fun moments and content if you’re willing to put the time in, the lacking multiplayer features holds it back from being truly excellent.

Reviewed on PC // Review code supplied by publisher

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