Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Xbox, Steam, Switch)
Edcel Javier Cintron Gonzalez, Contributing Editor
“Wow, I can choose which way to explore the world in this game!” I think this is the first time in a while since I played a side-scroller game where the game mechanics allow me to choose in which direction to explore the game world. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a Metroidvania game where the player can unlock new areas, power ups, and defeat bosses and enemies as they explore the game world itself. However, what makes Ori stand out among Metroidvania and side-scroller games is that it features an animation style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli movies, with bright colors against shadow-filled backdrops and particle and lighting effects that make player and enemy movements shimmer.
In my experience playing 2D side-scroller games such as Playdead’s Inside, my only choice was to keep moving forward to escape a nightmare-induced world where a child character has no choice but to survive by solving the puzzles along the way. This time, I’m playing as a spirit, discovering my purpose in the game as I explore a forest filled with deadly vines and wild creatures. Ori and the Will of the Wisps offers not only a beautiful story about community, freedom, nature, and finding your purpose in life but also an environment with its own ability to tell a story. It joins the company of games like Iconoclasts, Steamworld Dig 2, and Monster Boy with their emphasis on the exploration of richly detailed worlds and the discovery of the player-character’s inner strength.
In Wisps, you play as Ori, a little spirit on a quest to bring their family back. Playing the Switch port was fun because I could enjoy the gameplay while I was stuck at my desk working. (The Switch’s portable options gives it more flexibility in terms of playability, so I’m not stuck playing on a T.V. screen in my living room.) The game’s opening sequence gave me a sense of Ori’s relationship with the other characters in the game, as well as a taste of the game mechanics and power ups available for me. I like how Ori can glide temporarily to reach higher areas in the game that would otherwise be impossible to reach. Ori’s speed is also a useful game mechanic since he’s able to use it to jump farther away to reach other areas without getting damage from poisonous water or forest fire. Game mechanics aside, the music score is also an added bonus, especially when I want to concentrate on work or help Ori on their quest to find Ku and explore the untold mysteries of the forest of Niwen.
Another way that the game stands out from the Metroidvania crowd is through its intricate combat. Battling enemies is interesting because there’s no guard or shield option. This forced me to study enemy movement, paying close attention to the enemy’s attack sequence, striking only when there was a clear opening. After dying many times because of my desperate attempt to press the B button constantly, I learned to be more patient in a fight. Moreover, you have to rely on your surroundings, watching out for deadly vines as you climb up mountains and trees to find keystones that unlock the next areas of the game. Until Ori unlocks their own powers, you have to rely on resources from the forest to be able to defeat enemies. One in-game item that’s especially useful is a torch that scares, burns, and eliminates enemy creatures. It’s also used to burn vines and tree trunks that are in your way to complete side missions and gain more items as part of your journey through the forest.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is really a treat to play. It has mechanics similar to earlier Castlevania and Metroid games, but the vivid graphics, moving story, and tight combat makes it a one of a kind.
