Ori Definitive Edition: Black Root Burrows
At the Microsoft Spring Showcase in February 2016 I was delighted to finally dive into more content for what is probably my favorite game of 2015.
Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition expands on the core experience by adding brand new exportable and hidden areas along with new mechanics and abilities. These new sections will not only contain fresh areas to explore and skills to learn but also story vignettes that add more detail to Naru’s and Nibel’s history as a whole All of the new content in the Definitive Edition has been worked into the main world map, meaning these areas will become available naturally as you progress through the core experience. This is a very smart choice on behalf of the developers since level design can be both stimulating and challenging without having to account for all of Ori’s end game abilities. The Definitive Edition’s content in this way are not simply new areas with pre-fab rule sets; they fit naturally into the core experience and make the transition seamless while expanding on the narrative in a way that fits within the original story arc.
Black Root Burrows is a new area that becomes accessible once you have acquired the wall climb ability fairly early on in the game. This area is shrouded in darkness, there are only bioluminescent light sources to aid you and careful footing and exploration are needed to traverse safely. In this area you are introduced to a light orb from the Spirit Tree. Ori can pick up this orb of light and cause special platforms and barriers to both materialize and disappear, flipping their default state in the aura of light produced. This allows previously hidden platforms to appear granting you the means to progress further. However these platforms are small and protected by hostile creatures making precision platforming key as is the case in most of Ori but with the added complexity of limited abilities and navigating in the dark.
The extremely high standard of level and game design throughout the core game is present here as well, with new mechanical introductions staggered with design that almost guarantees a firm understanding of the laws at play will be needed to move onto the next area. This is extremely important so players have a firm grasp on the nuances of the mechanic’s but also their practical applications. The rest of the level continues with torches needing to be lit to raise small platforms as you dodge various projectiles as you make your way through the burrows. After seating the light sphere into a shrine, you are finally able to lift the dark haze and progress through, and it’s here we are introduced to a new ability: Dash will allow Ori to quickly jaunt forward in the direction he is facing while on the ground.
A few sections of time based trials await from here on out, culminating in a heart pounding escape from a rolling boulder Indiana Jones style. Like with the rest of the game, saving in key points is crucial to avoid backtracking through major sections. Ori has a very specific fail-faster design whereby the player through repetition can keep trying to complete a section of the game as fast as possible. As with Super Meatboy and Limbo the way the player learns is often referred to as trial and death. Ori’s level design is one that compels me to keep trying no matter what to get through an area that have stumped me, with a very tightly tuned balance of challenging vs frustrating culminating in an extremely satisfying way once you finally clear a high hurdle.
Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition will be launching on Windows 10 and Xbox One on March 11th 2016.
