Games based on extreme sports are nothing new to players who cut their teeth gaming in the early-mid 2000s. FromJet Set RadiotoSSX Tricky, extreme sports have been the chosen event for so many exceptional titles in years past, but as the 2020’s roll on, the availability of such titles is dwindling. The genre has faced ridicule over the past few years thanks to theunderwhelming return to the Tony Hawk’sPro Skaterserieswith its fifth outing in 2015, and despite Ubisoft’sRiders Republicworking hard to remedy its soured reputation, the genre has been largely dormant. However, as many of the games in the genre were focused on skateboarding specifically, the release ofOlliOlli Worldhas lead the charge of the genre’s resurgence.
Though the game’s emphasis on 2D, side-scrolling gameplay is more in line with arcade titles likeSkate or Die!,or720 Degrees,OlliOlli World’s exceptional game design allows for extensive combs to be achieved, which is something far more reminiscent of 3D games in the genre.Striking a balance between simple, easy to use gameplay, and intricate trick systems is a tough task to undertake, and it’s been a while since a game has got it right.OlliOlli Worldachieves this, and thoughSkate 4’s imminent release is sure to steal the headlines, the steps thatOlliOlli Worldhas taken to revitalize the ailing skateboarding genre are not to be ignored.
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Virtual Skateboarding’s Past Its Prime
With theintroduction of the now-belovedTony Hawk’s Pro Skaterin 1999, the thirst for skateboarding in the gaming sphere only grew with every subsequent release in the series. As 3D gameplay found its footing at the turn of the century, open-ended, arcade-style skateboarding games were seemingly a dime a dozen.Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5released at a time when players would look back at skating games with nostalgia, and after its lukewarm reception, they were largely forgotten.
Since then, the sports game market has been largely dominated by EA and 2K’s franchises. However, the anticipation surroundingSkate 4is apparent, and reminds players that the genre has more to offer. This is, predictably, born of nostalgia, asSkate 3captured the hearts of many when it released some 12 years ago, but enjoyed abrief resurgence when it entered digital sales charts again in 2020.Tony Hawk’s Pro Skaterdeveloper Neversoft’s revolutionary approach to skating games is unlikely to be replicated, butOlliOlli World’s review scores andSkate 4’s imminent release proves there is more fun to be had.
Reintroducing The (Skateboard) Wheel
Take-Two’s acquisition ofOlliOlli World’s developer, Roll7, was confirmation that the series' quality caught the eye of industry titans. DespiteOlliOllibeing decidedly less recognizable thanTony Hawk’s Pro Skater, it’s contribution to the skateboarding genre is almost as significant. The remake of thefirst twoPro Skatergames was the fastest-selling game in the franchise, gaining much of its sales from returning players.OlliOlli Worldis unlikely to sell as much, but its refining of the formula by using a 3D engine, more ways to traverse the setting, a much-improved hand-drawn art style, and charming story makes it one of the few skateboarding games that can stand the test of time almost as well as itsTony Hawk’s Pro Skatercounterparts.
The genre doesn’t need a total reinvention, as the mechanics present in board-based games that are some two decades old now, are still enjoyable all these years later. The combo-focused, arcade-ish gameplay ofTony Hawk’s Pro SkaterandSSXlends itself well to a high score-centered progression system, whichOlliOlli Worldutilizes to maximum effect. This is whereSkater XLstruggled,as despite being a valiant attempt to reintroduce the genre to the masses, its commitment to realism and over-reliance on its community meant it passed by somewhat unnoticed.
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Skating Into The Sunset
OlliOlli Worldarrived at the perfect time for the largely dormant skateboarding games genre. This, coupled with its embracing of a third dimension (albeit slightly), and fine-tuning of that which made the series so great to begin with has resulted in its place at the forefront of the skating games' re-emergence in 2022. Skateboarding games found their footing and a large audience during thesixth generation of home consoles, and the Xbox and PS2 in particular. Though its best days are firmly in the rearview, the future is looking bright, largely thanks toOlliOlli World.
OlliOlli Worldis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
