Ori And The Will Of The Wisps is the 2019 sequel to the 2016 Ori And The Blind Forest, an action platforming game that blew all its competition out of the water upon its release. The game was visually stunning, controlled extremely smoothly, and was overall polished to an absurd degree, becoming one of the best platformers of the decade. Ori And The Will Of The Wisps does everything that the first game did, but better; it creates an enthralling story that will keep you hooked to the end.

Ori 2, to start, controls extremely smoothly. Although you start with very few movement options, you quickly obtain more ways to navigate the world, and after a bit, controlling Ori feels natural. Leaping and bounding around the colorful world with the plethora of options you’re given is extremely satisfying, and the game tests your skills with several extreme challenges. Every new area provides several new ways to fight and explore, forcing you to master the new mechanics. It’s worth mentioning that Ori 2 is not for the impatient. The game is a serious challenge that will most certainly have you trying over and over and over to complete certain segments until you feel exhausted. But know that the gratification for overcoming these challenges is immense and totally worth the effort.

Ori 2’s graphics are also stunning. The world of Niwen is rendered in amazing detail, from the lush backgrounds of the forest to the dark, bug-filled walls of caves. The world exudes life from every corner and everything feels bright and alive, all set to a gorgeous melancholic soundtrack that perfectly mirrors the mood of every pastel-painted environment. Every area of the game feels distinct, every challenge something new and exciting and every corner crammed with beauty and malice.

Ori 2’s story is also just as good as every other aspect of the game, and although I won’t go into the details, I can tell you that it manages to be even more enthralling than the last. The story is one of tragedy, heartbreak and hope, with an ending that will leave you in tears. Platformers tend to be mainly about the gameplay and so they typically have very lackluster stories. Still, Ori 2 tells a tale that is only matched in platformers by the 2018 Celeste and the 2017 Hollow Knight. 

Ori And The Will Of Wisps is a miraculous, gorgeous piece of art and one that you won’t ever forget. The gameplay is enthralling, the art is stunning and the story is gripping. Although it is highly recommended that you go play the first game, it isn’t necessary if you don’t care much about the story. Regardless, Ori And The Will Of The Wisps is a masterpiece and is totally worth the time investment.