OlliOlli
- January 22, 2014
- Roll7
OlliOlli crystallizes the idea of combos into something new
OlliOlli: Epic Combo Edition brings together the defining Skateboarding Series of this generation. OlliOlli mixes addictive one-life gameplay with more than 120 tricks and grinds across 50 deviously crafted levels, 250 Challenges, Spots Mode, Daily Grind and, RAD Mode.
Reviews
- OlliOlli offers a fun and addictive gameplay experience, with a satisfying sense of accomplishment when landing tricks perfectly.
- The game features a great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience and keeps players engaged.
- The controls, while initially challenging, become intuitive with practice, allowing for a rewarding skill progression.
- The control scheme is counter-intuitive, particularly the use of the A button for both landing and speed, which can lead to frustration.
- Many players experience bugs and crashes, particularly related to landing mechanics and game stability, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- The gameplay can become repetitive, and some levels are excessively difficult, leading to a steep learning curve that may discourage casual players.
- music118 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and diverse soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. While some tracks are described as loud or annoying, the overall consensus is that the music is a significant highlight, reminiscent of classic titles like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the game's flow and challenges, making it a key factor in their enjoyment and motivation to replay levels.
“The music is gorgeous.”
“A great soundtrack and oh so much fun to play.”
“Brilliantly addictive gameplay, and a cracking soundtrack to go alongside it.”
“Sound-wise, the game sounds pretty good, but I find some of the tracks just loud and annoying, and there is no way (to my knowledge) to skip tracks or control the music player, which is a shame because it could definitely be used in a game like this.”
“Visuals are good but not great, gameplay variety is sufficient but not stellar, soundtrack is hit or miss, game length is fair but short, and most importantly, the price tag is way too high in today’s indie game market.”
“The only complaints I have are that the soundtrack isn't available in the files or as DLC; and that I did have to modify a config file to get the game running properly.”
- gameplay86 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced, skill-based mechanics that blend elements from classic skateboarding games, offering a mix of tricks and combos that encourage creativity. However, players have noted issues with unresponsive controls and frustrating mechanics, particularly regarding landing tricks, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game is addictive and visually appealing, its repetitive levels and occasional bugs may hinder long-term enjoyment.
“The smooth gameplay combined with the music makes you want to retry every time you fail a level.”
“What I most enjoy about this game is how it’s purely about mechanical skill and precise inputs, but it simultaneously allows for a great deal of creativity with the various tricks and combos.”
“Brilliantly addictive gameplay, and a cracking soundtrack to go alongside it.”
“Even though it's an arcade game, this gameplay is confusing.”
“The way the game determines perfect landings is one of the worst feeling mechanics I have played with in quite a while.”
“However, with the controls being unresponsive 70% of the time and the bugs throughout the gameplay, I would only recommend checking this out on a sale.”
- graphics48 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the polished, 32-bit art style and unique aesthetics that evoke a nostalgic indie feel. While some players find the visuals solid and fitting for the gameplay, others describe them as simplistic and uninspired, suggesting that the overall presentation may not justify the game's price. Despite these criticisms, the graphics effectively complement the gameplay experience, enhancing the enjoyment of the game.
“I love the menu design, looks great and the game overall has a very polished, 32-bit looking art style.”
“Insane graphics and physics engine, and just as much fun to get a great line as Skate 3 was.”
“When it comes to presentation, OlliOlli's 2D pixelated art style helps set it apart from the more well-known 3D skateboarding franchises by giving the game an indie feel very reminiscent of underground skateboarding back in the day.”
“Visuals are good but not great, gameplay variety is sufficient but not stellar, soundtrack is hit or miss, game length is fair but short, and most importantly price tag is way too high in today’s indie game market.”
“The look is a bit uninspired, with very basic visuals but everything is in some way neatly color-coded so you'll know where to grind and where to jump.”
“I actually like the art style, but for the set regular price, I'm not sure if it's worth it because it does feel a little cheap.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The grinding mechanics in the game are a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the challenge and the satisfaction of executing tricks, many find the reliance on grinding tedious and frustrating, especially in later levels that demand perfect execution. The controls for grinding and tricks are generally well-received, but the gameplay can feel unfair due to frequent failures and the repetitive nature of grinding tasks. Overall, the game captures the difficulty of skating but risks alienating players with its grind-heavy design.
“Usually there's 1 for achieving at least a certain high score for the whole stage, 1 for achieving at least a certain high score for a combo, and the other 3 involve a variety of objects like collecting hard-to-reach collectibles in the stage, reaching high places in the stage which requires a set of perfect grinds, pulling off a certain move or a combination of trick/grind, restrictions like not pushing for more speed on ground, no grinding, etc. They're all fun to get.”
“As the game goes on, more and more levels become reliant on grinding your whole way through, which quickly becomes tiresome and very same-y.”
“Really fun game that sadly suffers from gameplay issues that will make some failures feel unfair (turning instead of grinding happened to me pretty often in the later stages and meant immediate death every time).”
“The first 3 areas are fun and interesting, but when you get to level 4 it becomes tediously difficult requiring you to get perfect landings each time.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, driven by its fast-paced gameplay, engaging levels, and competitive leaderboards. Players can expect a rewarding experience that encourages repeated play, with many hours of enjoyment to be found in mastering the mechanics and improving scores. The pixelated art style adds to the charm, enhancing the overall appeal for repeated sessions.
“I mean the levels are so fun, that they have replay value.”
“Sure, you'll probably bail way too often to begin with, but stick to it and you'll find a deeply rewarding and finely tuned skateboard game experience that has hours upon hours of replay value.”
“There's a lot of replay value to this game, too.”
“Playtime/replayability: room for replayability since there are leaderboards.”
- story10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game features minimal story elements, primarily serving as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a focal point. Players navigate through missions with a quirky narrative involving a faceless character in debt, but the emphasis is on mastering tricks and advancing through levels rather than engaging with a deep storyline. Overall, the consensus is that the game is more about the gameplay experience than its narrative.
“The story of a man-boy with no face who is in debt to Comcast and must skateboard for Mountain Dew commercials in increasingly dangerous areas, all to badass music.”
“So yeah, there's no story whatsoever, just a 'chill' game that actually forces you to git gud.”
“Story: no story, you don't play this for a story.”
“The story of a man-boy with no face who is in debt to Comcast and must skateboard for Mountain Dew commercials in increasingly dangerous areas all to badass music.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have stability issues, particularly with buggy menus that can prevent level completion. Users have noted these problems persistently, indicating a need for improvements in this area.
“It does seem to be a tad buggy on menus at the moment (7/27/14) where it seems it should finish a level but it doesn't.”
“And this is buggy.”
“And this is buggy.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the monetization aspect of the game confusing, particularly regarding the Zoo York ads, which detract from the overall experience.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly immersive, effectively enveloping players and drawing them into its world.
“The atmosphere totally soaks you in.”
“The atmosphere completely envelops you.”
Critic Reviews
OlliOlli Review
While it's an acquired taste to be sure, and has a bit of a sting to it when the hardware isn't quite right, OlliOlli brings solid skating to the PC and is worth a look for anybody who enjoys a good scoreboard chase.
70%OlliOlli Review
OlliOlli is a fine indie game that will most likely get its hooks into you and not let go. It isn't a perfect port, and it's a little galling to be paying for the original game when the sequel is currently free on PlayStation 4 as a part of PlayStation Plus. But, if you haven't been exposed to the game before now, there are definitely worse ways to spend £8.
70%OlliOlli review: in the air
OlliOlli crystallizes the idea of combos into something new
85%