''OlliOlli'' is a

skateboarding Skateboarding is an extreme sport, action sport that involves riding and Skateboarding trick, performing tricks using a skateboard, as well as a recreational activity, an art form, an entertainment industry Profession, job, and a method of tr ...

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

developed and published by Roll7. It was released for

PlayStation Vita The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, then in other international territories on February 22, 2012, and was produced ...

on 21 January 2014 in North America, and on 22 January 2014 in Europe. The game received a port for

Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

OS X macOS, previously OS X and originally Mac OS X, is a Unix, Unix-based operating system developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple since 2001. It is the current operating system for Apple's Mac (computer), Mac computers. With ...

and

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, developed by General Arcade and published by

Devolver Digital Devolver Digital, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Austin, Texas, specializing in the publishing of indie games. The company was founded in June 2009 by Nigel Lowrie, Harry Miller, Graeme Struthers, Rick Stults, and Mike Wil ...

, a port for

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and

PlayStation 4 The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013, in ...

, developed by BlitWorks and again published by Roll7, a port for

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Wii U The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4. The W ...

, and

Nintendo 3DS The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...

, developed by

Carbon Carbon () is a chemical element; it has chemical symbol, symbol C and atomic number 6. It is nonmetallic and tetravalence, tetravalent—meaning that its atoms are able to form up to four covalent bonds due to its valence shell exhibiting 4 ...

and published by

Curve Digital Curve Games Limited (formerly Curve Digital Limited and Curve Studios Limited) is a British video game publisher and former video game developer based in London, founded in 2005 by Jason Perkins. It focuses on the publishing of indie games. ...

, and a port for Android, developed by BlitWorks and published by

. A collection of both games released for Nintendo Switch on 14 February 2019, titled ''OlliOlli: Switch Stance''. 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. Another sequel, '' OlliOlli World'', was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4,

PlayStation 5 The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North ...

, Xbox One,

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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.

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. As there are no checkpoints, falling at any point in a level forces the player to reattempt the level.

Development

''OlliOlli'' was developed by Roll7 and was originally intended to be released for

iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...

devices. In an interview with

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, Roll7 founder John Ribbins cites a conversation with James Marsden, creator of ''

Velocity Velocity is a measurement of speed in a certain direction of motion. It is a fundamental concept in kinematics, the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of physical objects. Velocity is a vector (geometry), vector Physical q ...

'' as the reason he took the game to

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. 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. The game was delayed from its planned December 2013 release into 2014 due to an issue with the "Daily Grind" system.

Reception

''OlliOlli'' received "generally favorable" reviews, according to

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. Writing for ''

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'', 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". On ''

Eurogamer ''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 alongside parent company Gamer Network. In 2008, it started in the formerly eponymous trade fair EGX (Eurogamer Expo until 2013) organised by its parent company. Fr ...

'', 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" '' The Escapist'' reviewer James Stephanie Sterling was more critical of the game, giving it a 3/5 and noting her frustration at times, writing "While playing this sidescrolling skateboard game, I was tempted to crack the Vita over my knee on multiple occasions". ''OlliOlli'' won ''

GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady, and Jon Epstein. In addition ...

''s inaugural Game of the Month award in January 2014. It was also nominated for GameSpot's 2015 PlayStation Vita Game of the Year. 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''.

References

External links

* {{OlliOlli series 2014 video games Android (operating system) games BAFTA winners (video games) BlitWorks games Curve Games games Devolver Digital games Indie games Linux games MacOS games Nintendo 3DS eShop games Nintendo Switch games PlayStation 3 games PlayStation 4 games PlayStation Network games PlayStation Vita games Retro-style video games Roll7 games Single-player video games Skateboarding video games Take-Two Interactive franchises Video games developed in the United Kingdom Wii U eShop games Windows games Xbox One games