-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Ori and the Blind Forest |OT| A Soft Heart for the Hard Core
- Thread starter dancrane212
- Start date
I like them both. This one is much more exploration- / navigation- / platforming-based than Dust, which was more combat-based.
I guess Dust is farther than Symphony Of The Night down that side of the spectrum; Ori is on the other side, on beyond Metroid.
EDIT: Scratch that, I think it might run ok!
Primethius
Banned
Between waiting on BB and my Cities: Skylines binge, I managed to sneak in this game and beat it.
It was a solid game for the most part but with clear flaws. The lack of bosses really hurt it for me and the escape sequences felt way too trial and error for my liking. The game was overall pretty easy and while I died numerous times during the multiple escape sequences, I never got the feeling that it was difficult. It was almost always something to the effect of, oh s spiked boulder hit me from above or something like that. This was most apparent to me in the last escape, where I died several times but my successful run through was executed quite easily.
I'm iffy on the save system. It made certain sections entirely a breeze. Despite my distaste for the escape sections, I much preferred that checkpoint system then the ability to almost save anywhere. The backtracking after every area was pretty also absurd. I expected some sort of inter-connectivity and in that regard, the map was poorly designed.
Lastly, the combat was far too simplistic. It was essentially a mash X scenario for me most of the game and while killing some enemies looked satisfying, the combat never really satisfied me in any regard. It almost felt tacked on post-dash ability.
Beautiful graphics, great music, solid but flawed title. If I had to score it, it would probably fall around a 7/10. Had the combat branch maxed out, half way through the middle one and 3 away from the max on the upper branch. Final completion time was 7 hours and 17 minutes.
It was a solid game for the most part but with clear flaws. The lack of bosses really hurt it for me and the escape sequences felt way too trial and error for my liking. The game was overall pretty easy and while I died numerous times during the multiple escape sequences, I never got the feeling that it was difficult. It was almost always something to the effect of, oh s spiked boulder hit me from above or something like that. This was most apparent to me in the last escape, where I died several times but my successful run through was executed quite easily.
I'm iffy on the save system. It made certain sections entirely a breeze. Despite my distaste for the escape sections, I much preferred that checkpoint system then the ability to almost save anywhere. The backtracking after every area was pretty also absurd. I expected some sort of inter-connectivity and in that regard, the map was poorly designed.
Lastly, the combat was far too simplistic. It was essentially a mash X scenario for me most of the game and while killing some enemies looked satisfying, the combat never really satisfied me in any regard. It almost felt tacked on post-dash ability.
Beautiful graphics, great music, solid but flawed title. If I had to score it, it would probably fall around a 7/10. Had the combat branch maxed out, half way through the middle one and 3 away from the max on the upper branch. Final completion time was 7 hours and 17 minutes.
Ahh right on, could definitely see that. Is it ever explained why
Gumo's people are seemingly toast but Ori's can be brought back?
SEGAvangelist
Member
Looks like I'm joining the 99% club.
Just unlocked the ability to reveal all Energy Cells on the map and it has revealed I missed one in the Ginso Tree. Gah!
I wish the percentage on the map referred to the amount of collectables found in that area rather than the amount of map visited.
Also please patch the game to allow us to return to Ginso Tree and Forlorn Ruins!
Just unlocked the ability to reveal all Energy Cells on the map and it has revealed I missed one in the Ginso Tree. Gah!
I wish the percentage on the map referred to the amount of collectables found in that area rather than the amount of map visited.
Also please patch the game to allow us to return to Ginso Tree and Forlorn Ruins!
lifeexpectancy
Member
Try a speed / no death run - it's the most thrilling experience you'll have - Finishing the last section as fast as possible while trying to not take any damage... woof!
That's basically what I've been doing. My best so far is 1h34min57sec which I got tonight, with 7 deaths, but one death was the game glitching where I bashed an enemy up and to the right and it instead fell down through the geometry and exploded, killing me. So basically 1h34min57sec with six deaths and NO quitting out to the title screen.
I'm close.... I can taste it!
Does the skip INSIDE Mt Huru count as a glitch? You don't have to quit out to the main menu, you just dash through the lava flow to do the bottom-right room without doing the rest on the right. Seems like a fair skip, but may still count as a glitch.
Thanks man! You can see above I improved massively tonight. First run was 1h39min44sec with like 15 or 20 deaths. 2nd run was 1h34m57s with 7 (six really, bad glitch!) deaths. Once I MASTER the full-path run I'll start working on learning the glitches.
Shrennin
Didn't get the memo regarding the 14th Amendment
Yes, I can't really remember where it was, but I *think* it might have been in one of the mini-sections at the very top of Mt. Horu behind a hidden wall.
Anyway, I completed the game officially, and I must say that it was an experience. I feel like Ori is one of those games that can truly make a case for games being an art form. It not only looks extremely good (like concept art brought to life) but it plays so well too. It's pretty much the whole package with just a few (maybe even intended) quirks that I feel could use adjusting.
One thing i would suggest for any possible sequel is the ability to just revert back to a soul link (or previous save) without having to die to do so. I sometimes would die on purpose just because I messed something up and I felt it could be done better.
Besides that, the story was really good too, surprisingly (it would seem hard to pull off a good narrative given the limited dialogue/cut scenes but the art really lends itself to an emotional story). The only thing I was wondering was...
MAJOR STORY SPOILERS:
What caused the doom and gloom, exactly? What was the light festival? I'm assuming that is what killed Koru's babies, but did the Spirit Tree itself (and the world around it die) because Sein was taken from the Spirit Tree? The Light Festival couldn't have caused all the fruit to die and for Naru to eventually starve to death, since that had to be Koru's actions in taking Sein causing the Tree to die and, along with it, the world. I'm also guessing Sein is the "core" of the Tree, so to speak? Furthermore, why were the Water, Wind, and Fire elements not in tune as a result of the Spirit Tree dying? This part of the story seemed like it was sorta hard to follow when I was thinking about it, but maybe I just missed a few things in my original playthrough. I get why Koru sacrificed herself (and I guess Sein -- I'm assuming that was Sein that Koru originally grabbed during the Light Festival and that Koru also grabbed at the end of the game where she ultimately reunited Sein with the Tree) needed to be reuinited with the Tree in order for the world to be restored even though the elements were restored?) but the whole circumstances revolving around why the world was in the state it was in seemed a little hard to follow first time through.
serenewarfare
Banned
Just finished it. Absolutely incredible. There are some big titles coming out this year, but I'll be impressed if something tops this for me by year's end. Just an amazing world and story to go along with challenging but rewarding gameplay. I absolutely cannot wait for whatever this studio does next. Hoping it's more of this.
Also,
Also,
please don't let Ori be dead!
thomasmahler
Member
Since I'm being asked quite a lot about tools we used, etc., we'll be hammering out a Post Mortem for Gamasutra soon, but I could already highlight a few of the tools we created for Ori.
One of my favorite tools was the 'Screenshot Tool'. This was basically directly inspired by these collages people put together of Super Metroid, etc. - I mean the images where people take screenshots of every single screen and then put them together as a 'map', so you see the entire world on one screen. I wanted to have something similar to put together the world layout and getting this working made my life soooo much easier.
Funny Side-Note: There's still tons of prototype rooms on the side of the 'production scenes' that weren't used for the final game Case in point: The Forlorn Ruins used to be WAY bigger. These scenes here weren't used in the end:
One of my favorite tools was the 'Screenshot Tool'. This was basically directly inspired by these collages people put together of Super Metroid, etc. - I mean the images where people take screenshots of every single screen and then put them together as a 'map', so you see the entire world on one screen. I wanted to have something similar to put together the world layout and getting this working made my life soooo much easier.
I was basically able to take a snapshot of a scene and just move it around however I wanted and whenever I hit play, I could already try out how the levels fit together. Most of the world was designed as blockouts and every day we saw artists updating the screenshots as they updated the rooms and more and more art got in. It was really neat to see the world grow that way and to me, that tool was absolutely magical
Funny Side-Note: There's still tons of prototype rooms on the side of the 'production scenes' that weren't used for the final game
Case in point: The Forlorn Ruins used to be WAY bigger. These scenes here weren't used in the end:
I made this image my phone lock screen and it is amazing <3
Really interesting Thomas! I can't even imagine how much effort went into creating every little detail in the world. I'd be curious to see if you have screenshots or video of very early playable levels. Jonathan Blow did a fascinating talk once about the development of Braid, which can be seen on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwsi7TEQxKc) and he showed the game completely playable before it had any real artwork in it. It was cool to see how far it had come from that stage to the final product.
It's quite inspiring to see what your team has accomplished, and makes me want to pick up projects in my own life I that have put on the shelf (not game related).
I can't wait to see that article. Someone be sure to link it in this thread when it's posted!
It's quite inspiring to see what your team has accomplished, and makes me want to pick up projects in my own life I that have put on the shelf (not game related).
I can't wait to see that article. Someone be sure to link it in this thread when it's posted!
Haunted
Member
That's brilliant.
Would love to see a humongous picture of Ori's areas come out eventually.
Did they still make it into the game somewhere (not necessarily accessible) or were they completely cut out?Funny Side-Note: There's still tons of prototype rooms on the side of the 'production scenes' that weren't used for the final game
thomasmahler
Member
No, they were completely cut - we cut everythino that didn't fit perfectly into the final product, not because of time constraints or anything, simply cause we wanted a perfect, well-rounded feel.
Having said that, there were still a lot of ideas left...
Having said that, there were still a lot of ideas left...
Almost ready to pass the point of no return. I am still missing 2 energy cells. I know that I missed one in the woods that I can no longer get, but is the second one inside the final level? I have all the health upgrades and all skill upgrades, so that is the final thing I still need to check.
Almost exactly where I am. I have no clue where those two energy cells are.
lifeexpectancy
Member
No, they were completely cut - we cut everythino that didn't fit perfectly into the final product, not because of time constraints or anything, simply cause we wanted a perfect, well-rounded feel.
Having said that, there were still a lot of ideas left...
Have your sales been strong enough up to now to green-light completing them and adding the 'lost levels' into the game just as optional side-content, like challenge zones or something?
Also, damnit man.... I was attempting a no death speed run and died ONE time prior to Mt Huru but decided to keep going for a personal best run.
I learned how to do the charge dash through the lava flow on the right to do the bottom-right room without doing the upper ones, but I didn't realize that if you don't use the save state glitch by quitting out to the main menu, you're stuck in that room behind a lava flow.
Since I'm trying to do a full path 100% with 0 deaths speed run with no save state shenanigans, that little shortcut apparently isn't an option. It probably would've negated the 100% anyway so I guess I'm better off.
But yeah, the one death was my own stupidity getting crushed by one of those slamming rocks in Moon Grotto so I definitely feel like I can do a full path 0 death speed run now.... should probably finish in around 1h30min-1h40min since I have to be slightly more careful for 0 deaths. I was at 1h20min when I entered Mt Huru with the 1 death today.
jim2point0
Banned
I agree
Nope nobody minds. I think Ori deserves to be paraded around these forums, and making it my avatar is just one way to do it
I got this the other day and played for about any hour. I'm absolutely in love with the visuals and presentation but is having issues with cutscenes common? During the intro the game paused twice and forced me to go back to the main menu then in at first one in front of the spirit tree it kept switching between showing the cutscene or just a grey screen. The game is running fine for me otherwise.
Southside Jim
Neo Member
Completed it this morning, with my five year-old daughter, enraptured, by my side.
What an awesome experience. I'm usually the first to say video games are light years away from other mediums as far storytelling goes, but, for me, few things have genuinely moved me recently as much as Ori--game, movie or otherwise.
On a scale of 1 to Dawson, I definitely ranked at least a Pacey as far as emotional reaction to it all.
Well done!
What an awesome experience. I'm usually the first to say video games are light years away from other mediums as far storytelling goes, but, for me, few things have genuinely moved me recently as much as Ori--game, movie or otherwise.
On a scale of 1 to Dawson, I definitely ranked at least a Pacey as far as emotional reaction to it all.
Well done!
Thanks for the new Xbox background!
Rogue_Ledr
Banned
There's some achievements that are frustrating
Like which ones?
OrbitalBeard
Member
Started playing yesterday and couldn't put it down for five straight hours.
This is what I thought games would be like in the future when I was a boy in the late 80's. What a fantastic experience it has been so far.
This is what I thought games would be like in the future when I was a boy in the late 80's. What a fantastic experience it has been so far.
lifeexpectancy
Member
@Zoba @Thomasmahler
FUUUUUUUUCK man I just choked so damn hard! I had a full path single-segment speedrun on the LAST escape sequence at the end of Mt Huru with 0 deaths and fucking hesitated on one part which caused me to die.
Woulda been around 1hr 34mins (slower than it should be due to hesitation/careful play on a couple trickier parts) with 0 deaths.... instead it was 1:35 with 1 death. Fuck me. My pulse was racing so hard I chickened out and backed off a launch instead of trusting muscle memory. Ate flames.
FUUUUUUUUCK man I just choked so damn hard! I had a full path single-segment speedrun on the LAST escape sequence at the end of Mt Huru with 0 deaths and fucking hesitated on one part which caused me to die.
Woulda been around 1hr 34mins (slower than it should be due to hesitation/careful play on a couple trickier parts) with 0 deaths.... instead it was 1:35 with 1 death. Fuck me. My pulse was racing so hard I chickened out and backed off a launch instead of trusting muscle memory. Ate flames.
uncleniccius
Member
I finished it last night after realising the glitch was actually me being silly.
A lovely game, well done Thomas, I knew you played a role on the team but u didn't know that you wrote it!
I have a few niggles, but the last gameplay segment
Oh, and those not dying are impressive, just died like 600 times. I can't imagine how those doing it without spending ability points can do it!
A lovely game, well done Thomas, I knew you played a role on the team but u didn't know that you wrote it!
I have a few niggles, but the last gameplay segment
running away from the bird is my least favourite. I got to the last bit about fifteen times, but just didn't know where to go, I got there eventually luckily. The only other bit I didn't like was the beginning of the lithe encounter with the bird as it wasn't very clear on how to progress..I had to look it up.
wind_steaker
Member
I'm probably about half way through this, and I have to say, it's fantastic. It's the Metroid game that I've wanted for years, but it has it's own style as well.
I'd say it'd be good if Nintendo gave them the Metroid IP, but I'm quite happy for the creative team to do that they want.
I'd say it'd be good if Nintendo gave them the Metroid IP, but I'm quite happy for the creative team to do that they want.
dampflokfreund
Banned
So.... finished the game. The ending was so intense. I cried, as I expected.
It's really a masterpiece. Hope it sells well.
The story is amazing, it's the perfect example of a great story done in a videogame. Every AAA game with movie like cutscenes and story should look at Ori to see what a videogame story is really about.
It's really a masterpiece. Hope it sells well.
The story is amazing, it's the perfect example of a great story done in a videogame. Every AAA game with movie like cutscenes and story should look at Ori to see what a videogame story is really about.
thomasmahler
Member
@Zoba @Thomasmahler
FUUUUUUUUCK man I just choked so damn hard! I had a full path single-segment speedrun on the LAST escape sequence at the end of Mt Huru with 0 deaths and fucking hesitated on one part which caused me to die.
Woulda been around 1hr 34mins (slower than it should be due to hesitation/careful play on a couple trickier parts) with 0 deaths.... instead it was 1:35 with 1 death. Fuck me. My pulse was racing so hard I chickened out and backed off a launch instead of trusting muscle memory. Ate flames.
Hahahaha, but you're well on the way to perfection!
thomasmahler
Member
I hope Nintendo puts their best people on a 2d Metroid game that sells a shit ton, so we maybe get another chance to compete with them
I think we have a few more tricks up our sleeves