Ori and the Blind Forest is a work of art in more ways than one. Every frame of this game is picturesque, bringing the forest of Nibel to life. An orchestral soundtrack fills you with wonder as you explore sprawling biomes and learn what happened to Nibel and its remaining inhabitants. Detailed character animations communicate this plight with almost no dialogue required.
All of this would be for little if the game didn’t play well. Thankfully, Ori and the Blind Forest is one of the most fluid platformers I’ve ever played. Movement feels tight, yet elegant. This is made extra clear by the game’s signature maneuver: Bash. Launching Ori this way is very satisfying, made possible by 360° aiming. Like any good platformer, the player is pushed to use Bash in increasingly challenging and clever ways.
Ori also sports some Metroidvania elements, such as new movement abilities. These are fun in their own right, but if you ask me, the game’s identity comes from its successful merging of platforming and emotional storytelling. If you prefer platformers over complex Metroidvanias, this game will satisfy you. The way forward is always intuitive and the level design adds new ideas to keep you on your toes. These culminate in thrilling sequences that perfectly cap off each third of the game.
Given all of this praise, why did I not give it five stars? Well, the game’s energy system, which is used to save the game (a unique idea!), does not require the player to be judicious. You will simply have too many energy cells by the halfway point to really care about when you should save and instead you’ll just save after or even during every platforming challenge.
On a side note, the combat is not the snoozefest everyone says it is. While it isn’t special, the game RARELY makes you fight enemies in a dedicated arena and enemies generally hit hard enough that you are enouraged to engage them with caution. Weaving through enemy attacks and hitting a button multiple times is what this game asks you to do and it’s what MOST combat systems in video games ask for, including the sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
Despite the missed opportunity with the energy system, Ori and the Blind Forest is a triumph. I highly recommend it to anyone. Do not let the love for the sequel overshadow this game. Its simplicity is what makes it beautiful.
All of this would be for little if the game didn’t play well. Thankfully, Ori and the Blind Forest is one of the most fluid platformers I’ve ever played. Movement feels tight, yet elegant. This is made extra clear by the game’s signature maneuver: Bash. Launching Ori this way is very satisfying, made possible by 360° aiming. Like any good platformer, the player is pushed to use Bash in increasingly challenging and clever ways.
Ori also sports some Metroidvania elements, such as new movement abilities. These are fun in their own right, but if you ask me, the game’s identity comes from its successful merging of platforming and emotional storytelling. If you prefer platformers over complex Metroidvanias, this game will satisfy you. The way forward is always intuitive and the level design adds new ideas to keep you on your toes. These culminate in thrilling sequences that perfectly cap off each third of the game.
Given all of this praise, why did I not give it five stars? Well, the game’s energy system, which is used to save the game (a unique idea!), does not require the player to be judicious. You will simply have too many energy cells by the halfway point to really care about when you should save and instead you’ll just save after or even during every platforming challenge.
On a side note, the combat is not the snoozefest everyone says it is. While it isn’t special, the game RARELY makes you fight enemies in a dedicated arena and enemies generally hit hard enough that you are enouraged to engage them with caution. Weaving through enemy attacks and hitting a button multiple times is what this game asks you to do and it’s what MOST combat systems in video games ask for, including the sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
Despite the missed opportunity with the energy system, Ori and the Blind Forest is a triumph. I highly recommend it to anyone. Do not let the love for the sequel overshadow this game. Its simplicity is what makes it beautiful.