Those who played the 2015 game Ori and The Blind Forest have waited on the edge of their seats for the sequel. Ori and the Will of the Wisps did not disappoint fans. Creators have managed to do the impossible and exceeded the 2015 game. Its unique style, animation, and graphics are accompanied by a jaw-dropping soundtrack that makes each scene a new adventure to look forward to.
It raised the standards of every adventure game with its captivating story, beautiful graphics, and ending that stays with players for a long time. And even though the gameplay is similar, Will of the Wisps added a few new tricks to their arsenal in the form of abilities. While the gameplay flows effortlessly and smoothly, newcomers can get wrapped up in the action and quickly get lost between all abilities available.
Updated November 7, 2022 by Maya Sattar: Moon Studios have truly created a masterpiece as Ori and the Will of the Wisps has outshone all other platformer games in the genre, even two years after its release. Its 2.5D Metroidvanian-style gameplay and hauntingly beautiful soundtracks, paired with the intricately-detailed environments, immerse players into its Studio Ghibli-like world.
Compared to its predecessor, Ori and The Blind Forest, Will of the Wisps introduces various NPC shopkeepers and the ability and shard system, allowing players to customize their gameplay to suit their individuality. This list has been updated with bonus details about ability upgrades and the crucial Spirit Shard ability, Triple Jump.
8 Spirit Smash
The first ability players purchase will cost them 400 Spirit Light no matter what, so players must choose wisely. Spirit Smash is the recommended first ability purely for its versatility. It doesn't drain Ori's energy and deals massive amounts of damage to enemies with a stun and knock-back effect. This is an essential ability, and players should priorize upgrading it to Shock Smash, costing 1,200 Spirit Light. This upgrade enhances the downward slam, creating a two-way horizontal shockwave dealing six damage.
Apart from being a huge asset in fights, thanks to its strength, it's also great for quickly navigating through the map because it can smash weak stone structures easily, revealing secrets. Sometimes players will find some walls and bridges that can only be brought down with this unique ability.
7 Spike
Spike costs 800 Spirit Light, but it's worth it because this is the most powerful ability in the game, bar none. The only downside is that using it drains a lot of energy. So it's recommended to get this after purchasing Spirit Smash and obtaining the free Quickshot and Splinter abilities along the way.
For players in the early game, it will most likely drain all the character's energy with only one use if they have yet to find any additional Energy Cells. Its upgrade is the Exploding Spike, but even without the upgrade, this skill deals the most damage with one hit in the entire game.
6 Water Breath
Ori and the Will of the Wisps has a lot of underwater sections players have to go through, especially the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Luma Pools area. These underwater labyrinthines hold a plethora of hidden secrets and Spirit Light Containers for players to collect, only made possible through buying Water Breath.
Water Breath is one of the highest priorities to make swimming less stressful, as it allows Ori to swim indefinitely without having to come up for air. It only costs 500 Spirit Light, making it one of the cheaper skills to obtain from Opher. This ability is recommended after beating the Wellspring since all underwater sequences come after that. Due to the sheer number of these aquatic areas, it is advised for players to buy Water Breath as soon as possible.
5 Blaze
Blaze is one of the most aesthetically-pleasing abilities in the game, beloved by players, and can be purchased from Opher for 800 Spirit Light. Unlike Spirit Smash and Spike, Blaze significantly lacks power and strength. Blaze ignites enemies on impact, serving up to 20 damage. It costs one energy per cast.
Once players obtain the first few abilities, they will end up using those rather than Blaze because those have better and quicker results, and after a while, looking cool isn't enough when dealing with a strong opponent. Blaze can be upgraded to Charge Blaze for 1,600 Spirit Light, setting all enemies in sight ablaze. Great for those virtual pyromaniacs out there!
4 Fast Travel
For 500 Spirit Light, players can unlock Fast Travel, which allows them to warp to any Spirit Well they have unlocked from almost anywhere, rather than using other Spirit Wells like the Ori and the Blind Forest. This is a great asset and a massive improvement over the first game for players who want to traverse the open map quickly. It is also great for competitionists who return to zones to collect any secrets they may have missed.
Fast Travel should be low on the priority list, as players can quickly get around using Ori's lithe and fluid platforming skills. However, for the more impatient players, Fast Travel is a good investment and makes the game faster and more concise, saving time. Overall, it's a decent investment if someone has some leftover Spirit Light, but it shouldn't be the first thing players buy.
3 Spirit Star
Spirit Stars can come in handy, but they have a huge setback. The ability costs 800 Spirit Light, so it's a bit on the costly side. It can deal four base damage and decreases for every subsequent hit on the same target by one. Each Spirit Star thrown uses half of an Energy Cell, so not really the most powerful attack in the game.
Some players like to use it, but it can be difficult and frustrating to aim. It can be Energy Cells wasted if a player needs to be more skilled or lucky enough to land their shots. Spirit Star can be upgraded, allowing players to pause their Spirit Star's flight and spin it in place, slightly increasing its value and usefulness.
2 Sentry
Sentry makes a small, butterfly-like creature appear next to Ori that attacks any nearby enemies. Up to three Sentries can be active at once, but each Sentry costs one Energy Cell. When the Sentry disappears, it explodes in a small radius, igniting nearby enemies and dealing up to ten damage.
While many players like using this handy skill, it pales compared to Spike and Spirit Smash. While these little fairies are charming, try as they might, they can't serve a big hit, wasting precious Energy Cells. Facing bigger enemies, these tiny Sentries don't stand a chance. Sentry Speed can also be purchased as an upgrade, increasing the attack speed of any deployed Sentries.
1 Triple Jump
Although this ability comes in the form of a Spirit Shard, it is still worth players saving up their precious Spirit Light. Triple Jump is a shard that can be purchased from Twillen on the west side of the Wellspring Glades, the central hub for the entirety of Will of the Wisps. Triple Jump is expensive at a whopping 2,200 Spirit Light, but it is a worthy investment.
It grants players a bonus jump in addition to their Double Jump, making the end-game and tricky platforming elements a breeze. The Triple Jump is also a bonus when attempting challenging escape sequences and gives players extra breathing room during these tense moments.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is available to play on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.