Olija Review (PC)

very good
key review info
  • Game: Olija
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
  • Reviewed on:
Olija artwork

I throw a harpoon over an otherwise impassable pit filled with water. Then use its magical power to teleport to the other side before dealing with an archer at range by using the same harpoon. Finally, I take down two very close and threatening enemies, using a cool combo move, with a sword. I then spend some time smashing crates for resources. I wonder where the next passage that I missed might be and how the harpoon will once again serve me well to get to a new area.

Olija is an action platformer developed by Thomas Olsson from Skeleton Crew and published by Devolver Digital. I played it on the PC but it is also available on the PlayStation 4, the Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch. The game mixes exploration and combat well, asking the player to move through levels to map out a new world, take out enemies and collect loot that can power even more discovery. The mechanics are in many ways a throwback to older titles but with a very modern emphasis on precision.

The story focuses on Captain Faraday, a brave leader of men and killer of whales, who gets trapped in a land called Terraphage, a land where magic is real and powerful beasts keep everyone trapped. The titular Olija is the princess of this kingdom, who seems to be interested in the captain although it’s unclear what her motives are. Players can rescue castaways in order to build a haven and will need to also get maps that reveal more of the land and a potential way out.

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To reach his objectives, the main character needs to use an arsenal of skills and weapons. The harpoon, obtained early on, is the most important one. One push of a mouse button coupled with a direction throws it. Another tap moves Farraday to the location. The harpoon can also be recalled and is a pretty good weapon to deal with enemies. It can also be used as a tool to gather resources but moving around the world is its most important function. A sword and more can serve as a backup, mostly used when a larger number of enemies is close by and to destroy all the crates that house crystals or health.

The levels in Olija are hand-crafted, designed to give the main character a few paths to explore. They can lead to secrets, mainly more resources and message bottles. Some of them allow for the recruitment of characters that are useful at home base, with the hat maker the most important of them (try to get the head covering that steals health). Others lead to keys to open up more exploration options or too big fights that will test both movement and combat skills.

There’s no map but it feels satisfying to find new paths and the best way to move forward. The biggest problem is that the harpoon can sometimes feel unwieldy and that there plenty of moments when you have to guess that it can be anchored on another screen to get to a new place.

Olija is another title that aims to deliver a retro look while making sure that exploration and combat are very prices. It reminds me a lot of the classic Prince of Persia, both when it comes to the way the characters are designed and how they move. There’s quite a bit of emotion expressed via a small number of pixels. The problem is that there is too much retro when it comes to the graphics and it makes playing the game feel a little bit like a chore, especially because the graphics make the gameplay feel harder.

The whimsical aspect of the game is undermined by the fact that the world is simply not appealing. Olija gains back some ground on the presentation front with its music, which is delightful, both playful and subdued, carefully calibrated for emotion. It then drops some again because of the voice acting, which should have been eliminated.

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The Good

  • Harpoon action
  • Exploration focus
  • Pixelated art

The Bad

  • Combat mechanics
  • Some harpoon problems
  • Pixelated art

Conclusion

Olija is a god game built for a specific audience. If you loved classic exploration and combat titles on the PC from the ’80s, then this experience has plenty to offer. The graphical style will be charming, the gameplay challenging enough but not impossible to master. The narrative is not too engaging but it will keep players interested.

Unfortunately, there’s little to bring in those who simply lack those gaming memories. The pixelated look can easily be judged as hard to understand, stifling experimentation and making it hard to enjoy the exploration. The harpoon mechanics are solid but they cannot sustain the game on their own. More care to make it accessible for a wider range of players would have made the entire experience more attractive.

story 8
gameplay 7
concept 9
graphics 6
audio 8
multiplayer 0
final rating 8
Editor's review
very good
 

Olija screenshots (26 Images)

Olija artwork
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