Not even finished at the time of this review but WOW am I blown away. EVERYTHING is better than the original. The combat MUCH improved and so much more engaging, platforming is even more fun with new ways to move around, visuals are absolutely stunning when played (especially with an HDR monitor, an absolute must see), and my god is the soundtrack beautiful. The world is much more interesting thanks to NPCs that help flush out the land and exploration is better thanks to a bigger world with more freedom and rewards.

It clearly takes inspiration, if not just straight up copies many things, from a certain Medtroidvania game, but doing so has put it a major step above it's predecessor. I feel much more engaged in the Will of the Wisps than I did in the Blind Forest. It's like when Assassin's Creed 2 came out and was better than the first in every way.

I went back and finally finished Ori and the Blind Forest after years so I could experience this, and I'm glad I did.

screen shake :(

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I like this gyam. Good gyam. Play ok.

Oh look, it's Ori and the "We have Hollow Knight at home".

I've just posted a review (negative) for the first Ori and I've begun playing Will of the Wisps immediately after I had finished Blind Forest. First impressions were actually way more positive than I had imagined after the disappointment that was the first entry to the Ori franchise. Somehow, the art is even more impressively gorgeous in the sequel, owing to the higher resolution. Movement feels tighter, with wall jumping, wall sticking, dash and tripple jump being available to you from fairly early on, and new moves like grapple expanding the platforming aspect. Combat is actually designed this time, with both player and enemy movesets and actual bossfights incorporated into various parts of the noticably less infuriating escape sequences. Skills, economy and progression have all been overhauled in the image of above-mentioned Hollow Knight, too.
They even went all out and learned level design, with checpoints and all! Even the writing got a little glowup, with lots of NPC dialogue both mandatory and optional. Shame the actual plot didn't get any better, with the same "BIRD BAD 2: Electric Boogaloo" shtick and even baiting the cute little owl fwiend death. Basically, pulling the same sh*t the first game did with Naru. I guess death is cheap in the world of Ori, both in terms of platforming as well as storytelling.

So why is this review still negative? This game simply wore me down. While I powered through the originals many problems to it's relatively decent finale (gameplay-wise), the sequels' ratio of poor game design is swayed towards the endgame, with the first half lulling me into a false sense of security. I'll be frank, when I saw the map for the final stage with it's many wonderful attractions death beams and portals, along with it's entirely redundant final movement mechanic , I said: "F*ck it" and just quit. Now that I've played both Ori games I have to say that I'm kinda worried about diving into Moon Studios' latest Early Access project No Rest for the Wicked. Guess we'll see.

must try in any timeline

Kinda fire

Easily the best metroidvania that is not Metroid itself. Loved every second. If good movement is very important to you, this game is best in class. If beautiful visuals is important to you, this game is absolutely stunning. If good sound design and soundtrack is important to you, this game is perfection to the ears. If challenging gameplay is important to you, the hard mode is plenty hard. If depth of gameplay mechanics is important to you, I am still learning new things every time I play.

What I'm trying to say is this game is for you. From casual to tryhard this game is excellent.

Beautiful game! The play style is fun though it can be quite challenging at times. Absolutely love it

So good I finished it twice (second time on hard mode and getting 100%)!