Between its simple and satisfying combat and its short and sweet story, Olija is a riveting platformer without the stress of being overly challenging. For those looking for something quick to take a break with over the weekend, the newest indie game from Devolver Digital might be the short, rewarding experience to pass the time.
In Olija, players assume the role of Faraday, a European whaler whose ship has wrecked on an island called Terraphage. In this atmospheric sidescrolling platformer, players are tasked with finding the three blue keys to unlock the Shadow Gate and sail home whilst freeing Faraday’s shipwrecked crew. Olija draws inspiration from different sources such as the Metroidvania genre with the way its levels are crafted and designed, along with Souslike games and action games released for the NES and SNES back in the 90s.
If anything, Olija might be thwarted by being too short, with a slightly underdeveloped odyssey that makes the player want to spend more time on the dark island without a reason to replay it. Still, Olija‘s combat, driven by the harpoon mechanic, uses simplicity to successfully create a fun experience for the player, according to critics:
IGN (Mitchell Saltzman)
“Olija stands on its own as a 2D action game with exceptional combat, a chilling atmosphere, and a small handful of great boss fights that go a long way toward elevating its otherwise disappointingly short adventure above your average retro-themed platformer.“
Score: 7/10
PC Gamer (Alex Wiltshire)
“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.“
Score: 83/100
The Verge (Andrew Webster)
“This all may make Olija sound like a fairly standard action game, but part of what makes it work is the vibe. The world is like a cross between Lovecraft-style ancient terrors and Japanese folklore, and — despite the fact that dialogue is minimal — it’s full of interesting characters. My favorite is a musician who seems to appear at random, doing things like playing music for a “lonely tree,” but I also love the boatman who silently takes you where you need to go. The one trade-off is that Olija is smaller in scale compared to similar games; it won’t take as long to beat as something like Dead Cells, nor does it have the same kind of replayability.“
Score: Unscored
Screen Rant (Toby Arguello)
“Olija enters a crowded genre and its gameplay does little to revolutionize the scene, but it still manages to stand out with a unique visual style that greatly contributes to its intriguing, atmospheric tone. Anyone interested in the story should go in blind, as a sense of mystery adds to the experience. The Devolver catalog has often curated the best in niche indie games, and Olija is another good addition for those looking for a unique, moody, maritime experience.“
Score: 3.5/5
GameSpot (Mike Epstein)
“Like all great short stories, Olija manages to do more with less. Its characters are roughly drawn and very pixelated, but they build strong bonds that resonate and create real stakes. The caves, ruins, and dark corners of the world exude an ominous, foreboding mood that permeates every turn. And the action, a mix of quick-moving combat and light puzzle-platforming, steadily and consistently finds new ways to keep you on your toes. Olija takes exactly as much time as it needs to tell its story and show you everything in its bag of tricks.“
Score: 8/10
Push Square (Stephen Tailby)
“When you’re not spearing baddies, there are many things to discover: keys to unlock new areas, map pieces that open up the world, and your old crewmates in need of rescue. As you progress, a safe hub will grow, and you can put money into things like an alchemist that offers health upgrades, a sailor you can pay to go and find treasure, and more. Visually, Olija might not look like much, but you’d be surprised how atmospheric it is. A handful of bugs aside, this is an intriguing adventure worth taking.”
Score: 7/10
Taking into consideration that Olija was made by one person, Thomas Olssen, the game is certainly impressive and feels like an intimate experience no matter how short it might be. Olija seems to do its job almost too well for its length: gripping and immersing the player into dark Japanese folklore only to end the adventure too soon.
Olija is available on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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