OlliOlli
Developer(s)Roll7
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Android, Nintendo Switch
ReleaseVita
  • WW: 22 January 2014
Windows, OS X, Linux
  • WW: 22 July 2014
PS4, PS4
  • NA: 26 August 2014
  • EU: 27 August 2014
Android
  • WW: 23 December 2014
3DS Wii U
  • NA: 5 March 2015
  • EU: 20 March 2015
Xbox One
  • WW: 6 March 2015
Switch
  • WW: 14 February 2019
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player

OlliOlli is a skateboarding video game developed and published by Roll7. It was released for PlayStation Vita on 21 January 2014 in North America, and on 22 January 2014 in Europe.

The game received a port for Microsoft Windows, OS X and Linux, developed by General Arcade and published by Devolver Digital, a port for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4, developed by BlitWorks and again published by Roll7, a port for Xbox One, Wii U, and Nintendo 3DS, developed by Carbon and published by Curve Digital, and a port for Android, developed by BlitWorks and published by Devolver Digital. A collection of both games released for Nintendo Switch on 14 February 2019, titled OlliOlli: Switch Stance.[1]

A sequel, OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood, was announced for PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4 on 25 September 2014, and was released on 3 March 2015 in North America, and on 4 March 2015 in Europe.[2] Another sequel, OlliOlli World, was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Microsoft Windows on 8 February 2022.

On 9 April 2016, it was announced that Roll7 cooperated with Spanish publisher and distributor Badland Games to bring OlliOlli and OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood to retail stores, delivered as OlliOlli: Epic Combo Edition for PlayStation 4.[3]

Gameplay

OlliOlli features two-dimensional levels and a very basic control scheme, using only the "X" button, shoulder buttons, and left analog stick. The player combines tricks performed with attempting to land perfectly, and failing to do so results in the game awarding only a fraction of the points that would have been earned with a perfect landing. Each level has 5 achievements to perform, and once complete unlocks a harder level. Falling at any point in a level forces the player to reattempt the level.[4]

Development

OlliOlli was developed by Roll7 and was originally intended to be released for iOS devices. In an interview with Gamasutra, Roll7 founder John Ribbins cites a conversation with James Marsden, creator of Velocity as the reason he took the game to Sony. After pitching the game to Shahid Ahmad, Senior Business Development Manager for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), Ribbins decided to drop iOS and develop OlliOlli exclusively for the PlayStation Vita. The use of physical controls over touch-screen controls allowed Roll7 to add additional mechanics to the gameplay, including the perfect landing system and the unlockable "RAD" mode.[5] The game was delayed from its planned December 2013 release into 2014 due to an issue with the "Daily Grind" system.[6]

Reception

OlliOlli received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[7][8][9][10] Writing for Destructoid, Ian Bonds gave the game a 9.5/10, and praised "the sweetspot of "simple to control" and "just difficult enough" to keep you playing without tearing your hair out".[11] On Eurogamer, reviewer Simon Parkin rated the game a 9/10, and wrote "Elegant, understated and yet with the capacity for wild showboating, OlliOlli is a Twitch classic"[14] The Escapist reviewer Jim Sterling was more critical of the game, giving it a 3/5 and noting their frustration at times, writing "While playing this sidescrolling skateboard game, I was tempted to crack the Vita over my knee on multiple occasions".[19]

OlliOlli won GameSpot's inaugural Game of the Month award in January 2014.[20] It was also nominated for GameSpot's 2015 PlayStation Vita Game of the Year.[21] At the 2014 National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers (NAVGTR) awards OlliOlli won Game, Original Sports and was nominated for Control Design, 2D or Limited 3D.[22]

References

  1. ^ "OlliOlli 1 and 2 coming to Switch as OlliOlli: Switch Stance on February 14". Gematsu. 8 January 2019. Archived from the original on 31 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  2. ^ Porter, Matt (25 February 2015). "OlliOlli2 gets a release date". IGN. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  3. ^ "OlliOlli PS4 Physical Editions Coming This Summer". 9 April 2016. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2016.
  4. ^ Webster, Andrew (21 January 2014). "'OlliOlli' is 'Tony Hawk' reimagined as a side-scrolling Vita game". theverge.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  5. ^ Rose, Mike (21 January 2014). "How skateboarding game OlliOlli skipped over iOS, and onto Vita". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  6. ^ Farokhmanesh, Megan (1 December 2013). "OlliOlli launch delayed into 2014". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  7. ^ a b "OlliOlli for Wii U Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  8. ^ a b "OlliOlli for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  9. ^ a b "OlliOlli for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  10. ^ a b "OlliOlli for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  11. ^ a b Bonds, Ian (21 January 2014). "Review: OlliOlli". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  12. ^ "OlliOlli review". Edge. 21 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  13. ^ Harmon, Josh (21 January 2014). "EGM Review: OlliOlli". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  14. ^ a b Parkin, Simon (21 January 2014). "OlliOlli review". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  15. ^ Peele, Britton (23 January 2014). "OlliOlli review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 24 January 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  16. ^ Peeples, Jeremy (22 January 2014). "Review: OlliOlli". Hardcore Gamer. Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 24 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  17. ^ Ingenito, Vince (21 January 2014). "Concrete Maestro". IGN. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  18. ^ McElroy, Griffin (21 January 2014). "OlliOlli Review: In the Air". Polygon. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  19. ^ a b Sterling, Jim (21 January 2014). "OlliOlli Review - Skate, or Try, Try, Again". The Escapist. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  20. ^ McShea, Tom (7 February 2014). "Game of the Month January 2014: OlliOlli". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  21. ^ "Velocity 2X - PS Vita Game of the Year". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. 14 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  22. ^ "NAVGTR Awards (2014)". National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2017.

External links

OlliOlli series
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