Ori and the Blind Forest

[Aikouka]

Links: Wiki - Steam - Xbox - Trailer

So, I heard a ton of good things about it yesterday, and since it's supposed to be a Metroidvania style game, I figured I'd give it a try. I haven't had much time to play it (only about half an hour so far), but if your first words aren't, "Holy crap... this game is beautiful.", then you may need to visit your local optometrist!

Although, I did find the beginning to be a bit weird. The beginning is mostly this bit of backstory, but the game will randomly give you control. However, all you do is either move left or right and maybe jump a time or two. This can seem a bit cumbersome when you consider that the big guy moves incredibly slowly. I think they wanted to make sure the player was engaged, but I don't agree with how slow they made it. Anyway, once that bit is done, you get into the real gameplay.

In regard to gameplay, I have found the jumping to be a bit odd. During the typical tutorial session at the beginning, the game tells you to hold A (I'm using an Xbox One controller) to jump higher. Even though I kept holding A, my character just kept hitting the wall and falling down. I don't know if I'm just doing something fundamentally wrong, but the jumping definitely seems a bit weird. I think it's something I'll keep my eye on.

Anyone else check this out? The game is available on Windows (via Steam) and on the Xbox One. Based on the Wikipedia game, it will eventually release on the Xbox 360.

 

[Aikouka]

So, I've been playing more of this game (that no one seems to care about ), and it'll definitely pull you in like a good Metroidvania game. Although, there are a couple things that bug me...

• I unlocked Double Jump, but I quickly realized that it's a rather poor name for the ability. One would expect a double jump to allow you to jump up to twice the height, but it doesn't do that. Double Jump is more of an "air hop", which can allow you to jump longer horizontally and slightly higher.
• Energy Doors shouldn't take your energy. Energy doors are a gate mechanic in the game that require you to have a certain amount of energy available at that moment. Energy is your resource for using special abilities, and it does not recharge automatically. I don't have an issue with the lack of recharge by itself, but I ran into a situation yesterday where I had 3 energy and the door required 4. I absolutely had to open the door, because I needed to push a block down that was behind the door to allow me to advance further. I had to keep running away in hopes that I ran far enough to cause an energy node to respawn (it'll spawn a 1-energy-restoring item when you destroy it).
• There are no teleportation mechanics. To be clear, there might be at some point in the game, but at least where I am now, the game is literally just one huge map. If you unlock a new ability and you realize that it's required to get an item from awhile back, you have to walk all the way back. This also includes killing all enemies and evading all the traps.
• The game has some performance issues. My computer is certainly not weak (i7 4770k + Gigabyte GTX 780 Ti WF3), but I do encounter framerate spikes every now and again. They don't necessarily seem to be during any intensive areas, but while they're jarring, they're also quite rare.

Overall though, I do think the game is good. It was able to pull me in and want me to play more unlike Guacamelee, which is another Metroidvania game. I think part of the appeal is that the game is good at putting rewards all around the world that require you to be competent with the game's mechanics to get them. For example, there's one point in the game where you have to jump down a hole that's lined with spikes on both sides and the bottom. That section requires you to use the aforementioned "air hop" to jump over to the platform on the other side. Oh, and you better not run too far ahead, or you'll get smooshed by the falling block on the other side.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Saw this and it looks interesting. Was meaning to look into it more to see what it's like and if it's style over substance.

Have you played Dust An Elysian Tail? Or Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet? Both are highly styled indie Metroidvania games too. I think both, as well as Gaucamelee have been pretty excellent and better than the usual indie games in that they're complete games as well as offering interesting visuals and music. I can understand losing interest in them too though, as while they're good they don't entirely hook me like Super Metroid and SotN did, but then very few games did so that's not really a fair criticism to levy.

 

[Aikouka]

Saw this and it looks interesting. Was meaning to look into it more to see what it's like and if it's style over substance.

Hmmm... I don't think that I would consider it style over substance. I think you can usually look at Metroidvania games as putting their emphasis on certain aspects of the "genre". The things that come to mind for me are platforming, combat and RPG mechanics. If I had to define Ori, I would say that it puts the most emphasis on platforming. Combat and RPG mechanics are probably tied for second.

The combat in Ori is not like most others as your character doesn't really attack. There's an orb companion with him that performs a Spirit Missile attack, which deals damage. You eventually get more abilities, and I think I'll eventually get a smash ability, which has a base role of breaking things, but there's a talent (more on those later) to allow it to deal damage to enemies. However, while the combat is not the main focus, there are definitely plenty of enemies, and they'll really push you to focus on their abilities and how to counter them.

I think this also ties neatly into the game's platforming. Enemies aren't just there for you to kill. There are a few that actually affect the level, and in some cases, are vital to proceeding. In one section, there are numerous of these subterranean funnel-like creatures that spew out a spine-like goop that will explode after a few seconds. In this area, you had to use the initial creature to blow up bits of debris to free the next funnel guy. At the end, the last funnel creature (keep in mind, these are enemies that are trying to kill you) is used to destroy a barricade. I've also had charging and jumping enemies destroy barricades to allow me to get pick-ups.

In regard to the RPG mechanics, this game pretty much leaves out one major aspect that some Metroidvania games have: items and equipment. However, the game does have abilities that you gain over time. I think the first one you get is wall jumping, then a charged exploding attack (still using the orb), and then double jump. There are three talent trees in the game that are linear by design. The next talent always requires the one before it, and it might also require a certain ability. For example, you can't gain the talent that buffs the charged exploding attack until you have the ability. One tree seems to be dedicated to combat abilities. Another is more of support as it includes things like showing pick-ups on the map, automatically drawing (health, spirit, exp) orbs to you, etc. The other is... I'm not sure what to call it. I recall one of the abilities allows Ori to breath in clean water.

In regard to experience, you gain experience through golden orbs that can either be found in the world or from enemies. There's a circular meter in the bottom center that fills up, and when it does, you gain 1 ability point. Most early talents require 1 ability point, but they do eventually require more. Enemies do respawn fairly quickly if you leave the screen, so it's not hard to farm experience.

Have you played Dust An Elysian Tail? Or Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet? Both are highly styled indie Metroidvania games too. I think both, as well as Gaucamelee have been pretty excellent and better than the usual indie games in that they're complete games as well as offering interesting visuals and music. I can understand losing interest in them too though, as while they're good they don't entirely hook me like Super Metroid and SotN did, but then very few games did so that's not really a fair criticism to levy.

I've played Dust, but I've never played Shadow Planet. My only complaint about Dust is that the game was a little too easy even on the hardest difficulty, but I enjoyed the game. Unfortunately, I lost my save when my 360's thumb drive died.

 

[pontifex]

saw this on steam the other day and yeah, the graphics are gorgeous

 

[Aikouka]

Ugh, I think I just did the hardest part so far in Ori. I took a video of my many, many attempts to do it, and uploaded my successful attempt. It was definitely a very rough attempt, but still successful. Although, I didn't realize that sound recording was turned off in FRAPS, so there's no sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5GPCkEOhZE

My poor thumb feels so raw....

 

[rsbennett00]

Ugh, I think I just did the hardest part so far in Ori. I took a video of my many, many attempts to do it, and uploaded my successful attempt. It was definitely a very rough attempt, but still successful. Although, I didn't realize that sound recording was turned off in FRAPS, so there's no sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5GPCkEOhZE

My poor thumb feels so raw....

Wow, good job! That's where I'm stuck right now.

I didn't realize Dust was a metroidvania, I'll have to look into it.

 

[scorpion86]

So, I've been playing more of this game (that no one seems to care about ), and it'll definitely pull you in like a good Metroidvania game. Although, there are a couple things that bug me...

• I unlocked Double Jump, but I quickly realized that it's a rather poor name for the ability. One would expect a double jump to allow you to jump up to twice the height, but it doesn't do that. Double Jump is more of an "air hop", which can allow you to jump longer horizontally and slightly higher.
• Energy Doors shouldn't take your energy. Energy doors are a gate mechanic in the game that require you to have a certain amount of energy available at that moment. Energy is your resource for using special abilities, and it does not recharge automatically. I don't have an issue with the lack of recharge by itself, but I ran into a situation yesterday where I had 3 energy and the door required 4. I absolutely had to open the door, because I needed to push a block down that was behind the door to allow me to advance further. I had to keep running away in hopes that I ran far enough to cause an energy node to respawn (it'll spawn a 1-energy-restoring item when you destroy it).
• There are no teleportation mechanics. To be clear, there might be at some point in the game, but at least where I am now, the game is literally just one huge map. If you unlock a new ability and you realize that it's required to get an item from awhile back, you have to walk all the way back. This also includes killing all enemies and evading all the traps.
• The game has some performance issues. My computer is certainly not weak (i7 4770k + Gigabyte GTX 780 Ti WF3), but I do encounter framerate spikes every now and again. They don't necessarily seem to be during any intensive areas, but while they're jarring, they're also quite rare.

Overall though, I do think the game is good. It was able to pull me in and want me to play more unlike Guacamelee, which is another Metroidvania game. I think part of the appeal is that the game is good at putting rewards all around the world that require you to be competent with the game's mechanics to get them. For example, there's one point in the game where you have to jump down a hole that's lined with spikes on both sides and the bottom. That section requires you to use the aforementioned "air hop" to jump over to the platform on the other side. Oh, and you better not run too far ahead, or you'll get smooshed by the falling block on the other side.

How do you get more energy, im stuck where I have two and need four for the energy gate?

 

[Aikouka]

How do you get more energy, im stuck where I have two and need four for the energy gate?

Do you need more total energy or do you need it restored? If you need it restored, your best bet is to find an energy restoration crystal and spawn camp it. In my opinion, it's poor game design, but there's not much that you can do about it. If you need more total energy, you may have to go search for an energy capacity upgrade. Although, there really aren't that many that you can get without some of the other abilities (i.e. breaking any horizontal breakable wall requires Charge Jump, the last ability).

 

[TheSlamma]

Great game.

I put this in my top 3 side scroll platformers now.

Mark of the Ninja
Trine 1/2
Ori and the Blind Forest

 

[Aikouka]

Great game.

I put this in my top 3 side scroll platformers now.

Mark of the Ninja
Trine 1/2
Ori and the Blind Forest

I think everyone calling this a Metroidvania game prior to release has somewhat ruined it for me. I'm near the end of the game (through most of Mount Horu), and there have been times where I just don't want any more stupid platforming puzzles! That's the thing... this is a platformer with some light Metroidvania aspects. The enemies really aren't even for combat purposes as they usually serve as a means to further the platforming when used with the launching mechanic. Honestly, I think Mega Man X is more of a Metroidvania game than this, and it doesn't even have a world that's tied together.

Let's just say... there's a reason why this game shows you your death count on the status screen.

 

[Ichigo]

fwiw double jump has almost always meant a midair jump in just about every game ever. what you're thinking about as an upgraded jump that goes higher is referred to in most games as a high jump or super jump.

 

[Aikouka]

fwiw double jump has almost always meant a midair jump in just about every game ever. what you're thinking about as an upgraded jump that goes higher is referred to in most games as a high jump or super jump.

What I meant is that the height isn't the same as the first jump, so it was a lot shorter than I expected. To note, there is a charge jump that gives you a far higher jump.

 

[TheSlamma]

I think everyone calling this a Metroidvania game prior to release has somewhat ruined it for me. I'm near the end of the game (through most of Mount Horu), and there have been times where I just don't want any more stupid platforming puzzles! That's the thing... this is a platformer with some light Metroidvania aspects. The enemies really aren't even for combat purposes as they usually serve as a means to further the platforming when used with the launching mechanic. Honestly, I think Mega Man X is more of a Metroidvania game than this, and it doesn't even have a world that's tied together.

Let's just say... there's a reason why this game shows you your death count on the status screen.

Yeah I used to like Megaman way back in the day, but now I'm not into those types of games at all anymore. I need something more cerebral.

 

[JumBie]

Anyone play this with a keyboard and mouse? If so how was the experience?

 

[TechBoyJK]

Played it last night. Awesome.

 

[Gigglinpig]

This is my favorite game of 2015 so far. Haven't played Witcher 3 or GTA V yet, so this may change. Should still be in the top 5. Ori has an amazing soundtrack, that gives you this calm feeling even when you are dying a lot. ( I died 1300+ times). Usually not a fan or difficult platformers, but I couldn't stop playing this game. My advice: Focus on getting triple jump as soon as possible. You will die way less.

I still listen to the soundtrack. Just wow!

 

[TechBoyJK]

I listened to the soundtrack on repeat most of the day today at work. Definitely helped keep in the peaceful, focused frame of mind the game had me in last night.

 

[XiandreX]

I just finished the game and it is one of the most memorable games in a long time for me.
Very unforgiving at times but overall a pleasure to play.
Beautiful story.