Video games have come a long way over the last thirty years. Sometimes it can be easy to look at the shiny new games that have been released and forget just how much fun games were at their inception. Every now and then we are graced with a game that combines modern polish with all of the things that we loved about games in their infancy. Olija is one of those games. Olija is shrouded in mystery from the very second that you boot up the game. Not only is the story one filled with secrets for you to uncover, but as the gameplay is revealed and secrets come to life, it becomes even more clear how much fun you’re going to have with this game.
On the surface the set up seems fairly familiar. Our protagonist, Faraday, is shipwrecked in the foreign land of Terraphage and is desperately searching for a way to get him and his remaining crew home in one piece. However, not only is he feeling the call to go home – but also the desire also to find Olija, a woman to which he is somehow connected.
At first the gameplay will seem simple. You’ll immediately think back to classics like the original Prince of Persia as you start your quest. As you continue to explore, the game will really set itself apart. Exploration is key to your success. Early on you’ll meet an old Boatman that will come at your call to take you to the location of your choosing. As you make your way through each, you’ll find new maps that allow you to sail to various sites in order to find your way back home.
Early on, players will hack and slash their way through the first couple of locations until you discover the harpoon. Once you do, you’ll realize that Olija has a lot more depth than it initially appeared. The harpoon becomes the centerpiece of the entire game and whether you live or die will depend entirely on your ability to master this weapon. Faraday has the ability to transport wherever his harpoon lands. This makes the harpoon not only the most important weapon that you’ll wield, but an important way for you to traverse through the levels as well.
Learning to use the harpoon is one thing, but becoming its master is another beast all together. As you make your way through Faraday’s journey, you’ll need to rely on the harpoon more and more. Some areas will require some complex movement and you’ll need to time each move perfectly in order to avoid dying and having to redo the entire level. Prepare to do a bit more guessing as the game progresses due to a lack of direction at times with regard to where you need to teleport with your harpoon. Your trusty tool cannot latch on to everything, so it will take some trial and error as you make your way through difficult areas on the map.
Though you’ll rely heavily on the harpoon, secondary weapons will be necessary to help you in combat as well. While you can pick up upgrades for the harpoon throughout the game, secondary weapons tend to be very strong and help you progress a little more swiftly. You’ll want to mix in your rifle, sword, and other weapons in order to defeat your enemies and continue on the path ahead. Keep an eye out on the bubbles above Faraday’s head. Yellow bubbles represent teleport attacks and, as long as you have one yellow bubble left, you’ll be able to land finishing blows on the bosses in order to take them even quicker,
Backtracking is a big part of the game and you’ll especially want to make sure that you return to Oaktide fairly frequently. It’s here that you can recover some health, rest up, and buy various items to help you on your way. A favorite place to shop for us was the hat store. You can buy and craft different headgear that not only add to your style but give you certain abilities as well. You’ll receive various perks in combat depending on which hat you choose to take into battle with you. Oaktide is the hub for you. In between each level it’s good to explore and see what new items are available and make sure your prepared for whatever lies ahead.
Graphically speaking, Olija won’t really turn any heads even though it’s meant to look like it’s from a bygone era. It never looks terrible but feels as though the pixilation was a little exaggerated. The sound is where the game really shines. Wearing headphones will help make the sound in the game that much more powerful. You’ll hang on every word of every conversation, even though you won’t understand a word they are saying without reading the subtitles. The sound effects and music really come together to create something special here.
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.
Devolver Digital should have another hit on their hands with Olija from Skeleton Crew Studios. Olija was developed nearly in its entirety by one person. (Skeleton Crew really lives up to their name.) You can pick up Olija on January 28th on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.
*Olija was given to the reviewer by the publishing company but this fact did not alter the reviewer’s opinion*
