I forgot how much I loved Ori and the Blind Forest. It’s a game I’ve been meaning to replay for a long time now, almost 3 years ago to be exact. The variety of games I’ve played have changed drastically, so I wanted to see if I still adore this game, and I absolutely do. I mean, I was willing to go through and 100% the game for what would be my third time now, so that means something. But through it all I’m still glad that I love this game as much as I do.
Ori and the Blind Forest is of course a Metroidvania, and one aspect I think is integral to Metroidvanias is movement. How you explore through the world, get from point A to point B, and finding areas you weren’t able to go to before, all these factors are integral to look at when making a Metroidvania, and I’d say that Ori and the Blind Forest does this extremely well. Ori’s movement is amazing, and feels so fluid, even from the beginning when you don’t have any upgrades. And when you do get upgrades, the movement gets so much better. There’s certain classic Metroidvania upgrades like a double jump, or jump, but Ori has some fun upgrades to his abilities as well. My favorite of the bunch is easily the Bash, being able to use enemies or enemy projectiles to leap higher into the air feels so good to do. Especially as you can also use the enemy projectiles to destroy barriers you couldn’t otherwise destroy. There’s also additional other abilities that are fun to use as well. The Charge Jump, though I definitely had trouble at times using it, felt super good to pull off, especially when you have to use it multiple times in a row. Ori’s movement options just feel amazing, he’s easily one of my favorite playable characters in a Metroidvania because of this.
And the environment of the game’s world is also made in a way that really shows how good Ori’s movement is. There’s so many areas that are perfectly crafted for you to utilize Ori’s abilities, and I really do feel like I utilized them all. Each environment as well also has some really great ideas to them that make them unique to each other. One of my favorite areas in the game is the Black Root Burrows, an area that you’re hinted at existing very early in the game, but can’t go into until somewhat later. And when you are able to go into it, it’s completely shrouded in darkness, and you have to find your way. It’s a really good challenge that I adore. And this talk about how well crafted the game’s environments are doesn’t even acknowledge just how gorgeous they are as well. This game in general is just super pretty.
I also love how the game doesn’t exclusively open up through the movement options you get. While yes, most of it does open up through movement options, it doesn’t always. After clearing specific story markers, you’ll unlock new areas that you weren’t able to go to prior. Particularly the main one I think of is that until you clear the first dungeon, you’re unable to swim as the water is toxic. Once you clear that dungeon, the water is cleansed, and you’re able to explore so many new areas. It’s just such a nice way to unlock areas naturally through story events, and I absolutely adore it.
And while it’s obvious from my talk about Ori’s movement and the environment of the game, I think this game excels extremely well with platforming. It’s why I love this game as much as I do I think, the platforming is just that good. While most of the game’s platforming is still amazing, easily the best sections of the game are the escape sequences. Specifically, after each major dungeon you have to go through, you have to escape as the environment puts you in danger, and they’re easily the best sections in the game. It’s a true and proper test of your platforming abilities, and the general presentation of it all is immaculate. And alongside the talk of presentation, it feels so good properly clearing it, it really does give an amazing sense of relief, especially since there’s no checkpoints in the escape sequences.
While I mention that I think Ori and the Blind Forest excels excellently well in platforming, I really wish this game didn’t have combat. The full appeal of this game to me is the platforming, and it’s where I have the most fun, but I feel the combat doesn’t really add anything. While the enemies that shoot projectiles and can be used for Bash are fine, encounters that are strictly combat are just kind of boring to me. The reason why I would be fine if combat was just not in the game is because I just simply imagine my opinion of the game would not change if combat was not a part of it.
I also really adore the story. It’s not anything too complex, but how it’s executed is something I find amazing. I don’t really want to speak of it too much in detail, even though it is a simple story, I do think it’s one that should be experienced firsthand. But I love how you can clearly see how the characters are feeling, even though there’s very little dialogue, especially when it comes to Ori himself. I also love how the music of the game really builds in important scenes as well, especially in the final section of the game.
Yet again, I forgot how much I adore Ori and the Blind Forest. Platforming, Environment, Music, it’s all immaculate. It’s so fun just to move around the world, and take in everything that the game has to offer, and it’s still easily one of my favorite Metroidvanias. I would like to replay Ori and the Will of the Wisps at some point, but I remember not liking it as much as the original game. That being said though, we’ll have to see if that’s still true.
Ori and the Blind Forest is of course a Metroidvania, and one aspect I think is integral to Metroidvanias is movement. How you explore through the world, get from point A to point B, and finding areas you weren’t able to go to before, all these factors are integral to look at when making a Metroidvania, and I’d say that Ori and the Blind Forest does this extremely well. Ori’s movement is amazing, and feels so fluid, even from the beginning when you don’t have any upgrades. And when you do get upgrades, the movement gets so much better. There’s certain classic Metroidvania upgrades like a double jump, or jump, but Ori has some fun upgrades to his abilities as well. My favorite of the bunch is easily the Bash, being able to use enemies or enemy projectiles to leap higher into the air feels so good to do. Especially as you can also use the enemy projectiles to destroy barriers you couldn’t otherwise destroy. There’s also additional other abilities that are fun to use as well. The Charge Jump, though I definitely had trouble at times using it, felt super good to pull off, especially when you have to use it multiple times in a row. Ori’s movement options just feel amazing, he’s easily one of my favorite playable characters in a Metroidvania because of this.
And the environment of the game’s world is also made in a way that really shows how good Ori’s movement is. There’s so many areas that are perfectly crafted for you to utilize Ori’s abilities, and I really do feel like I utilized them all. Each environment as well also has some really great ideas to them that make them unique to each other. One of my favorite areas in the game is the Black Root Burrows, an area that you’re hinted at existing very early in the game, but can’t go into until somewhat later. And when you are able to go into it, it’s completely shrouded in darkness, and you have to find your way. It’s a really good challenge that I adore. And this talk about how well crafted the game’s environments are doesn’t even acknowledge just how gorgeous they are as well. This game in general is just super pretty.
I also love how the game doesn’t exclusively open up through the movement options you get. While yes, most of it does open up through movement options, it doesn’t always. After clearing specific story markers, you’ll unlock new areas that you weren’t able to go to prior. Particularly the main one I think of is that until you clear the first dungeon, you’re unable to swim as the water is toxic. Once you clear that dungeon, the water is cleansed, and you’re able to explore so many new areas. It’s just such a nice way to unlock areas naturally through story events, and I absolutely adore it.
And while it’s obvious from my talk about Ori’s movement and the environment of the game, I think this game excels extremely well with platforming. It’s why I love this game as much as I do I think, the platforming is just that good. While most of the game’s platforming is still amazing, easily the best sections of the game are the escape sequences. Specifically, after each major dungeon you have to go through, you have to escape as the environment puts you in danger, and they’re easily the best sections in the game. It’s a true and proper test of your platforming abilities, and the general presentation of it all is immaculate. And alongside the talk of presentation, it feels so good properly clearing it, it really does give an amazing sense of relief, especially since there’s no checkpoints in the escape sequences.
While I mention that I think Ori and the Blind Forest excels excellently well in platforming, I really wish this game didn’t have combat. The full appeal of this game to me is the platforming, and it’s where I have the most fun, but I feel the combat doesn’t really add anything. While the enemies that shoot projectiles and can be used for Bash are fine, encounters that are strictly combat are just kind of boring to me. The reason why I would be fine if combat was just not in the game is because I just simply imagine my opinion of the game would not change if combat was not a part of it.
I also really adore the story. It’s not anything too complex, but how it’s executed is something I find amazing. I don’t really want to speak of it too much in detail, even though it is a simple story, I do think it’s one that should be experienced firsthand. But I love how you can clearly see how the characters are feeling, even though there’s very little dialogue, especially when it comes to Ori himself. I also love how the music of the game really builds in important scenes as well, especially in the final section of the game.
Yet again, I forgot how much I adore Ori and the Blind Forest. Platforming, Environment, Music, it’s all immaculate. It’s so fun just to move around the world, and take in everything that the game has to offer, and it’s still easily one of my favorite Metroidvanias. I would like to replay Ori and the Will of the Wisps at some point, but I remember not liking it as much as the original game. That being said though, we’ll have to see if that’s still true.