5/5 ★ – kabobby's review of Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

97/100 Completed September 2024 Somehow even prettier than the first game? While Ori BF had a story that confused me at time, here our goal is crystal clear: we have a friend that needs saving. This was such a great motivator for me. I felt really invested to go and help my little owl buddy. The story slows down a bit in the second half but I’ll get to that in the spoilers section. One thing I really liked about WOTW was how it didn’t feel like a game actively seeking to replace the original game. Looking at Super Metroid, it kinda feels like the first game again with all the power ups and bosses retuning and then adding onto it. Ori WOTW actively tries to separate itself from the original and truly feels like a sequel, a continuation of what came before. Several upgrades and abilities from the first game don’t return, meaning there is still some uniqueness to the first game, which I quite like. The story also is a good continuation. The only two ways in which I feel WOTW is a straight upgrade is in one, the visuals, and two, the music. The music in the first game was good but only really great in a few key moments. Here the music is great throughout. Oh also for some the combat is a strict upgrade. I didn’t mind the first game combat but WOTW is far more expressive. You don’t even need to equip the basic attack if you don’t want to. Some of the new power ups are really cool too. Always love me a grappling hook. Some of them go great with Ori’s base kit too. Like launching off your own fireballs. Glad to see Bash return and become a core feature, it’s a super fun mechanic. Gone is the ability tree from the first game, replaced but equippables comparable to Hollow Knight’s charms. I’m one of the rare people who actually prefers the skill tree to be honest. It was more unique and every upgrade you got was useful. I don’t use most of the equip items I found in WOTW (similar to HK). They’re fun to mess around with but I always return to what works. We have real bosses this time, which could’ve been better. There are pretty much only 3 actual boss fights. Which you would think makes them stand out but to me just left them feeling kinda weird. Not to mention I don’t think these bosses are super great. Just fine is all. I love the new world map. I didn’t mind the linear feel of BF but the interconnected map here is great and truly gives us that Metroidvania feeling. It’s also full of unique mechanics and ideas even outside of your abilities, like launching platforms or evil darkness. Spoiler time: For real Don’t read until you’ve played I warned you The story is pretty good. I cried when Ku died. But it kinda made me lose a little interest. At first I was so motivated to get to Ku. But after it’s revealed we can bring him back, well… yeah that’s compelling but I kinda don’t feel like it’s as urgent. I took it much slower. But it was still fun to the end. I liked that they humanized the villain a teeny bit. As for the ending story wise, I found it okay. A bit too telegraphed for me I think. But still very sweet. Hearing Ori as the tree voice blew my mind though. Overall a wonderful game I will return to. My only real complaints are related to some teeny glitches.