Ori and the Blind Forest is a Platforming-Focused Castleroid, and it's pretty darn good at being that. The movement is extremely smooth and the level design is great, with each new ability being taught to the player naturally and expanded upon in cool ways. While the moveset isn't the most unique in any platformer, there are some really cool abilities, such as catapulting yourself off of enemies and projectiles. Most of the puzzles are pretty good too. Also, compared to most Castleroids, Ori's difficulty curve is pretty consistent even with it's experience and adventure based progression system. Honestly, this game is excellent when it comes to being a Platforming Castleroid.
However, I do have two major complaints: First, the combat. At best, Ori's combat is a fine change of pace. At worst, it's passive to the point of arbitration. Oftentimes it consists of mashing Y (I played on Switch) while running past enemies. This is because the game auto-aims the attacks for you. Sometimes you may have to use the ground pound or aforementioned projectile catapult, but even then it's pretty basic: Ground pound to get ride of the enemy's armor, THEN mash Y. Shoot the projectile back continuously until the enemy dies. I see an attempt to tie platforming and combat together, and it can work, but 50% of the time the combat is unengaging.
I do, however, have to praise that the game actually had no real bosses, and each section of the game is instead topped off with a great chase sequence. Many games would've inserted a boss just because that's an expectation at this point, so I have to respect the decision to cap off each area with a bit of the main focus: platforming.
My next big issue is with the story. I wasn't expecting that much, and I feel like the story here simultaneously was pleasantly surprising and kind of annoying. The best moments are the opening an ending. Both are wordless scenes that display the emotions of the characters well. However, the rest of the story has a bit too much narration, despite the fact that it's easily discernable what's happening at any moment. It just makes the game feel a bit patronizing.
In terms of audiovisuals, Ori is actually very poor. That was a lie, the audiovisuals are really good. My only complaint is that while the locations are stunning visually, they're not interesting conceptually. The most interesting was the Misty Woods, where your map is pretty much useless and the layout of the world changes seemingly randomly, but even "Confusing Forest" has been a trope since Super Mario World. Not a huge issue, but worth mentioning.
I thought about giving this game an 8/10, but since I usually lower the rating later anyway, I'm pre-emptively rating the game a 7/10. That's kind of arbitrary though. If you enjoy either 2D Platformers or Castleroids, you'll probably enjoy this.
However, I do have two major complaints: First, the combat. At best, Ori's combat is a fine change of pace. At worst, it's passive to the point of arbitration. Oftentimes it consists of mashing Y (I played on Switch) while running past enemies. This is because the game auto-aims the attacks for you. Sometimes you may have to use the ground pound or aforementioned projectile catapult, but even then it's pretty basic: Ground pound to get ride of the enemy's armor, THEN mash Y. Shoot the projectile back continuously until the enemy dies. I see an attempt to tie platforming and combat together, and it can work, but 50% of the time the combat is unengaging.
I do, however, have to praise that the game actually had no real bosses, and each section of the game is instead topped off with a great chase sequence. Many games would've inserted a boss just because that's an expectation at this point, so I have to respect the decision to cap off each area with a bit of the main focus: platforming.
My next big issue is with the story. I wasn't expecting that much, and I feel like the story here simultaneously was pleasantly surprising and kind of annoying. The best moments are the opening an ending. Both are wordless scenes that display the emotions of the characters well. However, the rest of the story has a bit too much narration, despite the fact that it's easily discernable what's happening at any moment. It just makes the game feel a bit patronizing.
In terms of audiovisuals, Ori is actually very poor. That was a lie, the audiovisuals are really good. My only complaint is that while the locations are stunning visually, they're not interesting conceptually. The most interesting was the Misty Woods, where your map is pretty much useless and the layout of the world changes seemingly randomly, but even "Confusing Forest" has been a trope since Super Mario World. Not a huge issue, but worth mentioning.
I thought about giving this game an 8/10, but since I usually lower the rating later anyway, I'm pre-emptively rating the game a 7/10. That's kind of arbitrary though. If you enjoy either 2D Platformers or Castleroids, you'll probably enjoy this.