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
- The game features a fun and addictive gameplay loop that keeps players engaged and wanting to improve their skills.
- The soundtrack is excellent and complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
- The controls, while initially challenging, become intuitive with practice, allowing for a satisfying sense of mastery over tricks and combos.
- The control scheme is counter-intuitive, particularly the landing mechanics, which can lead to frustration and inconsistent gameplay.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and bugs that disrupt the experience.
- Some players find the difficulty spikes in later levels to be excessively punishing, making it hard to progress without repeated attempts.
- music59 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy and diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some players found certain tracks to be loud or annoying, the majority highlighted the music's ability to motivate and engage them during challenging levels. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, reminiscent of classic titles like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, and significantly contributes to the game's fun and addictive nature.
“The smooth gameplay combined with the music makes you want to retry every time you fail a level.”
“The music is gorgeous.”
“The soundtrack is to die for and the skateboarding itself handles perfectly.”
“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.”
“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.”
“1/10 - because the music isn't bad and the idea was great.”
- gameplay43 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 confusing controls, unresponsive mechanics, and occasional bugs that can lead to frustrating experiences. While the game is addictive and features a good soundtrack, some find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in variety, making it a mixed experience overall.
“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.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the polished, 32-bit art style and beautiful aesthetics that enhance the overall experience. While some players find the visuals solid and fitting for the gameplay, others describe them as basic or uninspired, suggesting that the graphics may not justify the game's price tag. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's indie feel and replayability, despite some critiques of their simplicity.
“I love the menu design; it looks great, and the game overall has a very polished, 32-bit 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.”
“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.”
“Don't judge a book by its cover, and in this case - don't judge a game by its visuals.”
- grinding14 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 skill required to execute tricks and achieve high scores, others find the reliance on grinding tedious and frustrating, especially in later levels where precision is crucial. The controls for grinding are generally well-received, reminiscent of classic skate games, but the repetitive nature of grinding can lead to a sense of monotony and unfair gameplay experiences. Overall, the grinding aspect captures the difficulty of skating but may deter some players due to its demanding nature.
“Usually there's one achievement for reaching a certain high score for the whole stage, one for achieving a high score for a combo, and the other three involve a variety of challenges like collecting hard-to-reach collectibles, reaching high places that require perfect grinds, and pulling off specific moves or combinations of tricks and grinds. The restrictions, such as not pushing for more speed on the ground or not grinding, make them all fun to complete.”
“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.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability due to its fast-paced gameplay, engaging levels, and the presence of leaderboards, encouraging players to improve their scores. Users highlight the rewarding experience and the fun factor of the levels, which contribute to hours of replay value. Overall, players find the game highly enjoyable to revisit.
“I mean the levels are so fun, that they have replay value.”
“Playtime/replayability: there is room for replayability since there are leaderboards.”
“There's a lot of replay value to this game, too.”
“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.”
- story5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative, focusing instead on gameplay mechanics and skill progression. While some users humorously reference a minimalistic story involving a faceless character and absurd scenarios, the consensus is that the game is primarily about mastering challenges rather than engaging with a storyline.
“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.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have stability issues, particularly with bugs affecting menu navigation and level completion. Users have noted that these glitches can disrupt the overall gameplay experience.
“It does seem to be a tad buggy on menus at the moment, where it seems it should finish a level but it doesn't.”
“And this is buggy.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the monetization aspect confusing, particularly regarding the Zoo York ads, which may detract from the overall experience.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly immersive, effectively drawing players in and creating a captivating experience.
“The atmosphere completely envelops you.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive.”
“You can feel the tension in the atmosphere throughout the gameplay.”
“The atmosphere totally soaks you in.”
“The game lacks any real sense of immersion, making it hard to feel connected to the world.”
“The environment feels empty and lifeless, which detracts from the overall experience.”
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%