Developer: Moon Studios Gmbh
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Steam Deck Compatibility?: Playable
Rrp: £24.99 (Steam)
Released: 11th March 2020
Available on: Steam
Played Using: An Xbox Control Pad
Approximate game length: 15 Hours
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an absolutely stunning game (much like its predecessor), the art team at Moon Studios must have pulled out all the stops to make this world really ‘pop’. As I said in my review of Ori and the Blind Forest, I generally watch game trailers with a healthy dose of scepticism but having played the first game it was hard to maintain that when I saw this games trailer.
What I’m quite impressed by is the fact that this game isn’t simply a carbon copy, there are several differences that really distinguish it from its predecessor. The stand out difference to me was the inclusion of a kind of hub zone called the Wellspring Glades. You find this area a little ways into the game, it’s here that you can purchase new skills and shards as well as receive some side quests (though the majority of the quests are found scattered throughout the world). That’s another inclusion; side quests, they aren’t listed anywhere and typically involve interacting with one character somewhere in the world receiving and item and then taking the item to another character elsewhere and receiving the reward.
Since I’ve mentioned shards and skills I should really cover those. Skills are attained through Spirit Trees that you find in the world, typically after beating a boss. However, shards are minor abilities that you can swap out to customise your playstyle somewhat. You start off with three available slots for shards but by completing combat trails (found in the world) you can increase that number.
Another difference between the two games is that the ability to save nearly any time has been removed. I know that that particular skill was one that caused a bit of controversy when Ori and the Blind Forest first came out but I personally had no issue with it.
If you enjoyed the first game you’ll really like this one, its a refinement of all the things that made Ori and the Blind Forest great. That being said, you don’t actually have to have played the first game to understand this game at all.
If this appeals to you perhaps try;
Hollow Knight
Ori and the Blind Forest
Gato Roboto
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