“Ori and the Blind Forest” brings us back to the days of “Metroid” and “Castlevania” with classic platforming action and a heart wrenching storyline. Moon studios (with the help of Microsoft) recently released a game so beautiful and touching, that it transcends the traditional boundaries of the genre and spins a tale so emotionally charged even Spock would have cried. So, grab a tissue and get ready to dig in to some beautiful platforming goodness.

In the game you play a little glowing lemur looking creature that is actually a fragment of the now dead Tree of Light that held the world in balance. You are the last light and hope for the world, and it’s up to you to bring balance to the force. Just kidding. The storyline may be a little cliché, but it works here in what is definitely a classic tale of light vs darkness.
“Ori and the Blind Forest” is what is known as a “Metroidvania” title, meaning it plays similarly to games like “Metroid” or “Castlevania” with all the classic sidescrolling-platforming-exploratory goodness that that entails. The game has traditional platforming gameplay, with all the jumping and wall running, and even manages to throw in a few mechanics that are completely original to the genre. That’s is no small task given the number of titles that have come before.

Moon Games took it to the next level by designing visuals that would make Hayao Miyazaki weep. Every pixel on the screen vomits forth a never ending torrent of vibrant images and scenery that sweep behind your character’s antics and provide some powerful eye candy to those moments where the gameplay slows down. The layering that Moon Studios uses with their backgrounds gives them a very dramatic sense of depth and makes them almost feel like a full 3 dimensional game even if your character is limited to just 2. The art style is every bit as wonderful as the level of detail and makes a full package of “eyegasmic” wonder that is such a joy to behold that it becomes a driving force for the player to progress simply to see more of it.

The controls are rock solid. Ori feels responsive and agile behind the controller. Ori acquires a slew of maneuverability upgrades throughout the game giving him more and more advanced ways to locomote about the ever expanding map. By the end of the game, you’ll barely touch the floor as you move around which is an extremely satisfying experience.

The game’s primary form of puzzles are those that require careful acrobatics and timing but there are also a few combat based boss fights and a handful of basic puzzle platformer pillars like block puzzles and locked doors. “Ori and the Blind Forest” manages to throw in huge quantities of puzzles that will challenge even the most seasoned of platforming veterans and breathes life back into the genre in doing so.

Moon Studios has an amazing title on their hands here. They have proven that “Metroidvania” games can still be original and amazing. Buy this game, support developers like Moon Studios that make games that push boundaries, give them a reason to keep making titles like this one. Do it or you will make Ori cry.