As a diehard fan of skateboarding video games, I’m all the time excited when a brand new sequence comes alongside. When OlliOlli launched on PlayStation Vita again in 2014, I immediately discovered myself hooked by its arcade construction. Ranges have been fast and skill-based with gamers being compelled to deal with timing grinds and touchdown methods efficiently by hitting the X button upon touchdown. From PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to a trio of Nintendo consoles, I discovered myself taking part in OlliOlli on each system out there and was equally as enthralled with the sequel, OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood, which accomplished the trick system by including in manuals.

To match it to probably the most well-known skating sequence, OlliOlli2 felt like Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3, the place the combo system was additionally lastly full and refined to the purpose the place extra video games may add extra options however they wouldn’t ever change the core gameplay. That’s why when OlliOlli World was introduced, I used to be joyful, nevertheless it felt virtually pointless. I’d be very happy to play extra ranges, however how would developer Roll7 handle to meaningfully enhance upon the sequel?

Nicely, it turns on the market’s a cause why I’m not a sport designer because the gifted group at Roll7 has provide you with quite a lot of new additions that make OlliOlli World not solely really feel recent however a correct reinvention of the franchise. Whereas we haven’t seen each addition but, there are 5 that already make the sport extra than simply one other OlliOlli: checkpoints, wall rides, higher alternate pathways, grab-based methods, and vert ramps.

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OlliOlli2 catered towards hardcore gamers and dared them to undergo whole ranges with out ever exiting a combo. That thrill remains to be in OlliOlli World, however the sequence can be extra accessible than ever due to a brand new checkpoint system. It’s a dope addition that enables for much more tough ranges and sections, giving the sport a little bit of a Trials really feel because of this. There was one tough part that includes a wall journey (extra on that in a bit) that I failed a number of occasions as I used to be shedding velocity attempting to maintain my combo alive. I finally realized I needed to focus a bit extra on velocity slightly than rating to clear the hole and I finally cleared the difficult hole.

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Wall rides are one other new addition and one that enables for some actually cool gameplay sections. Gamers grind billboards and different objects that enable them to clear ridiculously lengthy gaps because of this. This turns into much less about methods and extra about maneuverability. This highlights one other factor new to OlliOlli World: a deal with exploration. Whereas there had been high and low grounds to absorb previous titles, there are actually absolutely fleshed out alternate pathways via ranges. This not solely provides replayability as gamers tackle objectives however provides a layer to technique as gamers determine what sections are greatest for his or her play model and most well-liked combos.

The trick system has additionally seen one more reinvention with the addition of seize methods, which I admittedly didn’t do many as I’m so used to solely flipping and grinding within the sequence, and precise vert ramps full with reverts. The primary time the sport led me to a vert ramp I used to be jaw dropped as I launched into the air, did a trick, and managed to land it. It’s such a departure for the park-based sequence, nevertheless it feels unimaginable and permits for some extremely cool ranges to be constructed across the concept (reminiscent of going downhill and altering instructions). These small tweaks give hardcore gamers the depth they need whereas the opposite modifications make this probably the most welcoming OlliOlli so far.

The OlliOlli World gameplay modifications assist the sport really feel much less like a samey follow-up and extra like its personal title that thoughtfully expands upon its basis. Its artwork model is one more manifestation of its need for change because it went from beautiful pixel artwork to a stylized 3D world (that additionally permits it to have extra advanced ranges). Third entries not often change issues up a lot in such a trustworthy which is why after simply an hour of play, I can’t wait to get again to Radlandia as soon as it releases later this yr on consoles and PC.