Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of the most visually stunning games in the past few years. When it comes to balancing 2d and 3d assets together, this game should be the new standard. Moon Studios really outdid themselves with the visuals in this game. Each area has so much detail that it looks and feels unique and I’m not just talking about the scenery either, the enemies and game mechanics change area to area which adds to the uniqueness of it. Match that with the incredible sound track and you are getting pleasure for multiple senses at once.
The uniqueness in game mechanics mean that in one area you may need to use winds to get from area to area and in another one you’ll need to turn into even more of a nightlight than Ori is naturally in order to succeed. While you will be able to get the core stuff to be able to beat the area by just following the game path, you can get more Spirit Shards and Skills by completing side missions or by purchasing them. The optional Shards and Skills can certainly make things easier, but to beat the game you definitely don’t need to get them. Other things that can help you along the way is energy slots, health slots, and Spirit Shard slots, for the most part, these are located by exploring and not doing side missions.
The side missions in the game you can do without even realizing you’re doing it, such as picking up a fishing pole and giving it to someone before he even asks for it. Some side missions are pretty fast, while others require multiple steps to complete or a bit more exploring than you’d normally do. The main story is pretty much complete it how you can. The game doesn’t hold your hand on what you need to do and once you have multiple areas you must explore, it doesn’t tell you which one you need to do, it’s up to you to figure out your best way to get through the game.
Getting through the game can be tough. I completed it on normal and even that was a certainly a challenge. Between unforgiving dangerous environments, split second decision making, and bosses that will change up their moves without warning, I died a lot. When I say a lot I mean a lot, one of the Achievements is to get through the game without dying once and I probably failed that one 200 times. Figuring out ways to reach certain areas requires you to have certain skills, so in order to 100% of the game, there will be a lot of revisiting areas, but with how beautiful each area is, that won’t be a problem for some.
If you love platformers, you should definitely check out Ori and the Will of the Wisps (after you play the first one, of course). If you like a challenge, this game certainly delivers with an interesting story and gorgeous visuals.
