OlliOlli

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. Falling at any point in a level forces the player to reattempt the level.[4]

OlliOlli was developed by Roll7 and was originally intended to be released for iOS devices. In an interview with Gamasutra, Roll7 founder John Ribbins cites a conversation with James Marsden, creator of Velocity as the reason he took the game to Sony. 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.[5] The game was delayed from its planned December 2013 release into 2014 due to an issue with the "Daily Grind" system.[6]

OlliOlli has received positive reviews. The Wii U version of OlliOlli holds a score of 83.00% on GameRankings[7] and an 82 on Metacritic.[13] The Vita version holds a score of 79 on Metacritic[14] and a 79.46% on GameRankings.[9] The PlayStation 4 version has an 82.67% score on GameRankings.[8] The Xbox One version has a 76.67% score on GameRankings[11] and a score of 78 on Metacritic.[15] On PC, OlliOlli holds a 79.11% GameRankings score[10] and a 78/100 Metacritic score.[16] The 3DS version has a score of 72.50% on GameRankings.[12] Writing for Destructoid, 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".[17] On Eurogamer, 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"[20] The Escapist reviewer Jim Sterling was more critical of the game, giving it a 3/5 and noting his frustration at times, writing "While playing this sidescrolling skateboard game, I was tempted to crack the Vita over my knee on multiple occasions".[24]

OlliOlli won GameSpot's inaugural Game of the Month award in January 2014.[26] It was also nominated for GameSpot's 2015 PlayStation Vita Game of the Year.[27] 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.[28]

• Official website