No matter how many times I fail, no matter how many times I’m sent flying through the air only to land in a horrific mess as my body bounces down platforms or crashes into scenery, I always hit restart and ask for more.
OlliOlli is a 2D skateboarding game done right. That itself is a challenge but the fact that OlliOlli’s developer manages to achieve such a feat and make it as great a game as OlliOlli is commendable and worthy of praise. Its a simple take on the genre as you jump and grind your way along a set route across a variety of stages achieving set goals. Attain 5/5 on the beginners route and you unlock a much more intense and difficult variant.
The only other game mode aside from the challenges is the daily challenge mode in which you are granted one true attempt, (you may practice all you like), at a random run. No matter what goes down on your true attempt, that score is all you have to show for that daily run and its a subtle way if nothing else of enticing you to return daily to earn your spot in the leaderboard. And as your already in the game you might as well give that troubling challenge another go. Soon that one attempt turns to five because you just can’t leave whilst this song plays, its practically cheering you on, and so the magic and addictive replay ability becomes clear.
The reason it works so well calls back to the early Tony Hawk Pro Skater games. Its a short and concise, focused attempt to perform a specific set of goals. After a few runs you well established with the route, you know all of its ins and outs, and so you turn up to perform and get the job done. Nothing more and nothing less. Its a focused design and one that works for the same reason it did in the Tony Hawk games of old as it all comes together to create a fun and addictive experience that begs you to replay each stage time and time again.
In case you hadn’t guessed I loved my time with OlliOlli and I still frequently jump in and perform the daily challenge or try to earn those last few challenges I need for 100% completion. Its a simple game but one that perfects the few things it sets out to do and so makes for an enjoyable experience you’ll have trouble putting down and lose countless nights even if you only intended a quick burst to kick off your evenings game.