Indie studios often resort to the pixel style in their projects, inspired by 8-bit game classics or attractive minimalism of a similar direction. Team Skeleton Crew Studio makes a kind of homage to classic action-adventure games like Another worldimmersing the player in a visually primitive world Olija…
The plot of the game focuses on the successful and wise ruler Faraday, who sets out with his loyal subjects on a sea voyage in search of fertile lands, but soon finds himself in the center of a storm, which throws his vessel on sharp rocks. Recovering on the unfamiliar land of Terrafage, Faraday tries to find survivors and return to his homeland. But first, he has to find three blue keys that open a mysterious door, and challenge the countless doubt of enemies and gloomy monsters. Olija, inspired by nautical legends and books like The Adventures of Captain Alatriste, is full of unexpected encounters, mysteries and even a tragic love story between Faraday and the ruler of these distant lands, Oliya.
The player controls a character who can jump, climb stairs and deftly wield a sword, and later also a magic harpoon, inflicting strong and weak blows. As he visits new dungeons, he gets a second weapon that can be used for combinations in battle, be it a machine gun-like crossbow, a destructive shotgun, or allowing you to activate portals and quickly return to the activation site with the sword of the full moon. But the main tool in the fight against evil will be the cursed harpoon already mentioned above, which allows you to pierce opponents and objects from a long distance and pull its owner to the point of impact. Thus, you quickly move between levels and collect secrets and various components that allow you to craft bullets for a shotgun or increase health in the alchemist’s hut at the local naval base. And of course, from the unique items collected there on the oak pier, you can order a magic hat of your choice from the tailor – each one will have a unique effect. Some release deadly feathers that shred enemies, others charge the hero’s harpoon with electricity, and still others drain life from wounded enemies. True, they give to change the headdress only before the start of the assignment.
Olija is an incredibly addicting yet simple game. Using a harpoon and hats allows you to defeat most of the opponents almost the first time, and the final boss will quickly fall after you understand his basic attack patterns. At the same time, Olija does not limit you in tactics, allowing you to choose your own unique fighting style, which is incredibly attractive.
The only thing that can be disappointing is the short duration of the game itself, the small number of mysteries tied to abilities, and one ending. In any case, I could not find another one. On the other hand, Olija has a certain gravity magic that makes you explore one dungeon after another without interruption. You promise yourself to interrupt in a few minutes, but you hang at the screen for a few hours.
Olija’s visual style is not annoying – while maintaining pixel primitiveness, the authors pay a lot of attention to clothing animations, environmental elements such as grass, and special effects. This is a piece work, everything is done by hand. The soundtrack only underlines the Asian melancholy, offering a mixture of flamenco, koto and low-fai.
