Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition

 Switch
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 431 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 361 out of 431
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 431
  3. Negative: 31 out of 431
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  1. Angelofdeath666
    Sep 28, 2019
    10
    The only game that made me cry. Twice. First because I was sad and then because it ran so smooth on my switch
  2. dojomaster
    Sep 28, 2019
    10
    Love the game so much on xbox that I bought it again on switch. Touching game with brilliant music and artstyle is sky high! Best metroivania ive even played. 11/10.
  3. Joes
    Sep 27, 2019
    10
    Uno de los mejores juegos indies llega a la híbrida con una increíble optimizacion, todo el contenido y portabilidad, no te lo pierdas
  4. M4N0R4F43L
    Sep 27, 2019
    10
    One of the best Indie come to Nintendo Switch. Soundtrack, history. So emotional, i loved
  5. RevalThierry
    Sep 28, 2019
    10
    One of the most beautiful games that ever existed. Plays incredible on Switch!
  6. catiflam88
    Oct 3, 2019
    10
    Just the most beautiful game i have ever played, músic and gameplay are amazing too
  7. lukbar
    Sep 30, 2019
    10
    One of the best game on Switch. LOVE IT!
    Story 10/10
    Music 10/10
    Game play 10/10
  8. JaggaFredde
    Sep 30, 2019
    10
    This is without a doubt one of the best metroidvanias ever made. The Switch version is also absolutely fantastic, it's an amazing achievement to get this beautiful game to run at 60fps on this tiny piece of hardware. And it is such a rare thing to happen to see Xbox Game Studios publish a game on Switch, so don't miss this. Play it, finish it, love it, forever.
  9. italogutto
    Sep 30, 2019
    10
    Uma obra prima, já zerei no Pc e Xbox. Parece que nunca envelhece esse jogo. Espero que a Microsoft traga outros grandes jogos clássicos nessa pegada Indie pro switch ou até AAA mais antigos com Fable, seria um sonho.
  10. Kiddae
    Jan 5, 2020
    5
    Good OST, beautiful game.
    Terrible gameplay (who thought having a down only button to dash to the bottom was a good idea ?) or game design deision. I found the screen extremely hard to read mostly due to the graphics, sure they are gorgeous but too often you can't tell what is just part of the scene and what will kill you.
    Too many RNG, too many unfair difficulty spike.
  11. pyhriel
    Feb 11, 2021
    7
    [This review is from a completed play-through, 100% completion at normal difficulty]
    This is a bit of a disappointment, because it has so much potential. It's visually astonishing and the music is great.
    The gameplay, as in the various things you can do with your character and the various game mechanisms are nice and fun to play with, if a bit overwhelming at times. The core issue with    [This review is from a completed play-through, 100% completion at normal difficulty]
    This is a bit of a disappointment, because it has so much potential. It's visually astonishing and the music is great.
    The gameplay, as in the various things you can do with your character and the various game mechanisms are nice and fun to play with, if a bit overwhelming at times.
    The core issue with this game, is that the level design is just plain bad. There is a heavy reliance on insta-kill (or near insta-kill) elements, many of which cannot really be foreseen, so you kinda have to die once to learn how to not die the next time. Even the fact the you'll die so often is mitigated a little by the save system, which more or less allows you to save anywhere, it is still a very unsatisfactory feeling. Also, you gradually get all these various fancy moves and abilities, but you never feel like you can just enjoy them. There is no real part of a level where you just get to have fun, pretty much everywhere you go you'll get a technical issue to manage that is most likely deadly.
    The worst part of level design in this game are the three "boss chases". these you must complete all from start to finish in one go. Every time you die, and you will, you start from the beginning. The frustration is one thing, but I feel what is the greatest weakness of this design is how it completely destroys the narrative tension. Once you have died and restarted a few times, with the music restarting, you've lost the narrative intensity of the chase sequence and you just want it to be over. Once you're done with it you just feel relived, there is no real sensation of accomplishment, as I don't feel these sequence help you master your abilities in anyway, you just get to drill this specific race in your mind and learn some muscle memory reflexes for this specific race.

    It is sad. I still had some fun playing the game, and I'd really want to recommend this game, but I can't. It is beautiful, and has a lot of cool things in it, but it becomes tiresome to play. The story, though it has some touching moments is also a bit scattered (for lack of a better word). I'm trying to run the various scenes I've seen, and honestly. I'm not entirely certain what exactly has been happening and why.    … Expand
  12. thryce3
    Mar 1, 2020
    7
    Beautiful. Touching story. Interesting platforming. Some pretty big difficulty spikes, but the save mechanic adds an interesting dimension. Loses a few points for the chase sequences. They're brutally unforgiving and spoil the cinematic appeal. Also, I finished the game skipping a few areas and missing their upgrades. It's a very good game, but the fact that I don't feel the need toBeautiful. Touching story. Interesting platforming. Some pretty big difficulty spikes, but the save mechanic adds an interesting dimension. Loses a few points for the chase sequences. They're brutally unforgiving and spoil the cinematic appeal. Also, I finished the game skipping a few areas and missing their upgrades. It's a very good game, but the fact that I don't feel the need to go back and complete what I missed says something.… Expand
  13. B-Bog
    Oct 6, 2019
    8
    The presentation here is top-notch: BEAUTIFUL graphics, art style, music and a touching story. The gameplay loop is also very addictive. If you like exploring, platforming and collecting, you're in the right place. However, the game is held back in my opinion by controls that feel imprecise, floaty and slippery, especially coming off of playing Celeste, which has perfect and razor-tightThe presentation here is top-notch: BEAUTIFUL graphics, art style, music and a touching story. The gameplay loop is also very addictive. If you like exploring, platforming and collecting, you're in the right place. However, the game is held back in my opinion by controls that feel imprecise, floaty and slippery, especially coming off of playing Celeste, which has perfect and razor-tight controls. Also, there are a lot of cheap one-hit death traps that are impossible to anticipate. This is also one thing I didn't see mentioned a lot before I played: This is a HARD game. You will die A LOT. You have to be okay with that. A mitigating factor here is that you create your own save points. Don't be stingy with those, you will need them!

    I cannot help but think that a lot of Indie games are extra-hard not just for the challenge, but also to lengthen play-time. Also, some moments, like the escape sequences, become a lot less cinematic and climactic when you have to attempt them over and over and over again. And you do HAVE TO, because as mentioned above, there's unforeseeable stuff coming your way that will instantly kill you. Sometimes it's also unnecessarily difficult to accurately perceive what's going on and to detect threats, because the camera is zoomed so far out and there can be so much going on with different enemies on screen and your and their projectiles (The "Smash Bros. Effect"). At some points, it would have been helpful to be able to manually move the camera in a certain direction. Sometimes there are also bits of scenery in the foreground blocking your sight and (accidentally) hiding enemies behind them, which is COMPLETELY unnecessary. Whoever thought that this was a good idea should have his head checked. And at times, the detailed art style itself can make it kinda hard to see spikes and such, because they don't really stick out from the environment that much.

    So, as you can guess by the statement above, Ori is not the longest game. I guess it took me about ten hours to get everything. Though I do feel like I'm probably going to play it again at some point (right now I've got too much other stuff to play). Plus, it's only 20 bucks. And I have to say, I do like the compact map. Makes getting to 100% completion seem really doable and not just something for people with OCD. ;)

    All in all, despite my criticisms, I cannot in good conscience give this game anything less than an 8. It's just too beautiful, creative, inspired, and touching, and a very impressive effort for a small Indie studio. There's a free demo on the e-shop, so go check it out. Just be warned that the game gets A LOT harder after the beginning.

    What I would like to see in the sequel:
    - No instant-kill death traps, or at the very least, telegraph them properly
    - No scenery in the foreground blocking your view
    - Adjustable camera
    - Tightened controls
    - More content    … Expand
  14. Welkinz
    Dec 23, 2019
    7
    I think it is just me...I just personally cannot enjoy this kind of "hardcore" platform action game too much no matter how great the graphic and music are. I like the Nintendo platform games which give players more fun to explore and easier learning curve better
  15. andymm76
    Jan 6, 2020
    5
    I have played and loved games like The Messenger, Celeste, etc. Beautiful game but way to hard! Its the first game i stopped playing it, because its to frustrating!
  16. Mrsmomma
    Mar 31, 2020
    10
    This game has amazing grafics and I love how the story is played based on Ori and the blind forest. I've only gotten through about 22% the game is so challenging
  17. Gontrand00
    Jan 21, 2021
    7
    I don't care how beautiful the game is or how good the OST is.

    It's a video game. If it's not fun to play, it has a problem. And Ori and the Blind forest has a big problem. I don't care if a game is hard, I played Hollow Knight, Celeste, Hyperlight, Katana Zero, name it. But this one is just unfair, even on easy mode. The thing is that, if you wanna make a platform game, you    I don't care how beautiful the game is or how good the OST is.

    It's a video game.

    If it's not fun to play, it has a problem.

    And Ori and the Blind forest has a big problem. I don't care if a game is hard, I played Hollow Knight, Celeste, Hyperlight, Katana Zero, name it. But this one is just unfair, even on easy mode.

    The thing is that, if you wanna make a platform game, you need to have perfect control of your character. You need a good level design. You need to have perfect gameplay (like Celeste). If you wanna give some challenge, it needs to be fair and give a little chance to succeed.

    Ori doesn't have great controls. It doesn't have a fair challenge (you sometime need to die to understand what do to, even after only one hour of playing - we are not talking about the last level). Playing this game is frustrating because it forces you to go through insane and not at all calibrated challenge in some key parts of the game. So you'll have to die 20 times to get over an obstacle, but not because it's actually difficult. It's because the game is not polish. Enemies weirdly respawn for no reason (and it's not even necessary to be that way) in some parts where the platforms are already tiny, things gets really confusing really fast during the battles and your character is super weak during the first 5 hours of playing. So you die for almost nothing. And **** the spikes, they are almost instant kill and they are everywhere. That's just cheap level design and cheap challenge.

    So what's the point of making a beautiful game if you cannot enjoy it, because the difficulty and the core gameplay wasn't really polished ? It's a damn shame because I would like to finish it, but after 3 hours of (mostly) frustrating play, I'm not even sure I'm gonna finish it. It is way beyond games like HK (which was hard but had better level design, a better learning curve and TIGHT CONTROLS).

    So I am not really sure I'm gonna try the sequel, because if it's the exact same, I don't see the point.    … Expand
  18. Lokia987
    Sep 27, 2019
    10
    Awesome game, must have for Switch owners. Buy it and support this incredible team
  19. HyperReal
    Sep 29, 2019
    10
    The game is gorgeous and the port seems nearly perfect. Some of the water is a bit off but, given the limitations of the Switch, I doubt it’s fixable with anything approaching a reasonable budget. It’s a small nitpick anyway. With that said, there are parts of the gameplay that are so challenging, they’ll make your thumb numb. Don’t let that deter you though. I found the tough bits to beThe game is gorgeous and the port seems nearly perfect. Some of the water is a bit off but, given the limitations of the Switch, I doubt it’s fixable with anything approaching a reasonable budget. It’s a small nitpick anyway. With that said, there are parts of the gameplay that are so challenging, they’ll make your thumb numb. Don’t let that deter you though. I found the tough bits to be weirdly rewarding and kind of addictive which was a very pleasant surprise because I normally hate that sort of thing. The platforming, balance, and progression are top notch. For what it is, “Ori and the Blind Forest” is about as good as it gets.… Expand
  20. TheMegaGodz
    Oct 10, 2019
    5
    Nice to look at, but not very fun to play. The visuals quickly lose their charm after an hour or two of gameplay.
  21. Morganfree
    Sep 28, 2019
    10
    Best game on Switch! Love you guys! Beautiful story, graphic, hard buy rewarding game.
  22. FlyingPiloswine
    Jun 13, 2021
    0
    The art is gorgeous, but it definitely hinders gameplay at times because a lot of important features do not read well. The most egregious example of this is in the winter area's arcane tower. The mechanics of the gravity orb just do not get illustrated properly, and the art depicts things incorrectly. The escape sequences are pure frustration and not fun at all, again because there is noThe art is gorgeous, but it definitely hinders gameplay at times because a lot of important features do not read well. The most egregious example of this is in the winter area's arcane tower. The mechanics of the gravity orb just do not get illustrated properly, and the art depicts things incorrectly. The escape sequences are pure frustration and not fun at all, again because there is no clear depiction of how to solve some platforming areas, and the art actively tricks you.

    In addition, the right trigger does WAY too much work. Glide mechanic, wall cling mechanic, pick up items mechanic... misclicks galore. Put that stuff on different buttons. Make wall cling left trigger at least.    … Expand
  23. ProggyFroggy
    Nov 3, 2019
    4
    I started out really loving this game, but eventually its major flaws started to pop up.
    That was when I got stuck in the Moon Grotto with LITERALLY no way for me to progress any further. As I had only one life cell, no energy, no way to get back up to a teleport spot, and with no proper save system, I could not reload a previous save. The only possible way for me to progress was if I    I started out really loving this game, but eventually its major flaws started to pop up.
    That was when I got stuck in the Moon Grotto with LITERALLY no way for me to progress any further. As I had only one life cell, no energy, no way to get back up to a teleport spot, and with no proper save system, I could not reload a previous save. The only possible way for me to progress was if I instantly became a pro at the game and didn't die once until the next energy cell. Which was a bit hard with all the spikes all over the place.
    I'd basically have to restart the whole game, which I'm not doing.    … Expand
  24. Sonyer
    Jul 2, 2020
    10
    This game is so freaking beautiful and gorgeous, the stages the music OST the characters and enemies design's wow just simple amazing. The story the ambient the controls everything is perfect 10/10 this game is a Masterpiece.
  25. rvncto
    Aug 26, 2020
    0
    This game is beautiful. I was so happy to see this game come to Switch. Since i wouldn't have had a chance to play it otherwise. The movement and and combat is fluid and responsive, just satisfying. The music the environments and animations are all top quality. There were a lot of creative puzzles to get through in the environments. There were some sequences that i kept dying, butThis game is beautiful. I was so happy to see this game come to Switch. Since i wouldn't have had a chance to play it otherwise. The movement and and combat is fluid and responsive, just satisfying. The music the environments and animations are all top quality. There were a lot of creative puzzles to get through in the environments. There were some sequences that i kept dying, but they were so fun and challenging, that i didn't mind having to do them over and over.

    I want to give it a 10, but for 1 single design choice. I am deducting 1. The escape scenes. These awful bits were just straight up un-fun. i get it they were supposed to be frantic, indiana jones under then shutting stone door type moments. but they were punishing and frustrating and i just wanted to get through them. and even when i made it through, i felt no sense of accomplishment, just relief.    … Expand
  26. LukeLx
    Jan 4, 2022
    4
    After many and many praises about the game I decided to play the demo and I bought it discounted on Switch. Well, what was not apparent in the demo is that it is a souls like platform, you die, and die and die because this is how it is designed. No, I had no intention to play a souls like platform, much much worse than donkey kong tropical freeze, it is not funny, it is boring as hell.After many and many praises about the game I decided to play the demo and I bought it discounted on Switch. Well, what was not apparent in the demo is that it is a souls like platform, you die, and die and die because this is how it is designed. No, I had no intention to play a souls like platform, much much worse than donkey kong tropical freeze, it is not funny, it is boring as hell. The graphics is just decent, I don't know about the other versions.
    Total disappointment    … Expand
  27. Nintendist
    Jun 30, 2022
    0
    terrible gameplay with really annoying music on the game. i really wish it has more fun
  28. lucinhagamer
    Aug 26, 2022
    0
    this game is so bad. all the gameplay is very difficult with no reason. the game also looks cheap
  29. Filipes
    Jan 2, 2020
    9
    I found a beautiful forest to explore and suprisingly touching story to follow.
  30. serega1md
    Mar 17, 2020
    10
    Это шедевр ! Достойное продолжение предыдущей части .
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Switch Game of 2019
18
#18 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. KeenGamer
    Jan 7, 2021
    97
    Ori and the Blind Forest was already a fantastic game, but the Definitive Edition smooths out the edges and adds in extra content that slots in comfortably and adds to both the story and the gameplay. It looks brilliant, it sounds amazing, and it plays smoothly and satisfyingly. Be sure to pick this up if you’re a fan of the Metroidvania genre and fancy a challenge in an incredibly appealing package.
    Read full review
  2. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 29, 2020
    100
    Even though I'd already replayed Ori for the fifth time last year, when I heard it was coming to Switch, I wanted to run through it all over again without question! [Issue #43 – November/December 2019, p. 21SW]
  3. Cubed3
    Dec 16, 2019
    90
    The Switch's catalogue of Metroidvania titles was already impressive - though ironically it's still lacking an actual Metroid - and now its ranks have been bolstered by one of the best in recent memory. Ori and the Blind Forest is an absolute masterpiece, a beautiful story polished to perfection in both its artistic design and core gameplay mechanics. The utterly beautiful presentation and soundtrack crafts a charming and memorable world and there are more stories in that world to come as Ori and the Will of the Wisps landing on Xbox One in a few months. Hopefully, the Switch version comes shortly after.
    Read full review
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