- Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
- Release Date: Mar 11, 2020
- Also On: Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
- Unscored
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Jun 10, 2020It’s a shining example of how to do a sequel. They kept the core of what made the original enjoyable while switching up just about everything they could. There are some elements I feel it did better, some where I feel the original did better with, but on the whole they feel like they’re on equal footing. If you want a game that’s more of an experience than simply something to kill time, if you want something that showcases how artistic games can be, if you want an action platformer with plenty of approaches to combat, I can’t recommend enough that you pick up Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Also Ori and the Blind Forest if you haven’t played it already.
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Apr 22, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps doesn’t try to recreate the magic that made the first game so special, instead it embraces it. With its absorbing soundtrack, meticulously crafted world, and all-around gameplay improvements, Moon Studios has miraculously given us a worthy sequel to the marvelous series.
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Mar 10, 2020There are times when you feel obliged to find faults no matter how minor, but in the ten-plus hours spent with Moon Studios’ latest, there are none. It’s a feat few studios can rightfully claim to accomplish in recent times but such a claim is more than merited for a game that nails all departments.
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Mar 12, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the natural evolution of the already excellent Ori and the Blind Forest, a masterpiece and a milestone in the metroidvania genre. It’s a modern fairy tale with a lesson that should be accepted by everyone and applied without reservation in the everyday life. So be careful: playing Ori and the Will of the Wisps could make you a better person.
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Mar 24, 2020What you end up with is an almost perfect game within the MetroidVania genre. If you have to mention something to blame the game, it is perhaps that more could have been added in the form of online or multiplayer action, but even that is a conscious choice. Developer Moon studios knows what it is good at and opts for that. While playing, you never feel that you are missing anything.
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Mar 15, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps retains what the original did well, trims what held it back, and then manages to add in wonderful new elements that elevate this follow-up to new heights. It boasts a fantastic soundtrack and stunning visuals that work perfectly together to craft a beautiful atmosphere. It tops it all off with an emotional story culminating in a great ending that ties together both games. Meanwhile optional side quests offer wonderful insights into this new world. It’s an exceptional game that you don’t want to miss.
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Mar 10, 2020The story is fantastic, the world is breathtaking, and all of that pales in comparison to the wonderfully made gameplay that soars both as a platforming and combat game. Moon Studios has outdone itself with Will of the Wisps, delivering an experience that doesn’t have any lulls, makes the player feel clever, and just keeps getting better as it goes.
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Mar 10, 2020With the need to go bigger, Ori and the Will of the Wisps loses some of the simplicity and innocence of the original game, but it steps up in turn with bite and refinement.
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Mar 10, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps is one of the best game of this generation, thanks to a compelling story, a brand new combat system and a great variety of contents that make it an amazing successor to Moon Studios' interpretation of the metroidvania genre.
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Mar 10, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a masterpiece even compared with its prequel. It's one of the greatest platformers in recent years and nearly perfect in terms of the open-world, the narrative, and the combat.
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Mar 22, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps is more than just a worthy successor to Blind Forest. It enriches and improves all its parts in every aspect, and it is a Metroidvania game that will be remembered for years.
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Mar 11, 2020Mystical, challenging, huge and astonishingly beautiful: This is a true gem in the field of open platforming.
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Mar 10, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps is touching, fascinating and it delights with excellent game design. A masterpiece that no one should miss out on.
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May 1, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps extends the impressive legacy of the original Ori game, with similarly stunning visuals, controls, and level designs.
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Apr 27, 2020Moon Studios is now two-for-two on games that look as good as they handle, while also guiding players through a gamut of emotions. The team is reportedly doing something new for their next project, and hopefully they’ll nail it as handily as they’ve done with Ori. But even if they’re exposed as a one-trick pony, let it be known that in the crowded field of indie platformers about small, childlike protagonists trapped in dark, imposing worlds, no developer on the planet is better at it than Moon.
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Apr 8, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps is another triumph return for the series — a beautiful game with only the smallest blemishes to its luster.
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Mar 19, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps definitely has its downfalls, from a lack of dungeons and performance hiccups to abilities that needed to be fleshed-out more, but comparing this to all of the amazing feats that it reaches, these gripes feel nothing more than nit-picks in an otherwise wholly enjoyable and immersive experience. While it may not meet every expectation set by the almost perfect Ori and the Blind Forest, it's nonetheless a worthy successor and is easily one of the best metroidvanias on the market right now.
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Mar 18, 2020At first glance, Ori and the Will of the Wisps may seem like more of the same. It's true and it's one of its strengths. Because every aspect of the game works in such a great way that we can feel that we are replaying the same great experience as that of the first game, but with small changes that make it even better.
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Mar 13, 2020If you're the kind of person who can't stand bugs ruining your games then maybe you might want to wait a bit until this is good and patched. But even with the glitches, Ori and the Will Of The Wisps is undeniably a captivating, marvelous game that makes us hope that we won't have to wait another 5 years to see Ori in action again.
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Mar 12, 2020A splendid sequel that undoubtedly surpasses the original. Moon Studios has outdone itself and given us another of the best Metroidvanias on the market.
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Mar 10, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the confirmation of the huge talent inside Moon Studios. Finally, Microsoft has a game to be proud.
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Mar 10, 2020An outstanding sequel that merges a heartfelt story, stunning visuals, challenging gameplay and glorious music into what is already one of the best games of the year.
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Mar 10, 2020In five years, the Metroidvania has changed, and Ori has also learned from its peers to stay in the race. A little less demanding but much more varied, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is indeed the great adventure we have been waiting for.
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Mar 10, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps maintains its brilliance while introducing an incredible new combat system.
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Mar 10, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps has everything we loved about the original game. It's beautiful and charming, with a powerful metroidvania feeling. Just a brilliant sequel.
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Mar 10, 2020In Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Moon Studios has taken an excellent foundation and made even more out of it. Its many new elements expand on and add to the first game’s fun without bogging it down or becoming overcomplicated. And that’s really the best praise you can give a sequel - it stays true to the spirit of the original, doubles down on what made it great, and gives you more stake in the world and options to navigate it. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an excellent heartfelt follow-up that pushes the series to new heights.
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Mar 10, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps follows the Blind Forest as a special game that is unrivalled in its class.
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Mar 10, 2020A gorgeous, tear-jerking platformer which improves on absolutely everything in the first game and ranks among the finest Metroidvanias available today.
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Mar 10, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a game of passion, made from the heart. Featuring charming characters, a vibrant world filled with mystery and intrigue, and genre-leading platforming action, you will struggle to find a single experience that encompasses the artistic values of video games like Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
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Mar 10, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps delivers a wonderful metroidvania experience, packed with great atmosphere and graphics, wonderful environments and a compelling story.
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Mar 11, 2020If you play Ori and the Will of the Wisps on a PC, then you have a fantastic successor to The Blind Forest. Xbox One owners are better off waiting for major updates.
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Game World Navigator MagazineApr 8, 2020Engaging, difficult and charming metroidvania with an amazingly low price. [Issue#244, p.54]
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Mar 17, 2020Stunning visuals and brilliant music is just the first course in Ori and the Will of the Wisps. With its large world, lavish combat, and a smooth implementation of the metroidvania design, this sequel is a must-play for fans of the original, and highly recommended for everybody else.
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Mar 12, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps keeps the core values of the previous game and elevates them to new heights to consolidate Moon Studios as a new creator force.
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Mar 10, 2020It's inconsistent and sometimes annoying, but ultimately a charming, challenging, heart-string-pulling fable.
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LEVEL (Czech Republic)Jul 23, 2020An honest second installment, which is missing only the courage to leave the traditional dogmas of the genre and try something new. [Issue#303]
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CD-ActionApr 17, 2020There’s a lot borrowed or just slightly expanded upon what we saw in The Blind Forest in the game mechanics. Plus, the developers released the sequel with a bit too many glitches and bugs in it. Apart from that, though, it is still an utterly fantastic title. [05/2020, p.42]
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Apr 1, 2020Will of the Wisps doesn’t jump as high as Ori and the Blind Forest and falls in a few extra pits yet it is still a worthy enough successor. Comparisons between the two are not always favorable to the sequel, especially considering how it repeats some of the same beats. But that same familiarity is also what gives Will of the Wisps its vivid art style and well-paced, difficult platforming that make both titles such noteworthy entries in the crowded Metroidvania genre.
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Mar 23, 2020A very good platformer with awesome production values. The central character feels good to control, the story is fine and the game is basically unmatched when it comes to graphics. But the gameplay itself, although competent, could use a lot more variety.
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Mar 11, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps is aesthetically brilliant and offers familiar challenges with a new twist. An expansive world filled with interactive NPCs gives you plenty of game for your buck, making this a must for newbies and die-hards alike. Implementation of anticipated patches would bump this score up to a 9.
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Mar 10, 2020Ori and the Will of the Wisps is more than the sum of its parts. Is it just another Metroid homage, one among many? Absolutely. I think it’s one of the best-playing, sure, but it’s still well-trod territory of late. I found myself gripped by it though. As I said earlier, I wish it was longer. That’s usually the sign (or at least one sign) of a good game, in my experience.
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Mar 10, 2020Genre fans and devotees of the first game should put Ori and the Will of the Wisps on their must-play lists. It looks like a million bucks in motion (when the performance holds together) and the narrative is sure to please franchise followers.
| This publication does not provide a score for their reviews. | |
| This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
| These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. | |
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Mar 10, 2020So far, Ori and the Will of the Wisps has taken my breath away. It’s possibly one of the most aesthetically gorgeous games I’ve ever played, even if some parts do feel like they’ve been ripped straight from the first game and the soundtrack is masterful in every sense of the word. [Provisional Score = 90]
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Mar 10, 2020It’s difficult but fair, complex but intuitive, and gruelling but conquerable. [RPS Bestest Bests]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 1,201 out of 1370
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Mixed: 75 out of 1370
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Negative: 94 out of 1370
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Mar 11, 2020
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Mar 16, 2020
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Apr 1, 2020