With its pixellated graphics, clunky animation and old-school arcade action, OlliOlli doesn't try to provide a fresh, sophisticated gameplay experience. But neither did Flappy Bird - and how many hours did you spend playing that?
If you're into skateboarding games, you'll want to spend even more time mastering OlliOlli because the Vita-only game provides the same kind of frustratingly addictive small screen thrills. Tony Hawk's Skateboarding this is not: gamers take charge of a blocky mini-skater tasked with completing missions while racking up points by nailing as many tricks and combos as possible on a scrolling side-view map. It sounds easy, and to start with it is: Completing a basic olli or stair grind using the Vita's left analogue stick, combined with some timely button mashing, doesn't take long at all.
The problems come when there are tougher moves to pull off: the precision and timing required to land kick flips on to stair rails and then get off them again without breaking your knees can often feel just out of reach. But just like proper skateboarding, the rewards come when you land combos and get a "perfect" score.
Yes, occasionally you'll get so angry you'll feel like flinging your Vita against the wall. But stick with it - OlliOlli rewards those who master its simple, subtle intricacies.
