Can Roll7 satisfy skaters new and hardcore alike?

Developer

Roll7 

Publisher Format

Private Division PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series 

Origin 

UK 

Release

Winter

A ttempting a trick is one thing; nailing the landing quite another. Wonderfully punishing and equally rewarding, 2015’s OlliOlli 2 proved that a 2D skating game could be just as deep and compelling to master as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater at its peak. And Hawk’s was, at the time, a long way from it – that same year, Pro Skater 5 landed an Edge 2/10. OlliOlli World’s timing is less fortunate. Skate City on iOS has proved a 2D skating game can work with touchscreen controls, while last year’s remaster of Pro Skater 1 + 2 did wonders for restoring that series’ tarnished legacy. The hardcore skateboarding game niche OlliOlli once had all to itself may no longer be available. But Roll7 no longer seems interested in staying there anyway. With a new cel-shaded art style and fresh focus on character and warmth, it’s crafted the most accessible OlliOlli yet, a clear play for a bigger audience. But can the studio pull off such a move without turning away seasoned skaters?

“We did a lot of soul-searching after the second game,” John Ribbins, creative director at Roll7, explains. “Back then it was Super Meat Boy and hard games. It was cool to make a game that was really hard, where you’d just die if you messed up. We didn’t want to lose that but at the same time we’d rather reward you when you do the right thing. If you do the wrong thing we’re not necessarily going to punish you. You’re just not going to get as much of a reward.”