Olija Reviews

Olija is ranked in the 75th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7.5 / 10.0
Jan 28, 2021

Olija is a game that, when it works, is a really fun time. But when you can’t figure out where to go next due to a lack of direction or, even worse, just struggle to string together the right combo with the harpoon it can be incredibly frustrating. Swinging around and teleporting from place to place is incredibly rewarding and you’ll feel like the monarch of video games when you get it exactly right, but the frustrating elements of the combat will definitely test your patience at times. However, it’s worth the frustrations in order to play one of the more original titles we’ll see this year... which is a cool thing for a game that really tried to remind us of games we’ve come to love from our past.

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8.2 / 10.0
Jan 29, 2021

Olija is a great action platformer and one that throws back to the best of those which have come before.

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7 / 10
Jan 28, 2021

But some of this might just be me being cantankerous. I can’t say Olija is all that great, but it’s definitely a solid game that aimed at what it wanted to be and hit it squarely. It’s unlikely to be anyone’s favorite game, but it is – at least – doing its own thing with no small degree of confidence.

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4.5 / 5.0
Jan 28, 2021

Olija is a mysterious adventure that won't overstay it's welcome but leave you wanting more immediately after playing it.

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3.5 / 5.0
Jan 28, 2021

Overall, I’m still quite pleased I got the opportunity to review Olija. Devolver has a knack for publishing quirky and unique fare, and that tradition continues here. I just wish it wasn’t so short. Because the world of Terraphage is a fascinating one, and I really wish I could have gotten more lost in it. But those complaints aside, this is still a very solid game worth checking out. Here’s hoping the next project by Skeleton Crew Studio is a bit more robust.

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7.5 / 10.0
Jan 28, 2021

Olija never sets out to be more than it is. It plays it safe, delivering an action platformer with a traversal mechanic and never straying too far from what works. But Olija has an undeniable depth of charm and character that some higher budget productions just can’t grasp. Olija is a tale that deserves to be heard at least once.

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7 / 10.0
Jan 28, 2021

The combat is fun but both Switch controllers were problematic. The gameplay isn’t repetitive because there are multiple very small gameplay loops. Olija is infrequently challenging (if at all). Yet it is a nice game to play between major AAA releases or 100 hour RPG’s. Olija is a great game to take out of your pocket and play in small stretches if you are on the road. Especially at the $15 price point. Unfortunately, there is so much coming out and so many games in all of our backlogs that it keeps it from really standing out. Olija will release on January 28th on Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

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Evan Norris
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Jan 28, 2021

If you're fond of cinematic platformers, mysterious settings, and swashbuckling adventure, you've washed up in the right place.

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7 / 10.0
Jan 28, 2021

Olija instigates with its premise and unique ambience. Exploring a exotic country in the company of a castaway is pleasant, specially when using the harpoon teleporting mechanics. The journey has well-balanced moments of exploration, platform and combat, and there are some secrets to find, and the low-resolution visual pixel art and music bring an exotic air to the game world. However, it's easy to be bothered by the simplicity of several aspects: the plot and universe are too enigmatic, and the challenges are too basic. In the end, Olija is interesting while it lasts, but, unfortunately, does not fully exploit its potential.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jan 28, 2021

Olija’s adventure might be a short one, but it’ll certainly prove memorable for players thanks to its fun harpooning-action and its minimalistic yet impressive visual style. Add to that an intriguing narrative that’ll keep you hooked in until the very end and it’s clear that Devolver Digital and Skeleton Crew Studio have a winner on their hands here. Admittedly, the combat mechanics were a little underwhelming and the lack of challenge did feel like low points of the journey, but Olija still did more than enough to ensure that its harpoon-fuelled escapade is one that fans of 2D adventures won’t want out miss out on.

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8 / 10
Jan 28, 2021

It may not look like much to begin with, but when Olija gets going it’s a captivating experience. Pixelated violence paired with the minimalism of its peers, it’s as worthy as any other game with Devolver’s blessing behind it.

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Jan 28, 2021

Olija’s atmosphere is spot on and despite its huge pixels, the game manages to channel Hugo Pratt’s fabled Corto Maltese graphic novels that take place in similar exotic corners of the world. The gameplay also works most of the time, but as is often the case with indie games, the authoritarian developer has gone overboard. The less is usually more but here, the style simply went over the substance and 12 hours of playtime more than overstays its welcome considering the game's ultimately shallow bounty.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jan 28, 2021

Olija is a game that thrives in its Asian fantasy atmosphere and well-realized gameplay. The story and soundtrack are artistic and evoke special moods, while the combat and exploration are a neat and interesting package. The journey is short and sweet and only held back by a few stumbles in its narrative delivery.

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9 / 10.0
Jan 31, 2021

Olija is a game that delivers a pleasant experience in all its areas. The platform challenges are very good, the combat is satisfactory and the mechanics of exploring and upgrading items serve what they are intended for. But it doesn't take away the feeling that the title could offer a little more, mainly in the quantity of content, in the quality of the puzzles (which, after all, are very rare) and in the development of the story. However, this does not diminish in any way the great journey, which will please those who love the classics of literature and games.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8.3 / 10.0
Jan 30, 2021

Short-but-sweet, Olija successfully reels you into its intoxicating world and tight gameplay but with few reasons to return to its oil-slicked shores.

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Recommended
Jan 28, 2021

Olija is short but it is an impactful game. It’s got some minor technical issues but the gameplay is intense, the story is impeccable and the puzzles are challenging. The atmosphere of Terraphage is as important to the game as Faraday himself and it’s thanks to the magical harpoon that Faraday wields that the gameplay is so much fun. I’d love to revisit this game but it is so short and lacking in replayability - the upside is that the time you spend with Olija won’t soon be forgotten.

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80 / 100
Feb 4, 2021

I think adventures like Olija are quite appreciated, with its simple layout but worked and with clear effort behind, and a direct gameplay but with substance as well. An adventure game that combines combat, platforming, classic story, well crafted narrative and art, and fun, quite fun. The so classic and even necessary "what it does, it does well".

Review in Spanish | Read full review

70%
Feb 26, 2021

If you're looking for a simple yet fun platformer that's inspired by somewhat different titles than your usual indie games are, to play over the weekend, you won't go wrong with Olija

Review in Slovak | Read full review

Feb 15, 2021

The short length, relative lack of difficulty and couple of mechanical niggles stop it from being great, but if you’re looking for a new 2D action-adventure game, you won’t be disappointed.

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Unscored
Mar 2, 2021

Sometimes it’s good to get into a game that doesn’t overstay its welcome and can be beaten as quickly as Olija. It’s got very little fat and values the time you spend with it by dropping you into a very tightly designed journey, and honestly I can’t fault Skeleton Crew Studios for how short this game can be if it’s as beautiful and enjoyable as it is. I could think of worse ways to spend the short hours it took to get through Olija, and I’m glad that I did.

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