From the outset, OlliOlli 2 seems to be a little light on content. Five different environments each housing 10 levels (five initially, followed by five unlocked after completing the challenges in each). Although it doesn’t sound like much, it actually winds up being plenty because the elation this game gives you doesn’t come from completing levels as such. It instead comes from just being a damn fun game to play. You’ll unknowingly find yourself playing the same level over and over again simply because it’s an enjoyable experience, not necessarily for any benefits.
There are plenty of other things to keep yourself occupied with should the initial levels bore you somewhat. Daily Grinds offer you a short and sweet level where you have as many shots as you like to practice your run, before having it count one final time for the online leaderboards. Fail in this single shot and you don’t get a change to make any mark on the scoreboards. Finish it though and, even if your attempt is a little impotent, you’ll get that satisfying surge of knowledge that somewhere on the leaderboards is your name with a score next to it.
Other short and sweet activities come in the form of Spots. Spots are much like the shorter levels presented in the Daily Grind mode, but they can be replayed over and over again. These provide a quick challenge for those moments where you’ve only got a minute or so to play.
Don’t think for a minute that you’ll be stepping away from OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood in a rush though.
OlliOlli 2 is in some senses a one trick pony. It only has one mechanic, but it focuses so intently on that mechanic while providing enough great content around it, that it just becomes one long – or short – pathway to happiness. It’s still a one trick pony, but that one trick pony is capable of doing a quadruple backflip while beat-boxing a hip-hop rendition of Flight of the Bumblebee.
OlliOlli 2‘s crisp visuals and joyous soundtrack take on the role of supporting godparents; not crucial to the goings on but still providing a huge boon to everything. It’s in the soundtrack where OlliOlli 2 really does shine out among contemporaries. The tracks chosen are good enough to be listened to alone, and yet don’t impede on your concentration in any way. Pausing the game and just sitting back to listen to the tunes isn’t a rare occurrence. Even after only one run on a level, you’ll be blinking only to see a complete map of each course etched onto your eyelids.
At launch, OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood will be available on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. This review has been based upon both versions because there’s absolutely no difference between the two. Both are a visual explosion and control absolutely beautifully. With that being said though, the PlayStation 4 version is a little more difficult when it comes to landing tricks or completing analogue stick movements. That’s simply due to the size of the stick. Vita players can expect slightly stronger thumbs after playing OlliOlli 2, PlayStation 4 players should be prepared to lift 100 pounds with their thumbs come next week.
After 10 wonderful hours with OlliOlli 2 and taking in everything the game has to offer, there’s only one reason why you wouldn’t buy the game on release; if you don’t have a PlayStation 4 or Vita. While other games may offer a laborious grind to the end, OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood brings you a new kind of grinding that never gets old and keeps the sparks flying for hours to come.
