OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood

Game Info

At first I was curious as to what could make OlliOlli 2 better than the first one.  Well, Roll7 definitely managed to grasp my time and knack for getting a high score once again!  OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood is a sequel just like how Tony Hawk 2 was to the first game in that series.  The same premise is outlined in this new sequel, but has some new “tricks” up it’s sleeves.

When starting you will be graced with a better tutorial than the first game and a realization that pure skill is needed up ahead.  After completing the tutorial you will be placed with the career mode style that has you trying to complete 5 challenges within each level.  There are 25 Amateur levels and upon achieving the 5 challenges presented in each will unlock the Pro version of that level with harder challenges.  If you get good enough and finish all the challenges on the Amateur and Pro levels, then you will unlock an even harder mode that I couldn’t even dream of experiencing.  You will be experiencing all these levels over five different themed levels ranging from Aztec ruins all the way to a haunting amusement park.

The manual is the newest addition to OlliOlli 2 and adds more skill and technical performances than the first game.  Now you can land into a manual and create an ongoing, never-ending score-a-thon through an entire level.  This feeds my urge for that constant score multiplier that I used to get in Tony Hawk games and it delivers just as I had hoped.  For a 2-D skateboarding game, OlliOlli 2 has once again accomplished a perfect pick up and go style game that will give you a sense of accomplishment and skill when pulling off those sick moves perfectly.

You still use the left analog stick to control your tricks and tap “X” to push off for speed.  Its a matter of rolling the analog stick or pressing it in certain directions to pull off tricks and even grinds.  To land your tricks in the new manual mode you can press left or right with “X” while landing to keep the score pumping.  There is some practice at hand here to land perfect tricks as if you don’t press “X” at the right time you will land “Sloppy” and the score you just racked up will vanish before your eyes.

There is still the Daily Grind, which pits you against other fellow skaters’ scores and has you trying to beat their high score on an endless grind.  You can even get your scores posted online to compete against friends or the world especially with Ultimate Spots Score, which adds up all your scores from all the levels.  A split-screen mode was supposed to be in OlliOlli 2 called Combo Rush Mode and isn’t at launch.  This would’ve made me happy to experience this mode at the start, but I’ll wait for this mode to arrive as it should be patched in at a later date.

The soundtrack is just as upbeat and fulfilling as any skateboarding game’s music should be.  The sounds are nothing too new from the original OlliOlli, but honestly we don’t need new sounding grinds or board popping effects to make it a better experience.  The visuals are just the same as well with the pixelated style graphics and it still is just as appealing as the first.

The Recommendation

OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood is a successful sequel to an already fun and challenging game.  This title does support cross-buy and is always welcome with you receiving the Vita version form buying the PS4 copy.  Your saves can also be crossed over so you never lose your scores or progress from the Vita or PS4.  If you loved the first OlliOlli then why haven’t you bought the second one yet?  It is just as enjoyable as the first and I hope there is a third with online competitive multiplayer!