Roll7 could’ve played it safe for a third OlliOlli. OlliOlli 2 was, after all, a fairly safe sequel that refined on and tightened up the format laid down by a 2014 debut Phil adored, so it’s easy to imagine a world where a third iterated to perfection a la Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. But in shedding the grounded style of its predecessors, OlliOlli World gives the series a much-needed sense of identity. OlliOlli isn’t just 2D Skate now—it’s a wonderfully surreal skateboarding paradise, a vibrant rhythmic platformer played out on grind rails and halfpipes.
In truth, though, this game’s probably a perfect glimpse of any activity where there is the cheerful business of learning involved, and where there are many stages of competence to move through, many new things to notice and explore and experiment with as you go. Like writing, yes. Like skating, I imagine. And that’s it: I love this game because it’s about learning and trying things out. And maybe learning never has to end, and maybe we can try new things out forever.
Radlandia may seem like an offbeat location for a skating game, but in reality it’s a wonderfully eclectic reflection of what OlliOlli World itself is trying to be. In this vibrant place, skating is an obsession and an escape, whether you’re wall-riding through a forest or grinding across an incredibly industrial factoryscape. Its gameplay has enough depth to challenge hardcore players to master its level-long combos, but it’s also a smooth and exciting ride for novices, backed by characters that are quirky and passionate. These elements ring true in every facet of its design, from the more forgiving approach to basic gameplay through to the new mechanics and refinements that make the skill ceiling higher than ever. OlliOlli World is a fantastic evolution of what was already an outstanding skating series.
All in all, I really enjoyed my time with OlliOlli World. It’s a gorgeous and goofy game that onboards new players well while also giving veterans plenty of challenge. There’s even a silly story tied in about searching for the mythical skate gods of “Gnarvana” in the world of “Radlandia.” It’s sufficiently dumb in an endearing way and entirely skippable if you’re not interested – which I wasn’t after an hour or so. Despite some headaches thrown in the mix, I welcomed all of OlliOlli World’s challenges, even when they came at the detriment of my own hands.
As with any skill-based game, it’s easy to get bogged down by the mechanics and forget to smell the roses. Or, in OlliOlli World’s case, to forget to high-five your friends waiting around the course. In most of OlliOlli World, I’m rushing past Roll7’s weird little landscapes, focused more on hitting combinations and scoring big than checking out the sights. But replays allow me to peek at tiny things I missed on my own runs, like aliens dancing in their underpants or ice cream cones lounging on the beach. The visual aesthetic of OlliOlli World and its weird whimsy is just as much of a draw as the precision gameplay. Skateboarding is difficult, and so is this game. But OlliOlli World feels special because it lets me celebrate the sport in a way that suits me personally.
