Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

Aside from a few frustrations (gauntlets/chase sections) this is a wonderful game. I finished the second game first and came back for this one, was happy to find it equally enjoyable.

The story is great, the platforming is great, the visuals are great, what is there not to love about this game.

Masterpiece

Thanks for making me cry.

Давно в мене так не горіло від ігр. Два плюса, які я можу дати цій грі. Саунд та візуал. Все. Це не метроідванія. Це платформер з елементами метроідванії. Більшу частину гри більш менш все добре. Але... Три ключових етапи з'їли всі мої нерви. Мало того що вони по ходу душні, так в кінці тебе ще й чекає розвага під назвою втеча. З водою то взагалі ад. Я втратив лік скільки мій персонаж там двигав коней. Короче, якщо ви не майстер платформінга, не спокушуйтесь красивою картинкою. Не будьте як я.

The game is very overrated with too many pain points to recommend. Combat is so basic and mind numbing with a lock on projectile attack that only requires you to spam the attack button vaguely near an enemy. Platforming is obnoxious with many skinny platforms that are easy to overshoot or slip off with the floaty way Ori moves. Find collectibles is enjoyable and very achievable, but its easy to hit 99% completion in an area and have no idea what tiny corner you missed. There are abilities to track missing collectibles on the map, but unexplored areas are too easy too miss. A lot of abilities feel a little too one note. They act as keys that open the next gate in front of you. Then the game moves on. Bash is the main exception and a brief moment of brilliance in this game. Another thing I liked is the save system is interesting at least, letting the player determine when the game saves a checkpoint. It was frustrating when I would not save for a while, die in a surprising way, and be sent back farther than I would like. But I had no one to blame but myself, so I learned to save more frequently or just before challenging moments. The game usually encourages this with energy refill crystals near where they think you should save. Visually the game is pretty, but it got blurry every now and then which made me question performance. But performance was rock solid on both my desktop and Steam Deck, so I think this was an artistic choice by the game, which I didn't entirely agree with. Music was fine. The main theme is one of those that you might find yourself humming. But its like, only the same 8 note motif on loop, so how good is it really? The story felt very unearned. I think there were 3 separate moments when the game re-uses the same plot beat of 'its sad when a parent dies' which left me feeling annoyed by their attempted gut punch rather than sad. We never get close enough to these characters to value their relationships. The world itself is portrayed as a magical forest with a life of its own. But it does nothing with this idea and it goes nowhere, other than portraying itself as a force greater than yourself. Again, it feels unearned.

Beautiful game, lots of interesting mechanics, super sweet story, amazing soundtrack and I love the difficulty progression as well. The default controls, however, are horrible (keyboard). They almost made me quit because I was hurting my wrists to play and this is important to mention because it's not possible to rebind the keys in-game, you have to edit the .txt files instead which is an awful solution. But if you're able to find a comfortable layout to play, it's really worth it!! :)

[h2]Nota Geral | Overall Rating[/h2] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [b]Ori and the Blind Forest é a prova de que um jogo indie pode competir de igual para igual com qualquer produção AAA quando tem visão artística e execução técnica na mesma medida. A Moon Studios entregou um metroidvania que não deixa nada a desejar em nenhum dos seus pilares: a jogabilidade é precisa, o visual é de tirar o fôlego e a história consegue emocionar sem precisar de uma única linha de diálogo falado. É o tipo raro de jogo em que cada elemento reforça o outro, criando uma experiência coesa do início ao fim.[/b] [i]Ori and the Blind Forest is proof that an indie game can compete on equal footing with any AAA production when it has artistic vision and technical execution in equal measure. Moon Studios delivered a metroidvania that doesn't fall short in any of its pillars: the gameplay is precise, the visuals are breathtaking, and the story manages to move you without a single line of spoken dialogue. It's the rare kind of game where every element reinforces the other, creating a cohesive experience from start to finish.[/i] [h2]Jogabilidade | Gameplay[/h2] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [b]O movimento é o coração de Ori, e é impressionante como cada habilidade nova, seja o Double Jump, o Bash ou o Charge Flame, transforma completamente a forma como você enxerga o mapa. O level design é construído em cima dessa progressão de um jeito exemplar: áreas que pareciam intransponíveis no início se tornam trechos de plataforma fluidos assim que você adquire a habilidade certa. As sequências de fuga, como a da inundação e a do fogo, são momentos de tensão pura que testam tudo o que você aprendeu até ali, sem dar margem para erro. É difícil pensar em outro metroidvania que equilibre exploração e precisão de plataforma tão bem quanto esse.[/b] [i]Movement is the heart of Ori, and it's impressive how every new ability, whether the Double Jump, the Bash, or the Charge Flame, completely transforms how you read the map. Level design is built on top of this progression in an exemplary way: areas that seemed impassable at the start become fluid platforming sections once you acquire the right ability. The escape sequences, like the flood and the fire ones, are moments of pure tension that test everything you've learned up to that point, with no room for error. It's hard to think of another metroidvania that balances exploration and platforming precision as well as this one does.[/i] [h2]Duração | Duration[/h2] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [b]A campanha tem uma duração perfeita para o tipo de experiência que propõe, entre 8 e 10 horas para quem quer explorar boa parte do mapa e coletar os principais upgrades. Não há sensação de enrolação, cada nova área tem um propósito claro dentro da progressão, e o ritmo entre momentos de exploração calma e sequências de tensão intensa é muito bem calculado. Para quem busca 100%, o jogo ainda recompensa a exploração completa com áreas escondidas e desafios extras, sem nunca parecer artificialmente esticado.[/b] [i]The campaign has a perfect length for the kind of experience it offers, between 8 and 10 hours for those who want to explore most of the map and collect the main upgrades. There's no sense of padding, every new area has a clear purpose within the progression, and the pacing between calm exploration moments and intense tension sequences is very well calculated. For those going for 100%, the game still rewards full exploration with hidden areas and extra challenges, without ever feeling artificially stretched.[/i] [h2]Enredo | Story[/h2] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [b]A história de Ori é contada quase inteiramente através de imagens, música e narração pontual, e ainda assim consegue construir um dos arcos emocionais mais fortes que já vi em um jogo. A sequência de abertura, mostrando o vínculo entre Ori e Naru e a tragédia que se segue, estabelece um peso emocional em poucos minutos que muitos jogos não conseguem construir em horas de diálogo. A jornada de Ori para restaurar a floresta de Nibel funciona tanto como aventura quanto como metáfora sobre perda, luto e renascimento, e o final amarra tudo isso de um jeito genuinamente comovente.[/b] [i]Ori's story is told almost entirely through imagery, music, and sparse narration, and yet it manages to build one of the strongest emotional arcs I've ever seen in a game. The opening sequence, showing the bond between Ori and Naru and the tragedy that follows, establishes emotional weight in just a few minutes that many games can't build in hours of dialogue. Ori's journey to restore the forest of Nibel works both as an adventure and as a metaphor for loss, grief, and rebirth, and the ending ties it all together in a genuinely moving way.[/i] [h2]Visual[/h2] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [b]Visualmente, Ori and the Blind Forest é uma obra de arte em movimento. Os cenários pintados à mão, com uma paleta de cores vibrante e uma profundidade de campo que dá vida à floresta de Nibel, criam um dos jogos mais bonitos já feitos, independente de orçamento. Cada área tem uma identidade visual própria, da melancolia azulada de Ginso Tree ao vermelho ameaçador de Mount Horu, e as animações de Ori são fluidas a ponto de fazer cada movimento parecer uma extensão natural do personagem. É difícil parar de admirar o cenário mesmo nos momentos de maior tensão.[/b] [i]Visually, Ori and the Blind Forest is a moving work of art. The hand-painted environments, with a vibrant color palette and a depth of field that brings the forest of Nibel to life, create one of the most beautiful games ever made, regardless of budget. Every area has its own visual identity, from the bluish melancholy of Ginso Tree to the threatening red of Mount Horu, and Ori's animations are fluid enough to make every movement feel like a natural extension of the character. It's hard to stop admiring the scenery even in the most tense moments.[/i] [h2]Audio[/h2] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ [b]A trilha sonora de Gareth Coker é, sem exagero, uma das melhores composições orquestrais já feitas para um videogame. Cada tema acompanha perfeitamente o tom emocional do momento, seja a serenidade das áreas de exploração ou a urgência desesperada das sequências de fuga. O uso de coral em momentos-chave da história eleva ainda mais o impacto emocional das cenas. Os efeitos sonoros também merecem elogio, com cada habilidade de Ori tendo um som distinto que reforça o feedback tátil da jogabilidade. É uma trilha que fica na memória muito depois dos créditos finais.[/b] [i]Gareth Coker's soundtrack is, without exaggeration, one of the best orchestral compositions ever made for a video game. Every theme perfectly matches the emotional tone of the moment, whether it's the serenity of exploration areas or the desperate urgency of the escape sequences. The use of choir at key moments in the story further elevates the emotional impact of the scenes. The sound effects also deserve praise, with every Ori ability having a distinct sound that reinforces the gameplay's tactile feedback. It's a soundtrack that stays with you long after the credits roll.[/i]

Ori and the Blind Forest is a beautifully crafted platformer that combines emotional storytelling, stunning visuals, and rewarding gameplay. From the opening moments, the game draws players into a heartfelt adventure filled with memorable characters and breathtaking environments. The controls are smooth and responsive, making movement feel fast and satisfying. As Ori gains new abilities, exploration becomes more exciting, encouraging players to revisit earlier areas and discover hidden secrets. The platforming challenges are engaging, and the escape sequences are especially thrilling, requiring quick reflexes and precise timing. The game's hand-painted art style and orchestral soundtrack create an unforgettable atmosphere. Every location feels alive, while the music perfectly complements both the peaceful and intense moments of the journey. Overall, Ori and the Blind Forest is an outstanding action-platformer that delivers a touching story, exceptional gameplay, and remarkable artistic design. It is a must-play for fans of platforming games and earns 9.5/10.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9 / 5) 한 줄 평 일반판의 완성도를 한층 끌어올린 결정판으로, 메트로베니아를 좋아한다면 반드시 플레이해야 할 작품입니다. 평가 스토리 : ★★★★★ 전투 : ★★★★☆ 탐험 : ★★★★★ OST : ★★★★★ 그래픽 : ★★★★★ 세계관 생명의 나무가 죽어가는 숲을 구하기 위한 여정을 그린 판타지 메트로베니아입니다. 직관적이면서도 따뜻한 스토리는 아름다운 연출과 어우러져 깊은 여운을 남깁니다. 탐험 메트로베니아의 핵심 재미를 정말 잘 살린 작품입니다. 새로운 능력을 얻을 때마다 갈 수 있는 지역이 자연스럽게 늘어나고, 100% 달성을 목표로 계속 탐험하게 만드는 중독성이 있었습니다. Definitive Edition에서 추가된 콘텐츠와 편의성도 만족스러웠습니다. 게임성 플랫포밍과 탈출 시퀀스는 긴장감이 뛰어났고, 새로운 능력을 활용하는 재미도 훌륭했습니다. 조작감은 최신 메트로베니아와 비교하면 약간 아쉬운 부분도 있었지만, 전체적인 완성도를 해칠 정도는 아니었습니다. 그래픽과 OST 이 작품의 가장 큰 강점입니다. 환상적인 색감과 아름다운 배경은 지금 플레이해도 감탄이 나올 정도였으며, OST는 메트로베니아 장르에서도 손꼽힐 만큼 뛰어났습니다. 플레이하는 내내 눈과 귀가 모두 즐거웠습니다. 아쉬운 점 일부 길찾기와 몇몇 플랫포밍 구간은 시행착오가 필요한 편입니다. 조작감도 최신 작품들에 비하면 약간 투박하게 느껴질 수 있습니다. 총평 일반판도 훌륭하지만 Definitive Edition은 콘텐츠와 완성도가 더욱 향상된 사실상의 완전판입니다. 아름다운 그래픽과 OST, 뛰어난 탐험, 감동적인 스토리까지 모두 갖춘 작품으로, 메트로베니아를 좋아한다면 반드시 경험해봐야 할 명작이라고 생각합니다.