Once again, Game Pass PC has allowed me to play one of my most anticipated games of 2020. I'm quite excited to talk about this one. BACKGROUND:
I played the Switch version of Ori and the Blind Forest last year (more on that here) and absolutely loved it. It's probably no surprise that I was fucking hyped for the sequel. My plan was to get it on the Switch, but since I can play it for free right now, I might as well take advantage. PLOT: The game is set well after the events of the first game, and sees Ori, Naru, Gumo, and Ku be a happy family together. Most of the early cutscenes focus on Ku growing up and her journey to learn to fly (which she can't quite do due to a damaged wing). Through the help of her family, Ku eventually does achieve flight, and she and Ori fly out of Nibel and into another forest called Niwen. Disaster strikes, however, as a storm hits and separares the two, and the game begins in earnest as Ori journeys to reunite with Ku. Along the way, Ori discovers that Niwen is being overrun by Decay, and is under threat of being destroyed (much like Nibel was in the previous game). Much like the first game, Will of the Wisps starts out with a happy, wholesome vibe and then does the emotional equivalent of kicking you in the dick by having something incredibly sad happen. There's also an antagonist with a tragic backstory (incredibly similar to how Kuro was in Blind Forest). Despite some clear similarities, this game does enough to stand out on its own: for one, the "collect the magic shit to save the forest" mission is actually in line with Ori's personal goals (in the first game, that responsibility was more or less just thrust upon Ori), and for another, the ending is incredibly bittersweet (a contrast to the first game's straightforward happy ending). And despite the similarities on how both games present their antagonists, the way the antagonist of Will of the Wisps handles the endgame events is pretty much opposite to how Kuro responded to the events at the end of Blind Forest. Naturally, I can't go into too much detail, as a lot of things are spoiler-heavy, but I can say that this game has significantly more NPCs to talk to who all have brief backstories. It's another big difference from the first game, which didn't have too many other folks to interact with. PRESENTATION: I don't know how they were able to surpass Blind Forest visually, but they did. This game somehow looks more beautiful and breathtaking than the previous, with the environments taking on a whole new dimension (literally). From what I've read, they went from 2D art to full 3D models for this game, and goddamn does everything look amazing. Big moments in the story get extra love, with all sorts of impressive set pieces throughout the game. Though Niwen is a forest like Nibel from the last game, its world still features wildly unique locations, like a bug-infested cavern, windswept deserts, and what I can only describe as a coral reef, but on land. Niwen isn't as desolate as Nibel was, so you do get to enjoy some gorgeous scenery, but there are still ugly-ass monsters roaming about that you have to watch out for. And just like before, the fully orchestrated soundtrack is fucking incredible. You have music for those big emotional moments, thrilling tracks for gameplay sequences, and serene ambient sounds for when you're just traversing through the levels. The soundtrack definitely goes hand in hand with the graphics to deliver a feast for the senses. GAMEPLAY: Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a Metroidvania like its predecessor, so you'll be doing plenty of exploring, backtracking, and finding collectibles. The map feels larger than the last game, and there's a bit more freedom in terms of tackling quests (though most of that freedom only comes at the latter portion of the game). Though the core gameplay is largely the same as before, there are some notable changes. The most significant change is in the combat. Unlike the first game, where combat wasn't really the main hook, you do a lot more fighting in this game. Enemies are now put in places where you pretty much have no choice but to fight them, there are rooms where you can't progress until you've killed everything, and there are straight up boss fights now (and they're no pushover either). Along with that, Ori's offensive capabilities have been changed completely; they now have access to a quick melee strike (which is much easier to use than the projectile thing from Blind Forest). The way abilities work has been changed as well. You can now map abilities to three buttons, allowing you to mix and match loadouts depending on the situation. For example, you can equip a projectile move and a heavy melee strike along with the basic attack. In short, there's a bit more depth and player choice to how you want to approach combat. Abilities themselves come in an assortment of varieties; some of them expend Energy, which can be replenished and upgraded like your health. You still have your platforming-based abilities; some of them are back from the first game (double jump, dash, the Bash that lets you bounce off of projectiles), while others are brand new (like the swim dash and burrow). You get to use these skills in plenty of technically demanding sections, and like before, a few of them have applications in combat, too. Speaking of platforming, I feel like it's a bit tougher than the last game. There are noticeably more sections that demanded some precision, and there were areas that had you solve a puzzle while dealing with a tricky platforming section. Plus, the epic chase sequences are back, and they're tougher than ever (especially since they happen around the time of a boss fight). Notably missing from your arsenal of abilities is the Soul Link mechanic, which allowed you to save pretty much anywhere in Blind Forest. It's now been replaced with a somewhat lenient autosave. There are still save points throughout the map in case that's a concern. I found this omission odd (given it was one of the defining mechanics of the first game), but it being missing here doesn't really take away from the game. The skill tree from before has been replaced with Spirit Shards, which works a lot like Hollow Knight's Charm system. You can equip a minimum of three shards at a time, and these shards grant all sorts of helpful buffs (or not-so-helpful debuffs that make things more challenging). The only caveat is that you have to find most of these yourself, but many of them are worth the trouble. You can also find additional Spirit Shard slots elsewhere, and that will allow you to equip more buffs. Since the skill tree is gone, the main use of the Spirit Points now is as money in transactions with NPCs. You can buy stuff like maps, Spirit Shards, new abilities, as well as upgrades for certain items. There isn't really a whole lot to buy, but many of the items do cost a good amount of money. Thankfully, there are more reliable ways to earn points other than just killing enemies. Of course, no Metroidvania is complete without a fuckton of collectibles. Most of these are useful, like new abilities, health and energy upgrades, and Spirit Shards, so they're generally worth going out of the way for. You can also find challenge rooms that either test your combat or your platforming skill, and those give out Spirit Points if you complete them. Also new to this game are sidequests. Since there are plenty of NPCs to talk to here, it makes sense that some of them need help with things. The game keeps track of all of these quests on your map, so don't worry about losing track of anything. Though most of these sidequests are purely just for story, some of them do have useful rewards (mostly in the form of Spirit Points). There's also a town-building aspect to the game where you can spend Gorlek Ores and mysterious seeds (both of which are collectibles strewn about the world) to beautify a certain area. Doing so gives you some neat rewards, but it's mostly for the good feeling of making the place look nice. VERDICT: Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a good example of a sequel: it takes everything that made the first game special and introduces new elements and changes to deliver an improved experience. The platforming is as smooth as ever, the combat is leagues better than before, the sights and sounds are still phenomenal, and the story tugs at the heartstrings like nobody's business. I had an amazing time playing through this game, and if you loved the first one like I did, you're bound to enjoy this one as well. Here's the game on Steam: Ori and the Will of the Wisps on Steam (steampowered.com) Listen to the OST on Spotify: Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Original Soundtrack Recording) - Album by Gareth Coker | Spotify - end -
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Derryck
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