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3DS

North America

OlliOlli (3DS) Review

by Bryan Rose - March 12, 2015, 2:14 pm EDT
Total comments: 7

9

The kind of grind that I like!

Skateboarding games are pretty cyclical. Just recently I played Skate or Die for the first time since the 1990s, and let's just say the game hasn't aged gracefully, both in design and look. Tony Hawk sort of fell under that as well as soon as the ‘90s were over and people moved on from the extreme sports fad. OlliOlli, now available on Wii U and 3DS (reviewed), feels like a skating game that no matter what year you play it in, it works. The simplicity of everything, the stupendous soundtrack, and the overall cool vibe make it a game that would be well worth playing 20 years in the future without ever losing a beat.

To learn how the game works is easy; to master it is very tough. Using the Circle Pad, you launch off on your skateboard to execute moves. You can also launch into grinds which allow you to launch off into other objects to grind, racking up points and combos along the way. It's easy to get the hang of the controls once you play a few rounds, as I had no problem adjusting to the way things work. The game, regardless, can be very difficult. The later stages essentially demand tons of attempts and retries, as, my skateboarding hero fell numerous times in my attempts to progress. I enjoyed taking on the challenge, though. The more time I spent with the game, the better I got, and the easier the once-daunting stages became.

OlliOlli offers plenty of modes and challenges to play. The crux of the game is the career mode, which has you skating in five different worlds, each with five stages to beat and discover. Each level has a list of goals, and after completing these objectives the game will unlock the Pro stages of those levels, providing an even tougher challenge. Beyond that, Spot mode gives you a series of areas to execute long combos for high scores. There are even Daily Grinds that are similar to Spots, but those only give you one chance each day to execute. There are online leaderboards as well, which tally both friend and overall leaderboard scores.

The presentation is simple and minimalistic, but it's also one of the best I've seen on a Nintendo eShop title. The music is some of the best I've heard in an eShop title. It's a cool mix of urban, hip hop, and techno that adds up to some highly recommended hearing. The music helps give the game it’s own vibe - it’s not trying to be a rad game from the ‘80s or an extreme game from the ‘90s, rather it’s a skateboarding game for today’s world.

OlliOlli is one of the best Nintendo eShop titles to date. With its cool vibe, fun gameplay and killer soundtrack, it's hard to not come out of the experience feeling thoroughly impressed. It gets tough at times, but I never had a problem with that as I was always ready to give the level or whatever obstacle that came way another try. It's a true testament to how indie games are finally taking shape and finding their own niche on Nintendo platforms.

Summary

Pros
  • Awesome soundtrack
  • Many levels and modes to master
  • Simple and addictive gameplay
Cons
  • Later levels are difficult

Talkback

ObbyDentMarch 12, 2015

Considering I just got OllOlli 2 on PS+ this month and its better than the first game in every way possible, I just don't see a reason to buy this.

Ian SaneMarch 12, 2015

Quote:

it’s not trying to be a rad game from the ‘80s or an extreme game from the ‘90s, rather it’s a skateboarding game for today’s world.

Ah, yes, because what we think is cool in 2015 will NEVER come across as dated.  That 80's and 90's stuff was corny but the stuff from today will be cool FOREVER!!

Millions of years from now when the human race is wiped out and aliens inhabit the earth for resources they will stumble upon the archaic 3DS, play OlliOlli, and go "hey this is pretty cool".

PhilPhillip Stortzum, March 12, 2015

Do I need to get out my Power Rangers Red Ranger costume from second grade, put it on, and show you the meaning of coolness!?

MagicCow64March 12, 2015

I don't quite understand what playing the game is like even after watching the trailer. Could it be comparable to a MotoHeroes type game? I don't give a rat's ass about skateboarding or dirt bikes or ATVs and don't like the Tony Hawk style of game, but I really liked MotoHeroes.

SorenMarch 12, 2015

I've been messing around with both versions of the game and I think I prefer the Wii U version, but the game has a rather steep learning curve. You will struggle a bit at first but once things click it gets fun fast.

EnnerMarch 13, 2015

Quote from: MagicCow64

I don't quite understand what playing the game is like even after watching the trailer. Could it be comparable to a MotoHeroes type game? I don't give a rat's ass about skateboarding or dirt bikes or ATVs and don't like the Tony Hawk style of game, but I really liked MotoHeroes.

It's a 2D score attack, skateboarding game where you chain ollies, kick flips, and grinds to build a long-lasting combo until the end of the level. It's pretty fun if you had fun in games such as Tony Hawk Pro Skater or SSX. Given the 2D nature of the game, this plays more like a slope style run in SSX than Tony Hawk Pro Skater.

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Genre Sports
Developer Carbon,
Roll 7
Players1

Worldwide Releases

na: OlliOlli
Release Mar 05, 2015
PublisherCurve Digital
RatingEveryone
eu: OlliOlli
Release Year 2015
PublisherCurve Digital

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