New story content - Discover the origins of Ori’s adoptive parent Naru. New environments - Explore two new areas of Nibel, Black Root Burrows and Lost Grove, each with a new visual presentation and play mechanics. Two new abilities - Dash and Light Burst. Additional music tracks - New tracks by the original game’s composer Gareth Coker. Gameplay/technical Improvements - Fast travel, improved backtracking, ability to continue to playing after completing the game and full 21:9 widescreen support for PC. Added difficulty modes - Play through the game on a new easy mode or, if seeking a greater challenge, tackle the new hard and “one life” difficulty modes. New making of video content.
Reviews (For the original version)
Gamespot 9
It's important, however, not to mistake Ori and the Blind Forest for being simply beautiful. It certainly is--but it is also unceasingly clever. It consistently surprises you with new tricks: gravitational divergences, new ways to move through its spaces, and carefully designed levels that require you to think quickly and respond. It is not as snappy as, say, a typical Mario platformer, seeking instead a broader gameplay arc stretching across a single, interconnected world. It's a superb and thematically consistent approach that allows Ori and the Blind Forest to build joy on a bed of heartache, adding a new layer of mechanical complexity with each ray of hope.
Bigger and tougher than it looks, Ori and the Blind Forest is a beautifully realized, brilliantly designed, and at times brutally difficult sylvan Metroidvania-style platformer with enough charm to leave a lasting impression. It's often frustrating and sometimes confusing, but its spectacular platforming, memorable world, and engrossing story wash those concerns away.
Ori and the Blind Forest is a rare realization of fantastic design and production values in a space where I wasn't expecting to find it, displaying a spectacular level of confidence in what it is and what it does. And here's where we come back to wishing I hadn't reviewed it as quickly as I had to. It's a game that provides so much to explore and appreciate, and I would have liked to have taken just a little more time than I was able.
From a mechanical standpoint, Ori and the Blind Forest isn't an evolution of the genre, and you've seen most of what's on offer here before. But aesthetically it's in a league of its own, and everything it does, it does well. If you're looking for a metroidvania, I'd consider this a new classic.
I wish Moon Studios the best of luck on its next project. I'm looking forward to it.
While it stumbles over its own ambition far more than it should, Ori and the Blind Forest bursts with both detail and passion. At times it's less a game you play than one you force your way through despite your better judgment, but the parts where it all works together make it worth the pain. And wow, does it look good.
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.
Ori and the Blind Forest is one of the best games of the year, and should be a no-brainer for anyone looking for an exciting new adventure to dive into. That said, it comes with a warning: Expect to be humbled by its difficulty. Death comes quickly. Over and over, you’re going to watch an adorable little creature perish because you had a moment of indecision or your skills failed you. Again, nothing about this experience feels unfair. Some of the long scripted sequences are enormously challenging – to the point that you’ll likely repeat every swear word that you know.
My wife periodically poked her head into my game room to ask if I was having a nervous meltdown, but I instead told her that I haven’t had this much fun with a game in a long time.
Ori and the Blind Forest isn't amazing. It's not bad, either. Again, it's just...pleasant. It's an endearing diversion of a video game that's very difficult to say anything negative about. Does that mean you should play it? Sure, by all means. Use it, like I did, as a palate cleanser between the other, bigger games that demand more of your time and energy. Or play it for a few hours of good solid fun in its own right. Just don't expect it to change your life along the way.
I loved every second of Ori and the Blind Forest. It’s as fun as it is pretty, which is an incredible achievement when its one of the most gorgeous games I’ve ever seen. If you’ve ever enjoyed a 2D sidescroller, you’ll definitely appreciate what developer Moon Studios has done here.
If you’re a fan of Metroidvania-style games, you’ll find an experience that easily joins the ranks of Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night.
Ori and the Blind Forest, even in its early 2015 release, is already a strong game of the year candidate. Exquisite is its composition, as the hot-cold pacing of exciting platforming action mixed with thought-enticing puzzles and exploration is a sought after quality. Small blemishes in replayability and rare framerate dips should not overshadow the bigger picture, as players can expect to be fully immersed in a somber, yet enrapturing world full of wonder.
After playing for an hour and a half, I had to be torn away from Ori and the Blind Forest. It's a classic Metroidvania game with all the right trappings, and gameplay that feels tuned to perfection. I can't think of a better platformer I've played in years. Keep watching this space!
I can’t get enough of Ori’s highly stylised presentation. Combined with the beautiful orchestral score, it’s a treat for eyes and ears throughout every minute you get to experience it.
This is a 2D side-scrolling platformer with a modern twist that I’m so looking forward to sinking hours of time into when it’s released in March.
It's hard to pick out anything truly original about Ori and the Blind Forest. It's undeniably the child of its ancestors, and deliberately so. What it succeeds in though is refining the experience and updating it for a modern era. It's astoundingly beautiful to look at, especially for animation connoisseurs, and its precise, demanding gameplay remixes the best of its influences into something that manages to feel fresh. If the full version can avoid too many frustrating moments as you progress through the world, this could be a rebirth for the Metroidvania subgenre.
Even its save system paints Ori as something separate from the pack. You can deposit spirit points throughout each level, a fancy framing for what are essentially quicksaves. But quicksaves require energy, which must recharge over time. It's a clever nod to accessibility while providing another avenue of consideration and strategy to play. Paired with the gorgeous art and sweeping music, Ori and the Blind Forest seems like something more than just another side-scrolling action game. It will launch on Xbox One and PC on March 11 (for $19.99 USD).
This mystery works well in Moon Studios’ favor, though. For a game described by Microsoft Game Studios executives as an “allegorical tale” about “self-discovery” and “self-sacrifice,” Ori and the Blind Forest does seem poised to deliver the same kind of haunting, high-quality story found in the type of animated films it so resembles. This is a stunning game, aside from the slight framerate issues in the preview build I played. A good portion of literature focuses on the foundling with a mysterious destiny, and hopefully Ori will embody that conceit superbly while challenging players. If nothing else, it’ll certainly be a beautiful journey, no matter how brutal the ride.
MINIMUM: OS: Windows 7 Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 @ 2.2GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ @ 2.8 GHz Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: GeForce 240 GT or Radeon HD 6570 – 1024 MB (1 gig) DirectX: Version 9.0c Hard Drive: 8 GB available space
RECOMMENDED: OS: Windows 7 Processor: Intel Core i5 2300 or AMD FX6120 Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: GeForce GTX 550 Ti or Radeon HD 6770 DirectX: Version 11 Hard Drive: 8 GB available space
Last edited by Monkey Man on Tue Oct 01, 2019 1:38 pm, edited 29 times in total.
Anyway, Gamer Network attended what sounds like a review event. The review is in French and is full of high praise.
Carry final word on this article by saying that it called Ori And The Blind Forest Project is a very successful album. Charm is the rendezvous and captivates players by immersing them in a colorful and lavish universe. Although gloomy, the atmosphere resplendent spring by the presence of scattered gleams, and progression in the heart of this universe of shimmering tones clearly place this exclusivity in the panel most appreciated. 4.18/5
It's important, however, not to mistake Ori and the Blind Forest for being simply beautiful. It certainly is--but it is also unceasingly clever. It consistently surprises you with new tricks: gravitational divergences, new ways to move through its spaces, and carefully designed levels that require you to think quickly and respond. It is not as snappy as, say, a typical Mario platformer, seeking instead a broader gameplay arc stretching across a single, interconnected world. It's a superb and thematically consistent approach that allows Ori and the Blind Forest to build joy on a bed of heartache, adding a new layer of mechanical complexity with each ray of hope.
Bigger and tougher than it looks, Ori and the Blind Forest is a beautifully realized, brilliantly designed, and at times brutally difficult sylvan Metroidvania-style platformer with enough charm to leave a lasting impression. It's often frustrating and sometimes confusing, but its spectacular platforming, memorable world, and engrossing story wash those concerns away.
Ori and the Blind Forest is a rare realization of fantastic design and production values in a space where I wasn't expecting to find it, displaying a spectacular level of confidence in what it is and what it does. And here's where we come back to wishing I hadn't reviewed it as quickly as I had to. It's a game that provides so much to explore and appreciate, and I would have liked to have taken just a little more time than I was able.
From a mechanical standpoint, Ori and the Blind Forest isn't an evolution of the genre, and you've seen most of what's on offer here before. But aesthetically it's in a league of its own, and everything it does, it does well. If you're looking for a metroidvania, I'd consider this a new classic.
I wish Moon Studios the best of luck on its next project. I'm looking forward to it.
While it stumbles over its own ambition far more than it should, Ori and the Blind Forest bursts with both detail and passion. At times it's less a game you play than one you force your way through despite your better judgment, but the parts where it all works together make it worth the pain. And wow, does it look good.
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.
Ori and the Blind Forest is one of the best games of the year, and should be a no-brainer for anyone looking for an exciting new adventure to dive into. That said, it comes with a warning: Expect to be humbled by its difficulty. Death comes quickly. Over and over, you’re going to watch an adorable little creature perish because you had a moment of indecision or your skills failed you. Again, nothing about this experience feels unfair. Some of the long scripted sequences are enormously challenging – to the point that you’ll likely repeat every swear word that you know.
My wife periodically poked her head into my game room to ask if I was having a nervous meltdown, but I instead told her that I haven’t had this much fun with a game in a long time.
Ori and the Blind Forest isn't amazing. It's not bad, either. Again, it's just...pleasant. It's an endearing diversion of a video game that's very difficult to say anything negative about. Does that mean you should play it? Sure, by all means. Use it, like I did, as a palate cleanser between the other, bigger games that demand more of your time and energy. Or play it for a few hours of good solid fun in its own right. Just don't expect it to change your life along the way.
I loved every second of Ori and the Blind Forest. It’s as fun as it is pretty, which is an incredible achievement when its one of the most gorgeous games I’ve ever seen. If you’ve ever enjoyed a 2D sidescroller, you’ll definitely appreciate what developer Moon Studios has done here.
If you’re a fan of Metroidvania-style games, you’ll find an experience that easily joins the ranks of Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night.
Ori and the Blind Forest, even in its early 2015 release, is already a strong game of the year candidate. Exquisite is its composition, as the hot-cold pacing of exciting platforming action mixed with thought-enticing puzzles and exploration is a sought after quality. Small blemishes in replayability and rare framerate dips should not overshadow the bigger picture, as players can expect to be fully immersed in a somber, yet enrapturing world full of wonder.
Nice reviews. I'll definitely be buying this at the weekend but I'm not sure which version to get. Are there any comparisons between the pc version and xbox versions around yet?
Someone at Gamerankingss isn't updating the Xbox One reviews properly, all those top games are multiplatform yet have way more reviews on the other formats
I went to set it off downloading this morning and it said it coudlnt find it on xbox store but I think the store is acting up at mo, ill kick it off later via smartglass.