Ori and the Will of the Wisps Reviews
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is everything any Blind Forest fan would have wanted, or possibly hoped for from a sequel. Moon have created a game that has every right to be in the ‘AAA’ conversation with its 3D counterparts, with a level of care and polish normally reserved for much larger studios and far bigger budgets. Ultimately, it can’t be said enough how incredible Ori and the Will of the Wisps is. Blind Forest was already my personal favourite metroidvania of all time and Will of the Wisps has managed to raise the bar even further.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps doesn’t reinvent the Metroidvania wheel but it does polish it up in such a way that it feels like a whole new experience. It’s a game that confidently showcases some of the best platforming and environmental puzzles of the year and does so with a picturesque beauty that makes this such a joy to play through.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is definitely much bigger than its previous game. New RPG elements along with side quests, and strategic options with the need to adapt your skills to different situations, are playable elements that have come really well to the game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Ori and the Will of The Wisps proves that platformers still have a lot of room for improvement.
Review in Greek | Read full review
It is very rare for a game to come along and hook me the way that Ori and the Will of the Wisps has. I love Metroidvania titles and have grown accustomed to the various little ways they force you to double back on yourself. In this regard, Ori and the Will of the Wisps kept reminding me of some of my favourite Metroidvanias (namely the later games in the Mega Man X series), and has rightfully earned a place as one of the best in the genre. Similarly, I love soulslike titles, which are basically Metroidvania titles where challenge and exploration take precedence over storytelling and mission structure. Ori and the Will of the Wisps peters on the fine line between Metroidvania and soulslike, which ultimately makes it a truly incredible and unforgettable adventure.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a triumph in 2D platforming this year; arguably for this generation of gaming. It supersedes everything its prequel does and then some, it challenges you and even kicks you to the curb at times without coming off as mean-spirited, and it’s an absolute joy to watch and hear. A powerful trifecta combination indeed to complement 2020’s early game offerings.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps improves upon its predecessor in every way, and is perhaps the most accomplished Switch port so far. Completely and utterly essential.
Quite how studios keep finding new and exciting ways to get the most out of Nintendo’s ‘super mini engine that can’ will never cease to amaze me. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is now a genuine Game of the Year Contender with launch issues aside and the Switch is a truly wonderful home to play it on.
It leaves Will of the Wisps in a strange position – on the one hand, basically every element of the game is either equivalent to or superior to its predecessor, meaning that if I had to choose between playing one or the other, I’d take this one at every opportunity. But at the same time, the experience of playing Blind Forest for the first time was much more striking, leaving me with fonder memories of the first game despite the fact that I think it wasn’t as good.
The Ori and the Will of the Wisps Switch port is a game where it not only fits perfectly on the system, but works in sublime ways you would never expect.
It's clean and crisp and plays like a dream. I can't remember a single time where I actually saw a framerate drop, or a resolution fall, or any of the usual performance thieving tricks...And while I'm not the most sensitive to these things, I can usually at least see it if I'm looking for it. Does it get there by seemingly pushing the Switch to its absolute limits? Sure. Does it sometimes leave things a bit at the ragged edge, just barely keeping from having to drop performance somehow? Sure thing. Does it matter? No! The only reason not to play this game is if you want to start with the first one. Which I can't speak to the Switch port of that one, but if it's even half as well done as this one, it's gonna be a plenty good experience.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps on Nintendo Switch is not the best way to play this emotional, magical adventure but it is an impressive feat of engineering that mostly works well.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an unreserved masterpiece, one of those sequels that does so much more than a regular sequel would: it offers a great visual and audio experience, really stimulating and incredibly sweet for the soul. Some technical flaws and some narrative recycle are little problems compared to these aspects, although they undoubtedly remain.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ori and the Will of the Wisps combine intricate ambience and agile pace to create an immersive adventure. It is great to control Ori, as his movements are fluid and varied, and there are always many options when it comes to overcoming obstacles - it is rewarding to understand when to use each technique, especially to reach hard to access places. The spirit's skills are put to the test in an extensive world with diverse navigation puzzles, platform sections and many optional areas full of secrets. In addition, the Niwen forest has beautiful and richly built areas, explored in an exciting and gentle fable of fantasy and friendship. In the end, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a magical and exceptional experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
"Smells like fighting spirit."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an entire cohesive package where you get great gameplay, a fantastic storyline, superb graphics, and fitting soundtracks to go along. Having played the game on the switch, I feel it would be a great addition to your collection of switch games. The controls are simple and feel intuitive to play. The graphics also aren’t too bad and provides a fully immersive experience on the go. All in all, moon studios did yet another fantastic job with this game, and I have no qualms with calling it a masterpiece.
Among many great metrovania-like titles, Ori and the Will of the Wisps has fulfilled all the expectations what may go beyond the current trends from other similar titles. The most up-to-date style of gameplay, visuals, soundtrack, countless amount of collectibles and exploration routes are all ready to be unveiled. It has all the positive aspects from many metrovania-like titles but nothing that stands out as its own unique mechanics. Despite the lack of something new, its atmosphere and experience is a great new addition to be added to the genre.
Review in Korean | Read full review
A gorgeous platformer that builds on the original without ruining what made it so special. If you have Game Pass, there’s no reason not to play this.
Combine all this with cool escape segments, giant boss fights and endearing friendships. Add to it the little challenges gimmick, where you can do some sort of race against the mind of your friends and take away the frustrating save system of the first part. What you end up with is an almost perfect game within the MetroidVania genre.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
If you liked the first part, love two-dimensional platformers, or just want to participate in a touching story set in a fairy-tale world, reach for Will of the Wisps. You will not be disappointed, I guarantee.
Review in Polish | Read full review