1. Play Ori and the Blind Forest
This might be a given, but I will include it anyway on this list of tips before you start with Ori and The Will of Wisps. Ori and the Blind Forest is an amazing game in a lot of ways. It has tight gameplay and a beautiful world in which many games following it built upon. You get a combination of both exploration and a strong story with a clear red thread through it. Most importantly, it makes you comfortable with the controls and what to expect as a minimum from Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
2. Watch out for the environment
One of the biggest tips I can give you before you start with Ori and the Will of Wisps is to be mindful of your environment. While the world may be beautiful, and while it is easy to get lost in its beauty, the beauty might kill you. Ori and the Blind Forest had a lot of environmental hazards. You had to stay in the air via different methods or it was goodbye. Ori and the Will of the Wisps not only follows suit, but builds upon this and makes the environment even more deadly in different areas.
The world is both beautiful and very hostile.
3. Explore
As with its predecessor, exploring is both fun and gives you many advantages. There are many small and hidden areas that you do not pass by just following the given way around. Finding these places is a reward in itself since you need to overcome obstacles that can be hard at times. Gaining access to new places also grants you different upgrades which will make your journey even better.
4. Use the map
Navigating the different areas of Ori and the Will of the Wisps and between the areas, can sometimes be confusing. Luckily there is a map to help you get around. One tip you should think about before you start with Ori and the Will of Wisps is to remember using the map. While moving around the world, it is easy to get lost in the fights or the beautifully painted environments. In these cases, the map helps you get around when you need to backtrack, or to find one of the hidden areas.
There are many hidden areas within the game.
5. No Soul Link
Ori and the Blind Forest came with a unique save system called Soul Link. Instead of your regular checkpoint system, you gathered energy that could be used to either heal up or to create a save point. This added a whole new layer upon the game. You had to collect the energy and choose where you wanted to add the save point. Removing the Soul Link is one of the most controversial changes made to the sequel. If you liked the Soul Link system in the previous game, before you start with Ori and the Will of Wisps you should forget those benefits and look out for the autosave icon.
6. Choose the right difficulty setting
When Ori and the Blind Forest first came out, there was one difficulty and we all played it. Some people really enjoyed this, seeing how many games in the genre do it this way. Some couldn’t make it past different areas or bosses, which created frustration. When the definitive edition finally hit, it came with different difficulties. Before starting Ori and the Will of Wisps, they give you three difficulty levels to choose from. Remember to heed this tip before you start the game and choose what suits you the best.
Both new and returning characters
7. Enjoy the view
While the story is engaging, and the world is very enjoyable to explore. A tip while playing Ori and the Will of the Wisps is to stop and enjoy the view at times. Although the game might be hectic or there may be fight after fight, it still gives you breathing room here and there. Use it. I could take a screenshot anytime in the game, and that screenshot could be framed and put on my wall. Even my wife would love to have a painting from this game.
8. Have tissues ready
There were a lot of moments in Ori and the Blind Forest which made it hard to keep the eyes from leaking. You got really connected with the world and some of the characters in a way I didn’t expect from this kind of a game. It surprised me. Starting up Ori and the Will of Wisps I came prepared. Aside from mentally preparing myself for that kind of a story, I also brought the tissues with me this time. One tip before start playing Ori and the Will of the Wisps is to do the same. The story in this game follows suit on its predecessor.
Ori and the Will of Wisps comes with a touching story.
9. Upgrade according to your playstyle
Ori and the Will of Wisps comes without any skill tree. Instead, it introduces you to the Spirit Shard system. Spirit Shards are items you can find and buy throughout the world. These shards give you different abilities and statuses. Early on, you will have three shard slots to use, but moving further into the game, you will have the chance to unlock more. The Spirit Shards come in many different forms. One can make you deal extra damage while also making you take extra damage from enemies. Another shard will only make you take less damage from enemies. One great tip while playing Ori and the Will of Wisps is to find and use the shards which correspond to your playstyle.
10. Play with a controller
Seeing how Ori and the Will of Wisps is released for both PC and Xbox One, you might be thinking about playing it with a keyboard; don’t. Like Ori and Blind Forest, this is a game that needs to be played with a controller. It is made for a controller from the ground up. Seeing how there are a lot of great controllers for PC out there, you should invest in one if you haven’t already. If you want to enjoy Ori and the Will of the Wisps to the fullest, the last tip before starting the game is to do it with a controller.
