Criticism: Ori and the will of the Follets is a magical journey

With regard to independent games, the Metroidvania genre is one of the most common on the market. Generally in 2D form, it is the type of game that requires technical skills in design and creation like few others. The premise concerns exploration and expansion. You progress in the game at a natural rhythm, but as and when, new unlocked abilities make it possible to explore previously inaccessible areas, and the game rewards you properly for your effort.

It is a kind that usually does the Indians very well, with a number of fantastic examples that capture the spirit of the nameonymous kind. Guacamelee, outland, and the first game Ori, _ The blind forest_ are all stellar examples of platform action that encourage the player to discover and discover the world in which he is.

_Ori and the experienced blind forest the formula and the sacrificed elements of the Metroidvania structure to provide a more direct approach to narration. He offered a more linear path towards the progress of his main scenario. Some elements needed that you retreat the steps to search for upgrades, but the primordial goals were generally defined one at a time.

That does not mean it was a bad thing. This kept you close enough close to the Ori trip with Naru and Gumo friends so that the sections of the history's progression will maintain the emotional ties very well. Because of this, it was a striking story of family, love and redemption, a hard story not to overcome.

Its suite, ori and the will of the Méches, released five years for the day after his predecessor, turned the series into a complete Metroidvania experience while maintaining his captivating narration.

This time, the story sees Ori and the most recent member of the family, Ku - which you may remember the first game like the surviving owl egg that hatched to go to the island suffering From Niwen, despite a broken wing, but getting lost after a storm requires them to go down. It is in Ori to gather the follet lights to stop the decadence of Niwen and find Ku.

Freedom of choice

Just like the decor of his predecessor, the world of Niwen is as complex as a bewitching. But it is structured to better consider the element of choice. As the more traditional MetroidVania games, after the first act, you can tackle the tasks in the order you want. Capabilities are useful everywhere, but each domain is specialized in the use of a specific domain to progress. Many of the key skills are acquired early, so that all can be accessible once the choices are present.

The focus is not only on the central progression. NPCs are much more common, with many secondary quests offering secrets and improvements, such as Tokk, the Adventurer Blue Merle. Some are not accessible without certain capabilities, helping to better manage your progress and improve upgrades.

The skill tree has disappeared, replaced by a monetary system (orbs of mind) that allows greater flexibility in the skills and capacities you want to improve. Fragments, a benefits system that improves Ori skills ranging from battle utility, also allow additional customization. However, only a few can be active at a time, you will always have to use appropriate fragments depending on the scenario.

The Domino effect here has improved the fight, one of the weakest areas of the first game. Skills and fragments are combined much better here to allow more tools to face a greater variety Enemies, and the focus on combat, with harmful and more frequent boss battles, highlights the path traveled.

Jump for joy

The platform has also seen a clear improvement that makes the levels very pleasant to go. Presentation of the dash of the definitive edition of Blind Forest_ Early brings a larger scale to the platforms faster, while the additional verticality at the level and the puzzle design makes the puzzles smarter.

Trials for platforms and fighting have also been added, players accelerating on the map to reach the goal in time to win spiritual light, while victory in combat testing improves the ability of fragments of spirit. The variety of things to do and places Volunteed FOLLETS lights has been launched and executed so impressive that nothing seems to be a chore to accomplish.

The locations are also magnificent. The blind forest it was not visually staying, and although the artistic style limits the level of improvement, animations and details continue to see updates, with a bright color hue and an animated wildlife decorating L screen, while dazzling special effects illuminate combat sequences. It is difficult to imagine a game that seems more enjoyable than it, even if it looks largely like its predecessor.

The soundtrack also continues to surprise, with an Orchestral ensemble that creates a melodic atmosphere adapted to all situations, with thrust thrashes in prosecution, and moving and delicate numbers when the action is slowed down and the History requires calm or grief.

Family comes first

And the game is painful. The narration is captivating, even without the presence of Naru and Gumo, while the Ori journey takes you to Russian mountains of emotions similar to the presentation of the original world. Without spoilers, the presence of other characters only highlights the theme of unity throughout the series, because other creatures share your grief as well as your happiness. If you liked the story of the first game, it will not disappoint you.

The only genuine negative points are the feeling of familiarity with certain aspects, the story included, while it does not bring new radical ideas. There are also bugs at launch that caused problems such as plantage, losses of frames and sound buzzers.

But none of this really does not discourage ori and the will of the wicks. It's a haunting adventure that perfectly captures the Metroidvania experience while offering a great story of love, family and loss. It creates an emotional attachment thanks to its level of intimacy much better than many tiering titles, which makes it much easier to invest. Improved in almost all departments, and all available at half the price of a full version, _ori and the willingness of the Méches is the flag carrier of the genre, and easily one of the best games of 2020 to date.