Republished on Wednesday, February 1, 2023: I will be reviving this review from the archives after the announcement. PS Plus lineup for February 2023The original text is below.
For certain types of players, OlliOlli World is pure fun. This side-scrolling skateboarding game is simply awesome and far superior to the previous titles in the series. Developer Roll7 has seriously stepped things up by improving just about every aspect of the franchise and offering it in a gorgeous new wrapping.
Of course, the new visual style is the most noticeable change. The cel-shaded art, which looks like something we’ve seen on Cartoon Network, is spot on and gives the franchise so much personality. By the way, the switch to 2.5D isn’t just for aesthetics. A new sense of depth is given to the stage. This means not only does it look better, it feels bigger and deeper.
Another advantage of moving from 2D is the proper introduction of alternate routes, so the larger levels are a lot more fun to explore. You can jump stages and move to different paths. Bypass, you’ll have new obstacles to overcome and opportunities to pull off amazing tricks. While OlliOlli games always had optional challenges for each stage, World is much more varied and encourages you to actually take those different routes and see them all.
Basically, the game plays pretty much like the old entry. X for speed and the left stick to set up and perform flip tricks, grinds and manuals. Hopefully he can chain one huge combo from start to finish of a level and nailing a run feels great as always. That said, it’s still a pretty rewarding game, and it’s easy to quickly start over if you’re not happy with how you’re doing it. is as addictive as ever and the gameplay feels super smooth.
However, there are some changes and new additions to keep OlliOlli veteran. Grab tricks can now be pulled with the right stick. Great for catching big air. Vert ramps also appear throughout the stage, increasing your chances of getting in and out of the screen to score points. In old games, if you wanted to land cleanly, you had to tap X when the wheels hit the ground. Failure will result in sloppy landings and destroyed combo multipliers. This was nerfed in his OlliOlli World. As always, landing perfectly and hitting an X only gives you the best score, but you no longer get penalties for failing.
This is just one way the game was opened up to allow players of varying skill levels to join in the fun. Level-by-level scoring challenges are easy to complete, the game’s various mechanics are slowly introduced throughout the campaign, and quirky groupies cheer you on until the end, giving the whole game a friendly atmosphere. On a basic level, the game still claims to be very tough at first. But it’s a better spectacle than its predecessor, with a much more welcoming atmosphere.
Speaking of atmosphere, the presentation really makes a big difference. Not only is the cool soundtrack great, but so are the quirky characters you meet as you explore the different regions of Radlandia. Whether it’s ghostly trees in the forest, ice cream-eating walks on the beach, or hordes of skate-loving aliens in the desert, the game is full of unusual sights that make for a fun place to be. Not all of the characters are particularly memorable, and the dialogue that concludes each level is hit or miss, but it’s a vast improvement over past games in the series.
Online multiplayer is asynchronous and cross-platform, making it highly accessible and easy to play with friends. REAL-TIME MULTIPLAYER He wished he had a solution, but it’s still fun to have here. Gnarvana allows you to generate a level with some parameters, set a score, and then send the code for that level to anyone who wants to try it. It works perfectly well and means you can enjoy an almost endless number of levels.Elsewhere the league will play against his 9 players of similar skill to be the best on a particular stage. He is given 24 hours to set the score. If you finish among the top scores, you will be promoted. Chaining promotions unlocks more customization goodies.
And wow, the game has a lot of customization going on. A complex menu (which might be a bit overcrowded) packs dozens, if not hundreds, of clothing items, boards, tracks, full-body suits, animations, and more. You can even change body type, size and skin tone to basically create someone you want to be a skating avatar. It’s a far cry from the nondescript skater guy seen in the title.
Conclusion
OlliOlli World is a giant leap for Roll7’s skating series. A nice new presentation, fun locations full of character, and all-important and addictive gameplay combine to make this sport extremely enjoyable. However, it still offers a very tough challenge, and not all lines and characters are well done. After all, Heaven may really be a half-pipe.
