Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a platform-adventure game that combines exploration, traversal, and combat within an interconnected world. Designed in a Metroidvania style, it focuses on navigating varied environments, uncovering hidden areas, and acquiring abilities that expand movement and progression options.
The game features a system of upgrades and spirit-based skills that support different playstyles, along with environmental challenges and encounters that require timing and precision. Its presentation emphasizes detailed animation and a cohesive audiovisual design that supports both exploration and gameplay.
Time and the enhanced power of the Xbox Series X has given Ori and the Will of the Wisps the superior technical performance to match its smart, precise gameplay.
There are times when you feel obliged to find faults no matter how minor, but in the ten-plus hours spent with Moon Studios' latest, there are none.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of the best Metroivanias in recent memory, and its Switch port is simply outstanding. With a buttery smooth framerate, and an aesthetic as gorgeous as ever, it's a title that might even warrant a double dip.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is not just a great sequel; in many ways, it outdoes its predecessor. The addition of more customization options, a greater focus on combat and a better-developed story – all in a game that's running at 60 frames per second – allows the sequel to comprehensively outshine the original. However, this does come at a cost of...
Artful animation and visuals combine with tightly designed exploration, though beware persistent technical issues.
