Review

Developed by:Moon Studios Published by:Microsoft Genre(s):
  • Platformer
  • Platform:
  • Microsoft
  • PC
  • Cost:$19.99 ESRB Rating:EVERYONE Players:1 Release date:March 11, 2015 Reviewed on:XBox One
    8.5

    Ori and the Blind Forest

    Ori and the Blind Forest is an adventure platformer in the truest sense. Think Fern Gully meets Metroid with the tried, true and literal struggle between light and dark or as we commonly know it as good vs. evil!

    The heartstrings are tugged right from the start. Ori, our main character is a spirit and a child of the Great Tree, the life force of the forest where the story takes place. Due to an attack on the Great Tree by Kuro, an owl who represents the darkness, Ori is separated from the Great Tree during a storm. A creature of the forest finds Ori and serves as a guardian and a strong bond is formed. Gradually the forest succumbs to darkness and slowly dies due to the weakening of the Great Tree. To further add to the turmoil, the forest creature caring for Ori dies shortly after, leaving Ori to fend for itself. Alone once more, Ori is drawn to the Great Tree and the great journey begins. The cinematics and narrative convey strong emotions and really draw the gamer in at the start. I found myself feeling sorry for Ori when I started playing and that doesn’t happen very often for me – this is coming from someone who has played all three Dead Space games.

    The gameplay of Ori is very fluid and works extremely well. Platforming aspects are tense at times especially when you’re low on heath and can’t use a Soul Link in tight spots. Speaking of Soul Links, they are your ability to save during your journey. Holding B activates it and as long as you possess enough Blue Energy cells it instantly grants a save/check point. Soul Links also allow access to your ability tree that grants newer abilities and enhances current abilities. Upgrades are purchased with ability points that are gained by collecting orange ability cells. Blue energy in addition to Soul Links also allows you to use other abilities at Ori’s disposal. Additional energy is obtained through pickups and must be used sparingly in the earlier stages of play since you only start with a small number. Green energy cells serve as Ori’s life. You start with a small number (like Blue Energy) and as you progress through the story you gain additional green cells to help you survive the treacherous paths.

    Scattered across the world are Spirit Wells and Ancestral Trees. Spirit Wells not only provide an instant save, they also refill both your Blue and Green energy cells. Ancestral Trees, who were once spirits, have been transformed in the absence of the Great Tree’s essence. These smaller trees grant Ori new abilities that are useful in not only dispatching enemies but reaching previously unreachable areas of the map. Spacing and level progression are handled very well. Back tracking to previously explored areas never feel frustrating or tedious, an issue that has plagued its fair share of games of this nature.

    Controls are standard platform affair. A makes Ori Jump while X utilizes the Spirit Flame, Ori’s primary means of attacking. Y activates the Bash function (a dash of sorts) and B uses the Soul Link. You have the option of using either the Left Analog or the D-pad for controlling Ori, the preference is yours and it always a welcome option to be able to use either in my opinion. Like the majority of platformers out there, there are some annoying hair trigger moments scattered about, but that’s the intention and should not be chalked up to poor design.

    Ori’s graphics are beautifully rendered to say the least. Lush environments fully immerse you in the experience, allowing Ori to play out like a storybook come to life.  The tiniest details are crafted in each area to really bring Ori’s world to life. 2D graphics have never looked better or as fluid. Vibrant colors paint a phenomenal landscape that has to be seen to believe. The graphics are best described as elegant.

    In Short, Ori is a beautiful game that’s crafted with great patience and care which speaks volumes during play. Moon Studio has outdone themselves! If you enjoy a strong narrative with solid gameplay do yourself a favor and get this game.

    Gameplay:

    9

    Tight controls and intelligent level designs make Ori an absolute thrill to play.

    Graphics:

    9

    As I stated before, the graphics are elegant and leave nothing to the imagination.

    Sound:

    9

    An orchestrated score allows Ori to play out like a Disney movie. Well done.

    Replay Value:

    7

    There's around 6-7 hours of gameplay in Ori and that is the one downfall is that this amazing game is over too soon.

    Final Score:

    8.5

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