Olija

« Olija is a unique, intriguing adventure that brings players to a strange land. It isn't long but its length is enough. The visuals and atmosphere are first-rate, as are the combat and level design. All of that makes it an easy game to recommend. »

« Olija is incredibly cinematic, despite its minimalist approach to art style. The game still feels fantastical thanks to an incredible attention to detail with both the visual and sound design. In addition, Olija tells a heartfelt story with important themes, while keeping satisfying gameplay at the center of it all. It becomes even more impressive when you realize the game was practically developed by one person, Thomas Olsson of Skeleton Crew Studios. Olija is a pleasant treat and likely an early frontrunner for one of the best indie titles of 2021. »

« Olija is a fun and engrossing action-adventure game that has you fighting foes and solving puzzles with a magical harpoon. A little on the short side, but a fun experience that leaves you wanting more. »

« 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. »

« Overall Olija is a good game. I just wish it was longer. I finished a fair portion of the game in around 5 hours and I can’t imagine I would have spent much longer had I decided to get all the collectibles. However, I think $15 is the perfect price for Olija; I much rather have a short good game than a long mediocre one and being left wanting more is a much better problem to have than never wanting to touch a game again. Just know that Olija is a concise but strong experience and a great way to start off 2021. »

« I was bowled over by the level of quality of all this one person has achieved. Olija is clearly Olsson's personal work, and its story, of Europeans lost in mysterious and frightening Eastern waters, in part reflects his own experience of moving from his birthplace in France to Japan to be with his wife. But I felt sometimes a disquieting air of orientalist fantasy, as we encounter an inscrutable culture headed by the beautiful Lady Olija, who we chase into submission. But I also loved the clash of rough and ready mariners facing a strange and terrible world of corrupted beauty. I only wish their voyage was a little longer. »

« Wonderfully inventive and with a charm that's all its own, Olija delights and surprises at every turn. The very personal creation of Thomas Ollson this is a game that every videogame lover should save an afternoon to fully experience. Lovely. »

« Because despite the strength of Olija's tone and mechanics, it is a very moody game. There's not a lot to say in indie platformers that hasn't been done elsewhere and so it all comes down to execution. I don't think the story or characters or themes of Olija will stick with me for a long time, but I will remember the game nonetheless. I will remember the world actually, as if I was the one braving mosquito filled bogs and slimy tombs. Thomas Olsson and Skeleton Crew Studio aren't telling stories so much as they are crafting worlds. That's what kind of game Olija is: a world you can get lost in. »

« A cool little pixel platformer with some fun platforming. Also has a good little story. You are in and out in less than 5 hours which is a good run time. »

« Beş. . »

« Juego increíble, me gustó muchísimo el estilo artístico que tiene, la trama es confusa pero llamativa, el Gameplay es satisfactorio, las múltiples habilidades que desbloqueas le dan variedad, lo malo es la duración corta, por lo mismo no te deja disfrutar de cada habilidad. »

« Pros.: - Smooth. Easy to play. - Some small Easter eggs. - Curious world. - Everything you want from the indie project. Cons.: - A bit off with the story at the beginning. Olija is an interesting yet underdeveloped game. The story could be told in a more fulfilling way. The levels could be more complicated. The puzzles more challenging. The game reminds of other indie projects, of tasks from other games and feels like the developers cut half of the content. Still, the game doesn't leave any negative feeling or emotions. And the last encounter with the boss is quite curious since you may feel like events in Olija are not the first time happening, that Faradey actually been there over and over again, and the vicious circle had repeated multiple times. Until he finally departed with Olija. »

« Good and interesting story with a fairly refined gameplay, but the biggest problem for my taste is that the levels are quite ugly aesthetically. »

« Agradables gráficos pixel art, excelente música, gran jugabilidad. El estilo del juego con esa atmósfera oriental me trae recuerdos de clásicos como Saboteur (de 8 bits) o el primero de los Prince of Persia. Es recomendable jugar con mando, aunque configurando a medida los controles también puedes usar el teclado + ratón de forma aceptable. La dificultad no es muy elevada, y aunque el guardado es automático los puntos de control son constantes así que cuando mueras no te verás obligado a repetir extensas zonas, lo que evita la frustración al menos entre los jugadores menos habilidosos o pacientes. El único "pero" es su poca extensión, no solo en los que dura el juego en sí sino también en otros aspectos como el número de tiendas e ítems que puedes adquirir para mejorar tus habilidades. Pero sus divertidas mecánicas, así como una historia muy sugerente, te mantendrán atrapado hasta el final. »