Hello the PlayStation community! I’m Jemima, a writer here at Roll7, and I’m so happy to bring you some exclusive insights from some of the amazing people who are currently working on OlliOlli World.
New art, new design
Bold new artistic direction inspires the Roll7 design team to improve and innovate the mechanics of OlliOlli World. “Our previous OlliOlli titles were in 2D,” explains co-director John Ribbins. “But now, with a 3D art style, we have the ability to move the camera in and out as the player progresses through the levels, which means more room for some huge tunes.” and super knotty – and this means more time for hints and combos. As a result, we were able to include in-game captures for the very first time. Grabs feel pretty rad on their own, but they also make existing mechanics like spins a lot more interesting and versatile.
“One addition I particularly like is being able to make firecrackers, which is when the player is running a manual down a staircase,” says Sam Robinson, senior level designer. “It has to do with new ways of skating because in this game the player has more opportunities to recover from their mistakes. If they miss a jump and are about to land on a staircase, the player has the option of saving themselves by performing the correct turn by landing to continue the level.
“There are also wallrides now,” Ribbins adds. “Not really for any particular reason, we just thought they were cool.” (They really are.)
Player choice
“The visual and sound presentation of the game is cheerful, dynamic and welcoming to the audience – and this was reflected in the design of the game as well,” said Robinson. And, while this game is a lot less punishing for inexperienced players than previous OlliOlli titles, it still maintains the insanely high skill cap that keeps players coming back time and time again as they work to improve their scores.
“This ultimately means that the player will experience the game more, rather than getting stuck at the start – and can then come back and replay levels later to improve their score, complete challenges, or discover new routes through. through the levels, ”says Robinson.
Narrative designer Lizz Lunney also highlights the huge impact the new art direction and wacky new mechanics have on their own work: live. I also worked closely with (former Lead Game Designer) Craig Thomas, to make sure the story fits the gameplay perfectly. Ideally, after a few hours of playing OlliOlli World, you won’t just dream about how smooth the game is, ”says Lunney, but you’ll also“ get a feel for the true culture of skateboarding – a culture that isn’t. not so much about competition. but more about hanging out with your friends, celebrating each other’s turns, taking epic road trips, and meeting strange new people along the way.
Taking an alternate path will present a new challenge to seasoned players, because skating off the beaten track will reveal slightly more risky routes… and, if they play their combos correctly, maybe also some additional rewards!
Pre-orders
OlliOlli World launches February 8 on PS4 and PS5, and you can pre-order now.
