Developer: Roll7
Publisher: Private Division
ReleaseDate: 8th February 2022
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch
Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch
▫️ Code provided by the publisher ▫️
OlliOlli is a series I have always enjoyed. I remember picking up the original game back in 2014 on a whim when it launched exclusively on PlayStation Vita. The game was at home on the platform and served its purpose of being an addictive skateboarding experience when other options were thin on the ground. Since then we have seen a sequel, ports to pretty much everywhere you can play games and the return of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater amongst others. Developer Roll7’s response to this has been to stick with the formula that brought the game to the dance but expand on it and improve on it in pretty much every way.
The new art style is slick and vibrant. Comparisons to Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time sprung up from the moment the game was shown off, but it does well to carve its own niche thanks to the excellent colour palette. The backdrop in each stage is detailed and brimming with little eccentricities that somehow feel at home in the world. Also new to the series is the ability to create your own character. This editor was way more in-depth than I expected and it was cool to be able to tailor your avatar to your liking.
The gameplay has been both expanded upon and modified to be more accessible for newcomers. For instance, you now automatically land your tricks instead of being at the mercy of a well-timed button press. New features like wall-grinding definitely keep you on your toes, while quarterpipes are used to send you back across the screen from right to left, opening up new layers to each level. Gnarly routes have also been added and offer an even higher difficulty should you be feeling extra confident.
While on the surface the game may feel inviting with its beautiful aesthetic, the gameplay can be punishing, especially at first. Be prepared to fail, and fail again while you get to grips with the timing of jumps and grinds. It won’t be long though before you are combining those grinds into both tricks and manuals, multiplying your score in the process. Checkpoints make getting to the end of each level more attainable, but you’ll arrive with a frustrating lack of points.
We played this game on both the Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch. As expected the performance on Xbox is pretty flawless and looks gorgeous on the big screen. However, I was really blown away by how the game faired on Nintendo’s platform – showing no performance dips. One minor annoyance was the load times when entering or exiting a level, but this was far from a deal-breaker. OlliOlli World is tremendous fun on any platform, but it feels most at home on handheld, back where it started.
OlliOlli World is a brilliant next step for the series. The art style is beautiful, while the gameplay manages to be both more forgiving and expansive at the same time. Developer Roll7 has managed to expand on what came before while making key design choices that will open up this Indie gem to a whole new audience.
-Craig ✌️