Skate or die.
Roll7 brings their brand of retro-style arcade skating back with a bang in this highly stylised, highly addictive, sequel to the 2014 title Olli Olli.
Around the world.
Olli Olli 2 is essentially comprised of five different worlds, with each world featuring a selection of levels. There are amateur and pro versions of each level, the latter of which are unlocked after the player successfully completes the five challenges each individual level has to offer. Each world has its own distinct – and crazy – design features; each level features an assortment of nefarious obstacles, stunts and challenges to overcome.
MSRP: $14.99
Platforms: PC
Multiplayer: Local co-op
Gameplay-wise Olli Olli 2 throws the player right into the thick of things, but Roll7 have been thoughtful enough to provide stabilisers in the form of the game’s initial amateur courses. To a newcomer these first stages can still feel pretty intense –navigating from the start to the finish of a particular stage feels like anything but a cakewalk early on, as getting to grips with the mechanics of flip tricks, grinds and launches is a necessity for progression. Timing is crucial and it goes without saying that a controller is a must.
Fortunately, Olli Olli 2’s learning curve is expertly balanced. I never once felt out of my depth and with a little patience and persistence, I was gleefully throwing combinations of tricks, grinds and manuals. The game did a great job of equipping me with the tools required for success further down the line, while also getting me used to the overall style of play. Roll7 have kept the controls simple; it’s learning how to execute flawless runs and combinations to rack up high-scoring multipliers that will take the player time – and potentially the odd damaged controller – to master.
Once I felt comfortable, it was hard for me to stop playing. Olli Olli 2 has a vast array of content on offer in the form of daily grinds, spots mode and the amateur levels and pro levels that make up career mode. If that wasn’t enough, the game’s expansive ‘Tricktionary’ will keep the player busy learning how to execute all of the flips, grinds, manuals and reverts available to bust out across each of these different game modes.
Bright lights.
Olli Olli 2 is a game that looks great. Featuring bright, colourful visuals, the art direction represents somewhat of a makeover for the series. Olli Olli 2 eschews the more overt pixelation of its predecessor in favour of a much smoother graphical style. It is a smart choice that allows the game to retain its natural visual simplicity while simultaneously offering more sophisticated animations.
It’s a look that is most appropriately embodied by the word pristine, and each individual world benefits from the freshness of the Olli Olli 2’s graphical palette. From the Aztec ruins to the studio sets of Olliwood (among other locales), Olli Olli 2 gives each world its own unique feel. This sense of distinct individuality complements the structured gameplay on offer, allowing the player to feel a genuine sense of progression and accomplishment as each stage unlocks.
Bust a move.
In Olli Olli 2, Roll7 have produced a mini-masterpiece. As if the game’s impressive presentation and perfectly balanced gameplay weren’t enough, the numerous levels, challenges, daily grinds, career high scores and leader boards on offer all provide great replay value.
In short, Olli Olli 2 is everything a great sequel should be: across the board improvement that builds on the solid foundation of its predecessor without losing the magic that made it special in the first place.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
