Played this right after finishing Blind Forest and I couldn’t believe they made it even better. Everything I loved about the first game is here but expanded and refined in ways I didn’t know I wanted.
Combat actually matters this time. You get a spirit edge for close fights and a bow for ranged attacks and a hammer for smashing through armor. Being able to bind different abilities to buttons and switch loadouts on the fly completely changes how you approach fights. Boss battles feel like actual battles now instead of just avoiding damage until they die.
The movement is even smoother than before if that’s possible. Once you get grapple and burrow you’re flying through areas chaining abilities in ways that feel incredible. I spent so much time just moving around for the joy of it. Finding all the Gorlek ore to rebuild Wellspring Glades became an obsession because exploring felt that good.
Each area has its own traversal gimmick that keeps things fresh. Silent Woods plays with darkness. Baur’s Reach is all about vertical climbing. Windtorn Ruins has you fighting against wind currents. The variety keeps you engaged the whole way through.
The escape sequences are back and they’re even more intense. That Luma Pools chase with the water rising had my heart racing the entire time. The Spirit Trials are basically time attack versions of areas where you need to perfect your route and nail every jump. So satisfying when you finally get that perfect run.
The story destroyed me even more than the first game. Watching what happens with Ku in the opening sets this heavy tone that carries through everything. The game doesn’t shy away from sad moments and the theme of family and sacrifice hits even harder this time. By the ending I was a mess.
Rebuilding Wellspring Glades by doing side quests gives you this home base that grows as you play. Seeing NPCs move in and the village come back to life adds this warmth between all the emotional gut punches. It makes the world feel more alive than the first game. I made sure to do all these quests because watching the village grow was so rewarding.
The music is somehow even better. It knows exactly when to be quiet with just a piano and when to burst into full orchestral pieces. Some of these tracks rival the best gaming soundtracks I’ve heard. The whole package looks more polished too with better textures and effects everywhere.
The Switch version had issues at launch but after patches it runs decent enough. Some frame drops in busy areas but nothing that ruins the experience. Playing handheld still looks beautiful.
Finished the main story and all the village quests in about 10 hours. Didn’t hunt down every single collectible but got everything that mattered for the story and rebuilding Wellspring Glades. It’s everything a sequel should be. Takes what worked and makes it better while adding new ideas that feel essential once you have them.
Both Ori games are special but this one edges out as my favorite. The combat additions and expanded movement options make it feel more complete while keeping that emotional core that makes these games hit different.