

Grinds are a little looser to execute, only requiring holding in one of four directions (again, potentially with one or more shoulder buttons as modifiers), but the same timing applies: move and hold the analogue stick at the last second and you’ll get a perfect rating, this time accompanied by green sparks and a speed boost. Tap X (or X and left or right for a manual) just before you hit the ground and you’ll be awarded a ‘perfect’ landing. The innovation is that you need to catch the trick to land it, and the later you catch it, the better the rating you get – from sloppy to perfect. The former are triggered with a flick or swirl of the left analogue stick (potentially with a shoulder button held down if it’s particularly complex). Forget steering: this is a left-to-right stream of skating consciousness, where you’re flowing gracefully from one mini set piece to the next, attempting to commune with the clever level design and trick mechanics.įlip tricks and grinds are the main tools of your trade. Review copy of game provided by publisher.Each of OlliOlli 2’s levels are short gauntlets, jam-packed with stair sets, rails, ramps, deadly obstacles and – in the case of the Titan Sky levels – towering robots, hovercars, and toxic ooze. In short, Olli Olli 2 is everything a great sequel should be: across the board improvement that builds on the solid foundation of its predecessor without losing the magic that made it special in the first place. As if the game’s impressive presentation and perfectly balanced gameplay weren’t enough, the numerous levels, challenges, daily grinds, career high scores and leader boards on offer all provide great replay value.

In Olli Olli 2, Roll7 have produced a mini-masterpiece. This sense of distinct individuality complements the structured gameplay on offer, allowing the player to feel a genuine sense of progression and accomplishment as each stage unlocks.

From the Aztec ruins to the studio sets of Olliwood (among other locales), Olli Olli 2 gives each world its own unique feel. It’s a look that is most appropriately embodied by the word pristine, and each individual world benefits from the freshness of the Olli Olli 2’s graphical palette. It is a smart choice that allows the game to retain its natural visual simplicity while simultaneously offering more sophisticated animations. Olli Olli 2 eschews the more overt pixelation of its predecessor in favour of a much smoother graphical style. Featuring bright, colourful visuals, the art direction represents somewhat of a makeover for the series.
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If that wasn’t enough, the game’s expansive ‘Tricktionary’ will keep the player busy learning how to execute all of the flips, grinds, manuals and reverts available to bust out across each of these different game modes.
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Olli Olli 2 has a vast array of content on offer in the form of daily grinds, spots mode and the amateur levels and pro levels that make up career mode. Once I felt comfortable, it was hard for me to stop playing. Roll7 have kept the controls simple it’s learning how to execute flawless runs and combinations to rack up high-scoring multipliers that will take the player time – and potentially the odd damaged controller – to master. The game did a great job of equipping me with the tools required for success further down the line, while also getting me used to the overall style of play. I never once felt out of my depth and with a little patience and persistence, I was gleefully throwing combinations of tricks, grinds and manuals. Timing is crucial and it goes without saying that a controller is a must.įortunately, Olli Olli 2’s learning curve is expertly balanced. To a newcomer these first stages can still feel pretty intense –navigating from the start to the finish of a particular stage feels like anything but a cakewalk early on, as getting to grips with the mechanics of flip tricks, grinds and launches is a necessity for progression. Gameplay-wise Olli Olli 2 throws the player right into the thick of things, but Roll7 have been thoughtful enough to provide stabilisers in the form of the game’s initial amateur courses. Each world has its own distinct – and crazy – design features each level features an assortment of nefarious obstacles, stunts and challenges to overcome. There are amateur and pro versions of each level, the latter of which are unlocked after the player successfully completes the five challenges each individual level has to offer. Olli Olli 2 is essentially comprised of five different worlds, with each world featuring a selection of levels. Roll7 brings their brand of retro-style arcade skating back with a bang in this highly stylised, highly addictive, sequel to the 2014 title Olli Olli.
