Roll 7 have released the follow up to their highly acclaimed skateboarding game Olli Olli. The Playstation Vita exclusive saw it reach 90% on MetaCritic and of course a sequel was greenlit. The game came out on PlayStation Plus as a free exclusive for its members and I have spent the last few days swearing and falling in love with this absolutely adorable title that is by far the best offering the Plus service has offered up on the console.
Olli Olli 2 : Welcome To Olliwood is a 2D side-scrolling platformer with some bright and beautiful colours that make this unlike any other skateboarding game I have ever played. If the addictive gameplay wasn’t enough, the music is so addictive and makes the game thoroughly enjoyable and has oodles of replay value.
Starting out with a tutorial to get familiar with the controls on the PS4 controller, you have to flick the dual shock sticks to pull off certain tricks, these tricks garner points which can be connected into a combo with the right moves to unlock more levels and content. The hardest thing about it is definitely not dying, the controls are challenging and it is truly unlike any other game I have played on this console. I know that probably sounds like it’s a bad thing, but it’s not, the challenge of getting it right and surviving is the skill of the game. I reviewed this game on the Playstation 4, so I am not sure how this translates to the PS Vita.
For a 2D side scroller it is absolutely beautiful. The colours are rich and lush, creating the perfect “Hollywood” vibe. It was weird playing a new release game in 2D again, but it suits the gameplay style perfectly. Probably the most punishing part is that if you miscalculate a jump or landing, you will die without fail and have to start the whole level again.
There are a total of 50 levels and as daunting as this sounds, the first 25 let you build up your skill and combos before punishing you in the last 25 (the pro levels) in every level there is also a set of combos and tricks to achieve to fully unlock the level. In addition there is a multiplayer component to this game, the Daily Grind sets you on a roller coaster type level and gives you time to get as many points as possible to submit to an online leaderboard. Roll 7 have confirmed that in the not too distant future Combo Rush multiplayer mode will allow 4 player split screen co-op, and this will also be local gameplay as well.
Overall this game is the perfect addition to the Playstation Plus library. It is a rich and vibrant with an original and addictive game engine that improves on the last instalment. Sony have embraced Roll 7 as a studio and if you are a Playstation Plus member you won’t have to pay anything to access this game. No word of it coming to any other consoles just yet, but till then enjoy one of the best skateboarding game’s ever made!
Review by Alaisdair Dewar
