Well, I'm not sure where to begin. Ori and the Blind Forest exemplifies all that makes the Metroidvania genre so popular. It is a game that follows a fairly linear story, yet allows a considerable amount of exploration beyond and beside the intended path. It is a platformer that presents intimidating challenges, yet is consistently fair and forgiving because of the life bar and portable save points. Most of all, it's an absolutely gorgeous thing to behold, and the wondrous atmosphere puts any other platformer to shame. You needn't take more than a cursory glance at the trailer to realize this.

Progression comes in the form of powers and abilities. The powers are what you'd expect from a classic Metroidvania - wall jumps, double jumps, and a downward smash technique that obliterates foes and obstacles alike. They all have multiple uses in travel and combat, and the mid-air bash in particular is highly enjoyable and unique. Abilities, on the other hand, are more like passive bonuses that offer assistance in various ways, such as revealing more secrets on the overworld map, increasing your attack damage or causing collectibles to float towards your character. Notably, none of the passive abilities are required to finish the game, so if you're a sucker for punishment you could get through it without spending a single point on them.

To figure out anything to complain about in this game would be a challenge in itself. Truthfully, it's about as close to perfection as the genre will get. If you don't enjoy Ori and the Blind Forest, it's because you don't like Metroidvanias at all, and that's fine. But those of us who do could have asked for nothing better.

Well, I'm not sure where to begin. Ori and the Blind Forest exemplifies all that makes the Metroidvania genre so popular. It is a game that follows a fairly linear story, yet allows a considerable amount of exploration beyond and beside the intended path. It is a platformer that presents intimidating challenges, yet is consistently fair and forgiving because of the life bar and portable save points. Most of all, it's an absolutely gorgeous thing to behold, and the wondrous atmosphere puts any other platformer to shame. You needn't take more than a cursory glance at the trailer to realize this. Progression comes in the form of powers and abilities. The powers are what you'd expect from a classic Metroidvania - wall jumps, double jumps, and a downward smash technique that obliterates foes and obstacles alike. They all have multiple uses in travel and combat, and the mid-air bash in particular is highly enjoyable and unique. Abilities, on the other hand, are more like passive bonuses that offer assistance in various ways, such as revealing more secrets on the overworld map, increasing your attack damage or causing collectibles to float towards your character. Notably, none of the passive abilities are required to finish the game, so if you're a sucker for punishment you could get through it without spending a single point on them. To figure out anything to complain about in this game would be a challenge in itself. Truthfully, it's about as close to perfection as the genre will get. If you don't enjoy Ori and the Blind Forest, it's because you don't like Metroidvanias at all, and that's fine. But those of us who do could have asked for nothing better.