Around early 2015 a very ambitious action/platformer arose from Moon Studios. Ori and the Blind Forest would originally release on the Xbox One/PC and would be met with award winning status being one of the best—and most beautiful—titles to be released that year. Ori and the Blind Forest would have a direct sequel release—Ori and the Will of the Wisps—but the original would be what truly struck chords with gamers worldwide. Many of us here at Honey’s Anime got the chance to experience the original version but some of us sadly didn’t. Thankfully, a new version for the Nintendo Switch—conveniently titled Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition—would give those who hadn’t experienced the majesty of this epic game a chance to play it on a whole new platform. Below we have entered the world of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition and have written a review of our experiences! Keep going further into this article to see what our final thoughts were of this once great title!

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is an enhanced version of the original 2015 title. Players will once more take control of the small but powerful Ori and witness this creatures journey from despair to greatness. Gain powerful abilities that will allow Ori to combat evil beasts and strange dangers as you navigate a forest once teeming with life, now engulfed in darkness. Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is jam packed with new content for original players to enjoy such as new areas, new secrets and even new musical tracks! Can you guide Ori and save this precious forest! Find out in Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition!

In the forest of Nibel, a strange event will occur. A small guardian spirit is left to fend for itself until a creature named Naru comes by and saves it. Together, these two beings become a family relying on each other for comfort and food. The days they spent together are ripe with beauty and peace that seem unshakable…that is until a strange light engulfs the forest from a distance. The trees and food are nearly all destroyed leaving Naru and the spirit named Ori starving and eventually their peaceful days seem a distant memory. Ori is forced to endure on its own until it hears a voice ring out nearby and revitalizes the spirit with a new form of power. With new power, Ori must save this forest and restore what was taken from it!

Let’s not hesitate, readers! Our goal here is to convince you gamers out there who missed out on Ori and the Blind Forest to pick up this enhanced—or definitive edition—version as soon as possible. Why, you might wonder. Simple, folks; Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is an incredible game! Yes, in many ways we could say just skip this review and head to your local game store or buy Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition digitally, but many of you probably want to know more about it. For those that do, let us break down what to expect when playing Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition and why it deserves the praise we’re unleashing on it so early on! Welcome, folks, to our full review of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition for the Nintendo Switch!

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition isn’t a hard game to wrap your head around. Players assume the role of Ori, a white spirit creature who just so happens to gain powers that allow it to fight off baddies and explore perilous terrains. Your main goal in Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is to save the dying forest of Nibel after a weird event has left it on the verge of collapse. Ori might be small and more cute than powerful, but don’t let the spirits’ looks fool you. Ori is a powerhouse in a small body and you’re going to need these skills to survive your adventure.

At its core, Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is an adventure game with action/platforming elements. You’ll run, jump, shoot spirit guided lasers at enemies/objects and need to reach various areas to progress. In many ways Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition feels akin to Castlevania where you’ll often find areas you can’t access right away but later when Ori gains advanced skills and movements, you can return to that initial spot and try again. Your primary goal though is to reawaken the forest and become strong enough to empower Nibel once more. The idea of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition seems simple, but why it works so well comes in three forms…visuals, gameplay and story.

Visually, Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition exceeds most games like it. Back in 2015, Ori and the Blind Forest won various awards for its stellar art and now in 2019 Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition still looks incredible on the Nintendo Switch. Whether you play on the go or at home, Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition doesn’t miss a beat with lush settings and spellbindingly beautiful colors. Even the way Ori moves through locations looks like an animated movie come to life and not many games can mirror that in any shape or form.

Gameplay wise, Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition works almost perfectly with precision combat and controls. While running/moving can be almost too floaty, this tends to be in favor of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition as it makes movement feel continuous and kinetic. Ori builds speed the more it moves and making jumps or death defying leaps feels impactful and satisfying. Combat shines too with Ori gaining a load of abilities that allow it to unleash spirit projectiles at baddies with a solid lock on system. Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition offers newer skills too for those familiar with the original version, but we’ll keep those newer elements a secret for you to gain as you play yourself!

Lastly, the final main strength of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is the narrative. Early on while playing Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition, we had to stop for a minute and hold back tears of sorrow when one simple event hit us right in the heart. That event happened in the first ten minutes of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition and that should tell you this is an emotional thrill ride that will test your heart in numerous ways. You will feel for Ori as it endures struggles to return the land back to its former glory all while trying to understand what it actually is as a being. While the sequel does a better job of explaining Ori’s past, Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition still does just enough to give you an idea of the world setting and why Ori is more important than you originally realize.

Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition might be the same game that was released in 2015, but with its new editions and updated visuals, it sure feels like a new experience. Besides the gorgeous art/visuals—present in either handheld mode or docked—Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is filled with fluid gameplay, a powerful narrative and truly fun exploration elements. Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is one of the few games where finding what’s wrong with it is a nearly impossible feat as it feels like a perfect experience overall! Whether you played the original or are entering for the first time know this readers. Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is a title you must try out and when you do, you will thank us for the recommendation and thank the amazing team at Moon Studios for their incredible game.

You’ve read our review of Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition and what we said can’t be repeated enough. Moon Studios has produced what will no doubt be considered a legendary action/platforming title that even years from now will be considered masterful. If you missed out on Ori and the Blind Forest then you need to buy Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition without a moment’s hesitation. Folks, this game is just that good and we know fans of the genre will no doubt be smitten by Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition from the opening seconds to the end credits. Are you going to buy Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition for the Nintendo Switch now that we’ve told you how amazing it is? Tell us below so we can hear your thoughts! For even more game reviews and anime themed articles, be sure to keep stuck to our hive here at Honey’s Anime!