OlliOlli World
MSRP $29.99
“OlliOlli World delivers beautiful, fast-paced, and captivating skateboarding fun.”
Pros
Enthralling gameplay
Easy to select up, exhausting to grasp
Good issue curve
Charming characters and world
OlliOlli World is greater than only a skateboarding recreation — it’s the most effective 2D platformers since Celeste. Like the perfect video games of the style, it is aware of that easy-to-learn-but-hard-to-master mechanics, rewarding obstacles, and excessive speeds that check one’s response time are the hallmarks of an incredible platformer.
Within minutes, OlliOlli World instantly received its hooks in me, and I’ve had a tough time placing the sport down since. Players won’t ever need the journey to finish, even when it does considerably abruptly.
Proving floor
OlliOlli World is remarkably straightforward to select up and extremely exhausting to place down. Players press a button to push themselves ahead and flick or maintain their controller’s left and proper sticks to carry out methods. Of course, the sport requires the gamers to tug off different stunts like grinding, wall using, and manuals to progress, nevertheless it by no means strays too removed from that easy core.
The recreation teaches the participant new mechanics throughout the ultimate world, but when a participant is aware of what they’re doing, they’ll pull off these methods proper from the beginning of the sport. Every stage takes the participant to a brand new, stunning vista and lets gamers skate at excessive speeds by way of ranges with branching paths and alternatives for sick stunts. It’s half Sonic the Hedgehog, half Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and half one thing wholly distinctive to this collection.
Some ranges are merely there to offer the participant a rush as they rocket down the aspect of a slope earlier than taking off and flying far by way of the air. Others are more difficult, however checkpoints are scattered simply often sufficient all through ranges in order that gamers by no means lose an excessive amount of progress and nonetheless really feel like they accomplish one thing after every checkpoint. That method labored for Celeste, and it really works right here.
Previous OlliOlli video games compelled gamers to die and respawn in the event that they didn’t press the proper button after they landed. This recreation punishes gamers by ending their combos that contribute to the excessive rating. And that rating isn’t required for development.
While many video games wish to lock development behind the arbitrary problem, gamers are allowed to finish as many challenges as they need and nonetheless transfer on. The recreation by no means stops the participant as a result of they aren’t adequate; it instreadrewards them for enjoying properly. The primary unlockables for scoring properly and finishing these challenges are flashy cosmetics, together with a (Danny Trejo masks) — sure, actually.
OlliOlli World is so addictive as a result of its enthralling grip on gamers by no means lets go. That stage of engagement motivated me to maintain taking part in as I misplaced observe of time and simply needed to see what was subsequent.
Radlandian wasteland
OlliOlli World’s plot doesn’t take itself too critically however is enjoyable nonetheless. In this recreation, the participant is on an journey to turn into a skate wizard and meet the 5 skate gods who reside in a magical plain known as Gnarvana that overlooks the world of Radlandia. They’re touring with a merry band of allies, together with the photographer Suze, the earlier skate wizard Chiffon, and a random dude who everybody calls Dad.
There are not any end-of-the-world stakes right here. OlliOlli World is about happening a journey with mates and bonding with them alongside the way in which. The participant’s crew at all times speaks to the participant earlier than a stage, setting the stage for the place and why the participant is skating there.
Much like skateboarding itself, OlliOlli World is extra concerning the journey, not the vacation spot.
The narrative primarily performs for laughs, and if it isn’t somebody’s factor, they’ll skip all of those cutscenes and give attention to the gameplay. The story’s main objective is so as to add depth to this colourful world. Reminiscent of fantasy cartoons like Hilda, the world of OlliOlli World is populated primarily by people. However, gamers will even encounter residing ice cream and bushes, in addition to seagulls that wish to work out.
The solely problem: This journey ends fairly abruptly after the fifth world and not using a climactic encounter or true mastery problem to shut out the journey. Players will possible nonetheless have loads of aspect ranges and challenges to finish and might compete for top scores in leagues with different gamers, however this narrative ending nonetheless feels sudden when reached.
Because this recreation mesmerized me with its gameplay, getting sharply pulled out of the expertise like this was a little bit of a shock. But it’s a wonderful signal that my solely actual drawback with OlliOlli World is that I need to see extra! Much like skateboarding itself, OlliOlli World is extra concerning the journey, not the vacation spot.
After finishing the sport, I’ve returned to my favourite ranges and dipped my toes into the procedurally generated ranges of Gnarvana. While these phases don’t have the handcrafted really feel of the intricately designed ranges, they ship the identical adrenaline-boosting gameplay for individuals who need extra. They additionally present a near-endless quantity of content material alongside the multiplayer leagues.
This yr, it will likely be powerful for an additional skateboarding recreation, and even one other 2D platformer, to enthrall me in the identical manner OlliOlli World has. If you possibly can squeeze in one other recreation earlier than Horizon Forbidden West and Elden Ring, make it OlliOlli World.
Our take
OlliOlli World will go down as the most effective 2D platformers of 2022 and the most effective skateboarding video games ever. Intricately designed ranges that reward gamers’ talent and selection make taking part in the sport a fascinating expertise. A colourful forged and world make it a heat and comfortable expertise to maintain taking part in. It won’t be revolutionary, nevertheless it’s masterfully crafted.
Is there a greater various?
OlliOlli World is the perfect recreation of its type. Players that need to see this recreation’s roots can take a look at the OlliOlli: Switch Stance assortment on Nintendo Switch, although needless to say the primary two video games are considerably more durable. Those who need to attempt 3D skateboarding video games would take pleasure in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, Session, or Skater XL. Celeste and Super Meat Boy are additionally good selections for quick platformers that scratch the identical itch.
How lengthy will it final?
I accomplished the story of OlliOlli World in simply over six hours. After that, I nonetheless had a ton of aspect ranges to finish and the countless Gnarvana mode, so this can be a recreation that might simply final gamers over a dozen hours.
Should you purchase it?
Yes. Even in a crowded February, OlliOlli World will nonetheless be a spotlight of the month, if not the yr. It’s additionally the perfect and most accessible skateboarding recreation launched in a very long time.
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