Recent reviews by · DRMD2

A stunning visual and musical experience, delivered alongside a story that packs all the right feels and asks all the right questions. Aside from a few pointed exceptions, Ori... features just the right amount of challenge and frustration to make your successes feel gratifyingly well-earned.

One thing I will say is, I'm not so much a fan of escape sequences. There is one in particular (early in the game) that is extremely punishing, featuring a rubber-banding mechanic that keeps you a hair's width from death during a solid 3 minutes of continuous movement irrespective of how well you are actually performing.

But bottom line, Ori... is a delightful experience. If wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anybody up for some unforgiving platforming. 8/10.

Dear Esther: I tried to see you, at the end. The island is capricious; as like a siren, she lures hermits to seek the inaccessible--trapping them in waters that ignore the swim key. I have spent hours drowning in search of you. I am drowning in you, still.

Dear Esther: At last, night has fallen, and I have caught sight of the moon. I shall follow its light, that it may lead me to our reunion, and to my end.

Dear Esther: I have fallen between a ramp and two rocks. Esther, do you remember that time I got kidney stones? Or how I never learned how to climb rocks or jump over things as a boy? I am pinned. Oh, to be ruined by so trifling an obstacle.

I'm afraid this is it. I was to become an aerial for you, but the island's designs wouldn't allow it. Esther...goodbye.

Not without its flaws, but quite possibly the most engrossing gameplay experience I've come across in years. Set up killzones. Throw tactical smoke. Draw fire. Hunker down. Flank. Breach. The game's got it all.

The game suffers occasionally from unintuitive line-of-sight, and several battle-turning bugs have prevented me from enjoying a playthrough in Ironman (autosave + no reloads) mode. Worth it, though, if it's on sale or if you are a strategy nerd.

Grid-based competitive tactics packed into an asynchronous package. The game is free (and the IAP/DLC, far cheaper) on iOS; look for it in the App Store.