Review: OlliOlli: Switch Stance (Nintendo Switch)

OlliOlli: Switch Stance

Making its Nintendo Switch debut, OlliOlli mixes addictive one-life gameplay with over 120 tricks and grinds to pull across 50 deviously crafted Levels, 250 Challenges, Spots Mode and Daily Grind. Not enough for you? Complete all Challenges to unlock the super skillful RAD Mode!

OlliOlli: Switch Stance

Pros:

  • OlliOlli: Switch Stance is two games in one.
  • 1GB download size overall.

OlliOlli:

Pros:

  • HD graphics.
  • 1GB Download size.(combined 1GB not 1GB each)
  • Controls are really easy to learn. The left stick is used for doing tricks and jumping. Grinding is automatic and can be halted by jumping off. The left shoulder button is used for spinning whilst airborne with the right shoulder button used for grind variations. The one key button used is the X/A button as that is the one you press just before you land and is solely responsible for the outcome of your score. Press it too early and you get a sloppy land and lose all your points, Whilst a perfect timing press will give you a green glow to confirm you nailed it and get all your points.
  • You can use d-pad or analog.
  • When you mess up you can instantly restart by pressing select/back
  • Instant restart button.
  • A tutorial section where you can go whenever you like to learn how the game plays, Brush up on technique and generally get to grips with the game.
  • Banging soundtrack with songs by great acts like Qemists, Dorian Concept, and Flako, The sound effects shine through as you hear every grind, bail, scream for help or that crunching sound that can only be heard whilst face planting the floor! You can change the music track playing at any point by pushing the right stick right.
  • The game has a distance meter that you may have seen in other games like Jetpack Joyride, It doesn’t really serve a huge purpose but does give you a sense of how far in the level you are.
  • Tricktionary, Your bible that displays all the moves in the game with a description of how to pull them off.
  • Visible on screen combo counter and move performed.
  • The daily grind is If you cannot guess, your daily event. Allowing you infinite practice runs, you only get one proper shot at setting a high score. At the end of your run, you can see your ranking score.
  • When finishing a level you get a score and the best combo score and a brief look at your standings on the leaderboards. Every level has its own individual leaderboard.
  • Levels are split up into 5 areas with all 5 having their own 5 levels. Merely finishing a level (no easy feat) will unlock the next level and a spot. A spot is basically the daily grind but with the daily part taken out. Every level has 5 tasks ala Tony Hawks like score x amount of points or collects every spray can etc. Finish all 5 and you unlock a pro version of the level. Pro is harder and faster and again gives you 5 more tasks. Finishing these unlocks RAD levels which notch the difficulty up to insane levels. All levels and spots have leaderboard descriptions at the end.
  • Proper twitch crazy, level learning, fist pumping, lightning fast gameplay.
  • You get only one shot at a level just like in the spot sections. Faceplant and the dream run is over, miss a jump and the dream run is over. Annoying you may think but any points banked before your epic fail is saved which is amazing! Be a pro but be careful.

OlliOlli 2: Welcome To OlliWood:

Pros:

  • Improved graphics bringing better animations and even better-looking backdrops.
  • 1GB  download size. (combined 1GB not 1GB each)
  • Opening tutorial with new tutorials opening up as you progress through the career.
  • Banging soundtrack.
  • The song can be changed whenever you like by hitting the right stick.
  • Extended “Advanced” tutorial where you can learn the harder tricks.
  • Tricktionary keeps a record of all tricks in the game, puts a star next to tricks completed and shows you how to do the trick and shows a mini skater pulling off the trick. It is a lot more in-depth and immediate than the previous game.
  • The daily grind is back! Practice for as long as you want but your actual timed run is a one time deal.
  • Profile shows you all your stats like career progression, stats like how many grinds, perfect landings etc.
  • Spots can be unlocked through career progression. Think of it more like an offline daily grind. Retry it as many times as you like.
  • Full online leader board for each stage, each mode and can be filtered down to friends only.
  • Menu shortcut to eliminate pointless menu hopping.
  • Five areas to unlock each boasting five levels with 5 pro levels.
  • Same control layout as before. Aka simple easy to remember the layout.
  • Instant level restart.
  • New sleeker looking combo bar at the bottom of the screen. This will show your current combo count, moves performed etc.
  • You don’t have to finish the run for completed objectives to save.
  • Controls and the game, in general, feels a lot more forgiving this time round.
  • Visible on screen combo counter and moves performed.
  • Proper twitch crazy, level learning, fist pumping,lightening fast gameplay.
  • Controls are really easy to learn. Left stick is used for doing tricks and jumping. Grinding is automatic and can be halted by jumping off. The left bumper button is used for spinning whilst airborne with the right shoulder button used for grind variations. The one key button used is the B button as that is the one you press just before you land and is solely responsible for the outcome of your score. Press it too early and you get a sloppy land and lose all your points, Whilst a perfect timing press will give you a green glow to confirm you nailed it and get all your points.
  • All new tricks added to the roster. Because the last game just didnt have enough /sarcasm.
  • Big air is here! Launch yourself off new ramps and hills.

OlliOlli: Switch Stance

OlliOlli

Cons:

  • No touchscreen support.
  • Difficulty spikes especially when going for 100% completion as some of the tasks are crazy hard from the get-go.
  • Controls do have a learning curve about them, This is a skateboarding game, yes, But it ain’t no Tony Hawk, Expect to learn the controls and understand the importance of landing the trick.

OlliOlli 2: Welcome To OlliWood

Cons:

  • Forced tutorials.
  • No touchscreen support.
  • Still, have to click through to leaderboards.
  • Controls take a bit of getting used too.
  • Difficulty spikes.

OlliOlli: Switch Stance

Cons:

  • OlliOlli: Switch Stance has no touchscreen support.
  • No way to go back to the game select screen.

OlliOlli: Switch Stance

  • 9/10
    Graphics - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Sound - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Accessability - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Length - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Fun Factor - 9/10
9/10

Summary

OlliOlli: Switch Stance is the definitive package comprising of OlliOlli 1 and OlliOlli 2. Outside of Tony Hawk, This series is one of the best and despite an initial learning curve, Really adds a lot to the skateboarding game genre. The importance of landing your ticks cannot be overlooked, Grinding is fun and the sheer wealth of tricks is crazy. There is a trick for everyone, Building unique combos are not only encouraged but also nurtured. I just love having both games as they are both worth your time if only for the playing on all the vastly different levels. Daily grind keeps you coming back for more but just how well it all plays, It is a must-own package.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!