Simply uttering the words Metroidvania is enough to catch my interest. I'm a sucker for those games. So when a game not only managed to be a very good example of the genre, but also made me tear up in the first 10 minutes, it had my undivided attention.
Ori and the Blind Forest is a Metroidvania in the truest sense of the genre. It tackles 2D exploration in a gorgeous setting with some beautifully animated characters. But hidden behind the cute characters and gorgeous aesthetics was a rather challenging game. Whether it was performing precision jumps or utilizing a mechanic of bouncing back enemy projectiles in order to advance through the leve, Ori threw a lot at the player, but at easily digestable chunks. It has a great balance of exploration, combat and puzzle solving, always mixing them up so you weren't stuck doing the same thing for far too long.
While Ori himself wasn't all that powerful, he gains an offensive partner in the form of a glowing orb named Sein. This little guy might not look like much just floating around Ori, but he packs quite a punch. Both Ori and Sein can get various upgrades throughout the adventure which make them much more formidable opponents.
I originally played Ori when it was a Xbox One exclusive, but now PC players can get in on the action as well. If you're into Metroidvanias, then Ori and the Blind Forest has you covered. It's also charming. Like super charming. Bring tissues.
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