Games based on extreme sports are nothing new to players who cut their teeth gaming in the early-mid 2000s. From Jet Set Radio to SSX 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 the underwhelming return to the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series with its fifth outing in 2015, and despite Ubisoft's Riders Republic working 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 of OlliOlli World has 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 like Skate or Die!, or 720 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 World achieves this, and though Skate 4's imminent release is sure to steal the headlines, the steps that OlliOlli World has taken to revitalize the ailing skateboarding genre are not to be ignored.
Virtual Skateboarding's Past Its Prime
With the introduction of the now-beloved Tony Hawk's Pro Skater in 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 5 released 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 surrounding Skate 4 is apparent, and reminds players that the genre has more to offer. This is, predictably, born of nostalgia, as Skate 3 captured the hearts of many when it released some 12 years ago, but enjoyed a brief resurgence when it entered digital sales charts again in 2020. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater developer Neversoft's revolutionary approach to skating games is unlikely to be replicated, but OlliOlli World's review scores and Skate 4's imminent release proves there is more fun to be had.
Reintroducing The (Skateboard) Wheel
Take-Two's acquisition of OlliOlli World's developer, Roll7, was confirmation that the series' quality caught the eye of industry titans. Despite OlliOlli being decidedly less recognizable than Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, it's contribution to the skateboarding genre is almost as significant. The remake of the first two Pro Skater games was the fastest-selling game in the franchise, gaining much of its sales from returning players. OlliOlli World is 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 its Tony Hawk's Pro Skater counterparts.
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 of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and SSX lends itself well to a high score-centered progression system, which OlliOlli World utilizes to maximum effect. This is where Skater XL struggled, 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.
Skating Into The Sunset
OlliOlli World arrived 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 the sixth 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 to OlliOlli World.
OlliOlli World is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
