Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Ori and the Will of the Wisps game image

Overwhelmingly Positive

Total: 28.4 ThousandPositive: 27.5 ThousandNegative: 879
97%
3%
Steam review score: 9

Sorry!

This game is not fully supported yet!

AI Review

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a breathtaking action-platformer that continues the emotional journey of Ori, a small spirit on a quest to save a broken land. With a 91.49% AI Community Rating, this game is celebrated for its stunning hand-painted visuals, deeply emotional storytelling, and a fully orchestrated score that immerses players in its vast, exotic world. Fans praise its beautiful art style, satisfying combat, and fluid movement, calling it a 'masterpiece' and 'emotional journey.' However, some players note frustrations with repetitive backtracking, overly punishing chase sequences, and a combat system that feels limiting with only three ability slots. While the story and visuals shine, the game’s pacing and exploration rewards could use refinement. If you’re drawn to Metroidvania-style adventures with heartwarming narratives and challenging platforming, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a must-play. Just be prepared for some difficulty spikes and occasional frustrations.

What the community wishes

Combat feels flat and limiting
The combat system is limiting with only 3 ability slots, forcing players to choose between weapons and utility spells. This restricts playstyle variety and makes combat feel less dynamic compared to other games in the genre.
Map lacks exploration depth
The map feels less dynamic and interesting compared to the first game. Backtracking and exploration feel like a chore rather than an engaging part of the gameplay, lacking the wonder and complexity expected in a metroidvania.
Spirit shards lack creativity
Spirit shards feel underwhelming, offering minor stat boosts rather than transformative gameplay changes. They could be more impactful and spread across the world to encourage exploration and reward discovery.
Weapon abilities feel underutilized
Many weapon abilities feel unnecessary as basic attacks suffice for most encounters. More incentives to experiment with different weapons and abilities would enhance combat variety and depth.
Chase sequences are overly punishing
Chase sequences require perfect execution with no room for error, leading to frustration. Reducing the difficulty or allowing checkpoints within these sequences would improve the player experience.
Boss fights lack sound effects
A bug causes boss fights to lose sound effects, ruining immersion. While reportedly patched, this issue highlights the importance of thorough quality assurance to prevent such immersion-breaking bugs.
Ancient trees are hard to locate
Finding ancient trees to unlock abilities can be confusing and frustrating. Clearer guidance or map markers would help players progress without unnecessary backtracking or confusion.
Ending feels controversial
The ending has divided players, with some finding it unsatisfying. Revisiting the narrative conclusion to ensure it resonates with a broader audience could improve the overall experience.
Difficulty spikes in mid-game
Platforming sections in the mid-game can feel overly punishing. Adjusting difficulty curves to maintain a consistent challenge without frustrating players would enhance gameplay flow.
Side quests lack depth
Side quests, while present, feel shallow and lack meaningful impact. Adding more depth and narrative weight to side quests would make them more engaging and rewarding.
World feels unfinished in some areas
Certain sections of the world feel underdeveloped or incomplete. Expanding these areas with more content and exploration opportunities would make the world feel more cohesive and alive.
Combat shrines need better balance
Combat shrines, while a good addition, could benefit from better balance and variety. Ensuring they provide a fair challenge without feeling repetitive would improve their appeal.
Grinding for upgrades feels tedious
Acquiring enough Spirit Light for upgrades requires excessive grinding. Reducing the grind or increasing Spirit Light rewards would make progression feel more rewarding and less tedious.
Boss fights lack variety
Boss fights, while effective, feel derivative and lack variety. Introducing more unique mechanics and designs for bosses would make encounters more memorable and engaging.
Autosave system needs refinement
While the autosave system is an improvement, it could be more consistent. Ensuring frequent and reliable autosaves would reduce frustration during challenging sections.
Combat feels disconnected from story
The combat focus feels at odds with the game's emotional narrative. Better integrating combat mechanics with the story would create a more cohesive and immersive experience.
Skill tree lacks meaningful choices
The skill tree offers limited meaningful choices, with many upgrades feeling incremental. Adding more transformative abilities or playstyle-defining options would enhance player agency.
Exploration rewards feel lacking
Exploration often yields underwhelming rewards. Adding more meaningful and unique rewards for exploration would incentivize players to engage more deeply with the world.
Pacing issues in late-game
The late-game pacing feels uneven, with some sections dragging. Streamlining the pacing to maintain momentum would keep players engaged until the end.
More playstyle variety needed
The game could benefit from more diverse playstyles, especially in combat. Introducing more unique abilities and weapons would allow players to experiment and find their preferred approach.

Reviews

Toxicity trend

N-Grams

phenomenal honestly alovely storyline andincredible experience Itop shelf I'veabsolute masterpiece ofcompelling storytelling fluiddeeply moving andperfect sequel whilebittersweet and willbreathtaking visual beautyflawless and emotionalenchanting and movingamazing game itutterly beautiful withunforgettable experience verybreathtaking visual marvelgood sequel justheartfelt journey navigatingvisually impressive metroidvaniasstunning in terms

Keywords

What the community loves
beautiful
19
fun
10
emotional
9
masterpiece
8
story
8
stunning
7
satisfying
7
great
7
combat
6
movement
6
amazing
6
gameplay
6
breathtaking
5
incredible
5
visuals
5
Where the community is undecided
combat
12
story
7
platformers
5
abilities
5
platforming
5
platformer
4
metroidvania
3
boss
3
Hollow Knight
3
puzzle
3
gameplay
3
challenge
3
chases
2
upgrades
2
characters
2
What the community dislikes
frustrating
7
repetitive
5
boring
3
disappointed
3
predictable
3
annoying
3
backtracking
2
hard
2
horrendously
2
fun
2
ending
2
chore
2
disappointment
2
awkward
2
combat
2

In-depth analysis of most impactful community reviews

Positive

[H1]"Ori and The Will of the Wisps": Crying Simulator Part 2.[/H1] The Will of The Wisps follows in the footsteps of Ori and The Blind Forest in many ways, including the delivery of a flawless and emotional narrative. Although the sequel definitely took the franchise to the next level in terms of new gameplay mechanics, side quests, and a much larger map, Moon Studios hasn't forgotten what made The Blind Forest so special - an enchanting and moving story. A new journey begins as Ori takes off to restore the light and save Niwen from a catastrophe that destroyed many lives, along with the help of his fellow friends. The main antagonist is yet another owl who is evil for a reason. It's a character that many can relate to. As a result of rejection, our outlook on the world changes and that is why we come to despise a lot of things. Everything happens for a reason, and in this game, you can't put any of the characters on the "villain category", you just can't help but feel bad for Ori, his family, the owl and everyone else. I gotta say this game left me speechless and sad but at the same time amazed, because it seems like magic can happen in videogames, and this is proof of it. Stunning visuals, amazing music, breathtaking gameplay from start to finish. A brilliant masterpiece and I have absolutely no regrets I got it. You have to play Blind Forest first though, because it will hit differently especially if you are invested in this little family like I am, everything will make more sense. The ending is bittersweet and will definitely leave you in tears; you're in for a pretty big surprise twist. Moon Studios did a great job with the Ori franchise, and there's a lot of potential for more sequels, hopefully news of another game arrives soon. The Will of The Wisps is an exceptional experience that you don’t want to miss, you don't have to think twice before getting it, just go for it with your eyes closed.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that 'Ori and The Will of the Wisps' delivers a flawless and emotional narrative, much like its predecessor, which left me deeply moved.
    • I appreciate how the sequel introduced new gameplay mechanics, side quests, and a larger map, taking the franchise to the next level while retaining its core charm.
    • I found the story enchanting and moving, with Ori's journey to restore light and save Niwen being both captivating and emotionally impactful.
    • I relate to the antagonist, an owl whose evil actions stem from rejection, making the character complex and relatable rather than purely villainous.
    • I was left speechless and sad by the game, yet amazed by its ability to evoke such strong emotions, proving that magic can happen in video games.
    • I was impressed by the stunning visuals, amazing music, and breathtaking gameplay, which made the experience unforgettable from start to finish.
    • I consider 'Ori and The Will of the Wisps' a brilliant masterpiece and have no regrets about purchasing it, as it exceeded my expectations.
    • I recommend playing 'Ori and The Blind Forest' first, as it enhances the emotional impact and understanding of the story, especially for those invested in the characters.
    • I found the ending bittersweet and emotionally overwhelming, with a surprising twist that left me in tears.
    • I believe Moon Studios did an exceptional job with the Ori franchise and hope for more sequels, as there is significant potential for future stories.

Positive

It's a game that truly touches the heart. It made me tear up several times, so deeply moving and emotional the story turned out to be. The magical world of Ori, with its breathtaking visual beauty, comes alive on the screen—each location is a masterpiece, filled with life and intricate details. But what really makes the game unforgettable is its heartfelt story. The relationships between the characters, their losses, and their search for meaning create an atmosphere that deeply resonates with the player. The soundtrack plays an immense role as well, heightening the emotional moments and crafting an enchanting atmosphere, filled with both light and darkness. It's a journey that leaves a mark on your soul and lingers long after the credits roll.

  • Sentiments

    • The game truly touches the heart, making me tear up several times due to its deeply moving and emotional story.
    • The magical world of Ori is breathtakingly beautiful, with each location feeling like a masterpiece filled with life and intricate details.
    • The heartfelt story is unforgettable, with relationships between characters, their losses, and their search for meaning deeply resonating with me.
    • The soundtrack plays an immense role, heightening emotional moments and crafting an enchanting atmosphere filled with both light and darkness.
    • The game creates an atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll, leaving a mark on my soul.

Positive

Visuals: 10/10 Audio: 10/10 Storytelling: 10/10 Atmosphere: 10/10 Gameplay (level design): 10/10 Gameplay (combat): 7.5/10 Absolute masterpiece of a game, there's a reason nearly 40% of people have completed it. If you have any interest at all in this genre, buy it. (Play blind forest first though).

  • Sentiments

    • I am absolutely blown away by the visuals in this game, which I would rate as a perfect 10/10. They are stunning and contribute significantly to the overall experience.
    • The audio in this game is exceptional, earning a perfect 10/10 from me. It enhances the atmosphere and immersion beautifully.
    • The storytelling is a standout feature, and I would rate it a perfect 10/10. It is engaging, well-crafted, and adds depth to the game.
    • The atmosphere in this game is incredible, and I would give it a perfect 10/10. It is immersive and perfectly complements the visuals and audio.
    • The level design in the gameplay is flawless, earning a perfect 10/10 from me. It is well-thought-out and enhances the overall experience.
    • While the combat in the gameplay is good, I would rate it a 7.5/10. It is enjoyable but not as outstanding as other aspects of the game.
    • I consider this game an absolute masterpiece, and there is a reason nearly 40% of players have completed it. It is a must-play for fans of the genre.
    • I highly recommend this game to anyone with even a slight interest in the genre. It is worth every penny and delivers an unforgettable experience.
    • I suggest playing 'Blind Forest' first before diving into this game. It provides a better context and enhances the overall enjoyment of this title.

Positive

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a breathtaking visual marvel, with artistry in every frame and with music that resonates with emotions well. We guide Ori through a heartfelt journey, navigating challenges, solving puzzles, and facing formidable foes. The game retains the enjoyable platforming experience of its predecessor with improved combat. This was one of the most enjoyable platforming games I ever experienced, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

  • Sentiments

    • I found Ori and the Will of the Wisps to be a breathtaking visual marvel, with artistry in every frame that left me in awe.
    • The music in the game resonated deeply with my emotions, enhancing the overall experience.
    • Guiding Ori through a heartfelt journey was an emotionally engaging experience that I thoroughly enjoyed.
    • Navigating challenges and solving puzzles in the game was both rewarding and enjoyable.
    • Facing formidable foes added an exciting layer of difficulty and engagement to the gameplay.
    • The game retained the enjoyable platforming experience of its predecessor, which I appreciated.
    • The improved combat system made the gameplay even more dynamic and satisfying.
    • This was one of the most enjoyable platforming games I have ever experienced, leaving a lasting impression on me.
    • I wholeheartedly recommend Ori and the Will of the Wisps to anyone looking for a captivating and beautiful gaming experience.

Positive

I am not the best at writing reviews, however I found the game to be utterly beautiful, with a lovely storyline and suprisingly fun combat. I could try to go on in detail about why this game is so great but I am convinced the other reviewers here have already done a great job doing exactly that, so this will be merely my contribution to the amount of recommendations which came before me and will come in the future.

  • Sentiments

    • I am contributing my recommendation to the many others that have come before and will come in the future.
    • I found the game to be utterly beautiful, which left a strong positive impression on me.
    • I thought the storyline was lovely and added to my enjoyment of the game.
    • I was pleasantly surprised by how fun the combat system was, which enhanced my overall experience.
    • I believe the game is great and feel compelled to recommend it to others.
    • I acknowledge that other reviewers have already done a great job explaining why the game is great, so I won't go into detail.

Negative

The game is amazing. Almost everything about it is an improvement on the last game. However, given the state the game is in right now I can't recommend it. There are too many bugs that completely ruin the immersion. The main one I have run into is a bug where all creature noises, such as bosses and enemies just cuts out and all that plays is environment sound effects, damage and music. This has ruined multiple boss fights for me, as they make no sound whatsoever. You're effectively playing with headphones off and listening to classical music on your phone. Until this, and other bugs, get patched, I'm not going to play this game any more as I don't want to ruin the game for myself. I suggest waiting for the first major patch before playing. didn't realise i can edit steam reviews until today (16/07/2024) so i'll add an addendum here that the bugs were apparently patched long ago, though I haven't played since my first playthrough so I can't confirm or deny that. I'll leave the main review as-is because that was still my initial experience with the game, and it serves to give an idea of how the game was at launch. It was still an amazing game to play, and it is absolutely one of the definitive metroid-vania platformers that any fan of the genre should try. Also I did end up beating it, though I can't remember if it was before or after a few patches had come out.

  • Sentiments

    • I found the game to be amazing, with almost everything about it being an improvement over the last game.
    • I cannot recommend the game in its current state due to the presence of too many bugs that ruin the immersion.
    • I encountered a major bug where all creature noises, including bosses and enemies, cut out, leaving only environment sounds, damage effects, and music.
    • This bug ruined multiple boss fights for me, as the lack of sound made the experience feel incomplete and disconnected.
    • I decided to stop playing the game until the bugs are patched, as I did not want to ruin the experience for myself.
    • I suggest waiting for the first major patch before playing the game to avoid these issues.
    • I later learned that the bugs were apparently patched long ago, though I cannot confirm this as I haven't played since my first playthrough.
    • Despite the initial issues, I still consider the game to be amazing and one of the definitive metroidvania platformers.
    • I believe any fan of the genre should try this game, as it offers a great experience despite its launch issues.
    • I did end up beating the game, though I cannot recall if it was before or after some patches were released.

Negative

Everything about this game was and looked great, So many things worked. Music, Visuals, Movement and even combat had a satisfying feel. I think what threw me off this game was it's exploration and its map is just not very complex and it feels very lazy and boring to go around and theres A LOT of it, causing me to become bored and feel like I was slugging along, eventually I just couldn't continue after my few hours. Everything is so well put together but it doesn't have an interesting dynamic map to really fit with it, it just kept feeling all the same. I felt there was so much yet so little. I know something people won't like me saying that, but this is coming off the first game which map was so much more interesting and fun to go around. This is supposed to me a metroidvania at the end of the day, the map is meant to be the main thing, I struggle to even call this a metroidvania it feels whoever worked on the last games map did not work on this games one. Because this simply doesn't have any wonder of exploration, backtracking, a big part of metroidvanias here, felt like a chore not a part of the game.

  • Sentiments

    • I found everything about this game to be great, including its music, visuals, movement, and combat, which all had a satisfying feel.
    • I was disappointed by the game's exploration and map design, which felt lazy, boring, and not very complex.
    • I felt like there was a lot of exploration, but it became monotonous and caused me to lose interest over time.
    • I struggled to continue playing after a few hours because the exploration felt like a slog and lacked dynamic variety.
    • I appreciated how well-put-together the game was, but the lack of an interesting map design detracted from the overall experience.
    • I compared this game to its predecessor and felt the map in the first game was much more interesting and fun to explore.
    • I struggled to classify this game as a metroidvania because the map lacked the wonder of exploration and backtracking, which are key elements of the genre.
    • I felt that backtracking, a core part of metroidvanias, was more of a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.
    • I believe the team responsible for the map design in the previous game did not work on this one, as the map lacked creativity and engagement.
    • I felt there was so much potential in the game, but the lack of an engaging map made it feel like there was so little to enjoy.

Negative

It would be a great game if developers were not so obsessed with annoyingly long chases with insane amount of actions to be done within short amount of time and without any mistake. And on top of that - every time you need to start over again. It is not fun at all. It wasn't fun in 1st game and I was thinking that they won't do same thing in 2nd game. But it seems like not the case here. If you are not a platforming maniac, just skip this game.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that the game could be great, but the developers' obsession with annoyingly long chases ruins the experience.
    • I find the chases frustrating because they require an insane amount of actions to be done within a short amount of time.
    • I am annoyed that every mistake forces me to start over again, which makes the gameplay tedious and unenjoyable.
    • I do not find the chases fun at all, and they were a major downside in the first game as well.
    • I was hoping the developers would avoid repeating the same frustrating mechanics in the second game, but they did not.
    • I think this game is not suitable for players who are not platforming maniacs, and I would advise them to skip it.

Negative

Big improvement over the first Ori game. I still don't find this game fun to play. Game is still vague in telling you whether you can or can not progress in previously discovered areas. I ended up running back and forth, always disappointed for wasting my time. Combat is shining with bright on hit effects to the point of blindness. I really don't enjoy jumping in dark areas where I can't see anything besides tiny radius around main character. Game is not fundamentally bad. I had no technical/performance issues, art is great. But rather than looking forward to play more, I was looking forward to be done with this game. Eventually I gave up since the fun factor just wasn't there for me.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that this game is a big improvement over the first Ori game, which gives me a sense of progress and development in the series.
    • I still don't find this game fun to play, which makes me feel disappointed and uninterested in continuing.
    • The game is vague in telling me whether I can or cannot progress in previously discovered areas, leading to frustration and wasted time.
    • I ended up running back and forth, always disappointed for wasting my time, which made the experience feel tedious and unrewarding.
    • The combat has bright on-hit effects to the point of blindness, which I find visually overwhelming and unpleasant.
    • I really don't enjoy jumping in dark areas where I can't see anything besides a tiny radius around the main character, as it feels disorienting and frustrating.
    • The game is not fundamentally bad, which gives me a sense that it has potential despite its flaws.
    • I had no technical or performance issues, which makes me appreciate the game's stability and polish.
    • The art is great, which I find visually appealing and a strong point of the game.
    • Rather than looking forward to playing more, I was looking forward to being done with this game, as the fun factor just wasn't there for me.

Negative

This game looks incredible but is so dull to play. The story and characters have a very generic fantasy feel, and the keyboard controls are rather awkward. The endless marsh with its ambient tones is like being stuck in a meditation maze. It is incredibly mind-numbing after a while. If you run out of health, you just disappear and instantly respawn nearby. While convenient, it also removes any reason to care about what you're doing. Nothing really happens whether you succeed or fail. I just couldn't get invested in this.

  • Sentiments

    • I think the game looks incredible, which is a positive aspect of its visual design.
    • I find the gameplay to be dull and unengaging, which makes it hard to enjoy.
    • I feel the story and characters have a very generic fantasy feel, lacking originality.
    • I find the keyboard controls to be awkward and not user-friendly.
    • I think the endless marsh with its ambient tones feels like being stuck in a meditation maze, which is not enjoyable.
    • I feel the game becomes incredibly mind-numbing after a while, making it hard to stay interested.
    • I find the respawn mechanic convenient but also removes any sense of consequence or care about the gameplay.
    • I feel that nothing really happens whether you succeed or fail, which makes the game feel pointless.
    • I couldn't get invested in the game due to its lack of engaging elements.

© 2024