As someone who followed Ori's journey from Blind Forest all the way to Will of the Wisps, I can confidently say this game is an absolute masterpiece. Moon Studios took everything that made the first game special and somehow made it even better without losing its identity.
Gameplay
The combat feels so much better this time around. There are way more abilities and Spirit Shards to experiment with, which makes every fight feel more fun. Exploration is also a huge step up. The world is bigger, movement is incredibly smooth, and simply traversing the map never gets old.
Escape Sequences
I'm so glad they kept the escape sequences. They've always been one of Ori's signature moments, and they absolutely delivered here. Every chase is intense, the music kicks in at the perfect time, and your heart just starts racing. It's still one of the coolest things this series does.
Story & Ending
...Yeah. Prepare yourself.
I genuinely didn't expect the ending to hit me this hard. The last 15 minutes completely destroyed me.
Shriek's story was absolutely heartbreaking. No redemption, just a lonely and tragic end
Saying goodbye to Naru, Gumo, and everyone Ori loved was painful enough...
Then the final reveal that the narrator was actually Ori after becoming the new Spirit Tree? That completely broke me. I just sat there watching the credits in silence!
Watching Ori grow from a tiny spirit in Blind Forest into the guardian of an entire forest in Will of the Wisps has been one of the most memorable journeys I've ever experienced in gaming.
10/10.
If you're even remotely interested in Metroidvanias, do yourself a favor and play this game.
Highly Recommended!
