Though there is combat to complement the sense of fluid movement, it takes a backseat to the platforming. Your exposition-spouting spirit buddy Sein will simply auto-target the closest enemy so that you can zap them with blue spirit-fire. It essentially boils down to mashing a button when danger’s nearby – until you learn a mid-air dash that lets you simultaneously propel yourself through the air and reflect projectiles back at gooey, thorny baddies. It’s one of Ori’s more unique moves, and makes for some downright intense bits of platforming and chaining jumps, though it can just as easily send you rocketing into a one-hit-kill hazard if you get sloppy.
But Ori’s most important power has nothing to do with mobility. Instead of keeping tabs on your progress with constant auto-saves, Ori makes you choose where to drop the bright glow of a checkpoint (provided it’s not right next to an enemy or atop a precarious platform). This save-anywhere mechanic is crucial, and your experience will be defined by how well you can adapt to it. Deciding where and when to set up a spawn point is a discipline that most modern games don’t ask of you, and the adjustment can be harsh. You probably won’t learn your lesson until you’re abruptly killed during some absentminded exploration, instantly losing ten minutes of progress as a result.
Even after you come to grips with Ori’s checkpoint mechanic, it’s still got a few flaws. If you activate your save in a particularly bad spot, away from any crystals that replenish your save-state energy, you might get caught in a loop of constant, dispiriting death while you desperately try to find sanctuary. In a bizarre move, the power to drop a checkpoint uses the same limited resource as your charged-up attack – something you probably won’t realize until you’re stuck in a tricky area with an empty tank of save-juice. This becomes less of a problem after you’ve collected more energy upgrades, but some early sections encourage cautious play when you just want to run free.
Things get even more unforgiving in three climactic auto-scrolling levels – brutal, checkpoint-free gauntlets that put all your current abilities to the test. These sudden spikes in difficulty will be more palatable to hardcore platforming fans, but could bring the average gamer’s progress to a standstill. When you finally do overcome these hurdles, though, it really makes you appreciate how delightful it is guiding Ori through the rest of the open world, hunting for secrets or just appreciating the sights. I found myself chasing after full completion for the simple joy of occupying Ori’s picturesque surroundings a little bit longer.
Equal parts charm and challenge, Ori and the Blind Forest makes some harsh demands but pays off with its stellar presentation. Its atmosphere is phenomenal, with the kind of universal appeal that’s rarely found in games – from the way the backgrounds feel like living environments, to the uplifting music and touching cinematic moments. Completing Ori’s six-to-nine-hour journey will certainly leave you feeling warm, fuzzy, and accomplished – just be ready to dig in for some particularly trying segments.
Supply Gamesradar
Ori and the Blind Forest review - App Review 4u
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