Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is an platform-adventure game developed by Moon Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios released in 2020 and it is a direct sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest. It is released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Alot of the good qualities from Ori and the Blind Forest returned in this game and are heavily improved on.
 * 2) Amazing and beautiful graphics that is a huge step-up from its predecessor with the animations being more fluid and environments are given more detail.
 * 3) Very addictive and great gameplay that heavily improves from its predecessor with its combat being heavily improved on from its predecessor as you can now earn the skills to upgrade your abilities.
 * 4) A very well-written storyline that expands the lore of the series as it dealt with serious topics with huge risks as something you wouldn't expect from E-rated video game. As it involves what happens when someone went too much pain with sorrow, death of loved ones. Suicide, sacrificing and a lot more. As well as takling a topic when someone is too far gone as they won't change. (See WIR #6)
 * 5) The new characters are very likeable such as Ku, Kwolok and Baur. Ku is the remaining offspring of Kuro from the previous game and she serves as a really good adoptive sibling to Ori. Kwolok and Baur both serves as great advisors to Ori.
 * 6) Like Kuro, Shriek is a very interesting and sympathetic antagonist and has a very tragic backstory from her origin given towards near the end of the game. It makes you feel bad of what she's been through.
 * 7) *Her death in the end of the game is a really well-done and emotional scene given she passed right where her parents corpse are. It even takes a huge risk of not giving her a redemption arc unlike most antagonists as writers and parents these days are reluctant to killing off antagonist. Despite this, it still makes you feel bad for her demise knowing that her presence is filled with hatred and despair coming from her tragic past.
 * 8) The Soundtrack is still excellent with it's orchestral themes sound very impactful and powerful in so many levels.
 * 9) A very bittersweet, sad, yet satisfying ending that serves as a nice conclusion to the game.
 * 10) Unlike Ori and the Blind Forest, this game has actual boss fights.
 * 11) *The game also includes NPCs compared to the first game.

Bad Qualites

 * 1) While the story is very good and well-written. It's a bit of a rehash from the first game where Ori must save a forest from decay.
 * 2) Some people find the game mechanics a bit too reminiscent to Hollow Knight.
 * 3) The game has suffered some performance issues at launch which is thankfully, largely resolved in a one-day patch in an update.
 * 4) Because of the E-rating, the amount of risks could be way too much for the younger audience. Most notably the Moki Reunion side quest which implied in the end that the father Moki committed suicide to die with his family. On top of that, the game can rather be too depressing to some people.

Reception
Ori and The Will of the Wisps received critical acclaim for being praised for its visuals, graphics, environments, soundtrack, combat and chase sequences. It is considered to be the best video game in 2020.