If you’re holding out hope for another Ori and the Blind Forest sequel after Will of the Wisps, bad news: it’s probably going to be a while. Developers Moon Studios have said they’re all-in on Soulslike action-RPG No Rest for the Wicked, suggesting that their “magnum opus” will be their focus for up to a decade.
]]>Well, I bet you didn't see this coming from Ori And The Blind Forest developers Moon Studios, did you now? Then again, neither did I. Announced during tonight's Game Awards, No Rest For The Wicked is quite a different kettle of cursed fish compared to Moon's previous games, but I'm also quietly intrigued by it at the same time. For starters, this is an online ARPG that combines the top-down combat of games like Diablo 4 with the patient, weighty boss battles of your Elden Soulslikes. Come and watch its reveal trailer below to find out more.
]]>We’re one episode away from being in the double digits, folks! Whoop! But for now, let’s dive into episode nine of Indiescovery. This time we're chatting about our biggest Steam sins. That’s right, we’re revealing it all: shamefully ignored indie gems, outrageous playtimes, and games that we promise we’ll return to one day, honest! We also get into what we’ve been recently playing and then end, as always, with our hyperfixations.
]]>Current and former developers of Moon Studios have alleged that the company is an "oppressive workplace", citing offensive language, harsh feedback and inconsistent direction by its founders. Several developers also alleged that the founders encouraged crunch. Moon Studios are the creators of Ori And The Blind Forest and Ori And The Will Of The Wisps, both critically lauded and commercially successful platformers published by Microsoft.
]]>Easter has come and gone now, and here in the RPS treehouse we lounge with bellies full of chocolate chatting about our favourite little surprises in games. Alice O has already asked you, dear reader, what's your favourite video game Easter egg? It appears some game developers have been pondering a similar question on Twitter, and revealing the best Easter eggs they've hidden in their games - from hiding games within games, to live coding an RPG to rewriting an RPG's script live to mess with streamers.
]]>Ori And The Will Of The Wisps feels so good to play. The fluidity of Ori’s movement; his quickness and agility; the sense of his weight and presence in the world – he’s a product of both traditional animation and leading graphics technology which developer Moon Studios has built up over years to make a sequel that surpasses the already beautiful Ori And The Blind Forest.
]]>Steam's soundtrack sale is nearly over, but as the resident soundtrack fanatic here at RPS, I thought it was only right and proper to take some time out and celebrate some of my favourite tracks and compilations. After all, there are plenty of bangers in there right now, and it would be a shame to miss out on these crackin' tunes while they're going cheap. So come, put on your headphones, turn up your speakers and prepare yourself for an aural assault on the senses.
]]>Another month, another big video game publisher puts a great big dollop of video game music online for zero pennies. This time, it's Bandai Namco, who have just uploaded every single Tekken soundtrack onto Spotify because, well, apparently everyone loves Tekken. I've never partaken in a Tekken, but with track names like "Massive Stunner" and "Lonesome City Jazz Party 1st", I'm already 100% convinced the music must be great.
However, given my rather lacking expertise in all things Tekken-related, I thought that instead of doing a big Tekken musical breakdown like I did for Capcom and all the Final Fantasy games, I'd take this opportunity to celebrate some of the other great gaming soundtracks you can currently listen to for free right now, because boy howdy are there loads of 'em. So bang on those headphones and turn up the volume, folks. It's head-banging time.
]]>Hollow Knight, smollow knight. If you're into jumpy backtracking games that effortlessly walk the line between "d'awww" and "DANG NABBIT WHY IS THIS SO DIFFICULT" look no further than Ori and the Blind Forest. Released back in the heady days of 2015, Ori is arguably the pinnacle of the cute-but-crazy-hard platforming genre thanks to its gorgeous world, meticulous platforming and formidable sense of challenge - and best of all, only one of its main characters is a rubbish bug thing.
]]>I'm not sure what your favorite part of Ori and the Blind Forest was. Was it the heartbreaking breaking of hearts throughout the story? Was it the whole Metroidvania but cute aspect? Was it the soundtrack that has few to no peers in gaming? Well, whatever made that game special for you, today at E3 we got our first full look at the follow-up, and it is everything you would want. At least, it is everything I want. I assume you and I are the same, because we're both hear to just fawn over Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
]]>There's no shortage of great Metroidvanias out there these days, so to help narrow your search for what to play next, we've put together this list of the very best Metroidvania games to play on PC right now. Metroidvanias can be a little tricky to define at times. Most have big, knotty worlds to explore that often require the use of specific abilities to access its farthest corners, but while some put a greater emphasis on slow and methodical combat, others stuff every pixel with rock hard platforming challenges to test their players' mettle. We like to keep an open mind when it comes to these things, but that does mean our list of the best Metroidvanias may include the odd controversial choice or two. What's important, though, is that all of these games are brilliant, and come with our seal of approval.
]]>The Steam summer sale is in full blaze. For a while it even blazed so hot that the servers went on fire and all the price stickers peeled off the games. Either that or the store just got swamped with cheapskates looking for the best bargains. Cheapskates like you! Well, don’t worry. We’ve rounded up some recommendations - both general tips and some newly added staff choices.
Here are the things you should consider owning in your endless consumeristic lust for a happiness which always seems beyond reach. You're welcome.
]]>John has been writing these charts for just a few weeks and already he's had to book a week off in order to recover. I am made of more sterling stuff, and while he's gone it falls to me to share the details of which games sold the best last week on Steam.
]]>Ori and the Will of the Wisps was just announced at Microsoft's E3 2017 conference. It's the sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest and it seems to be about sad owls. You should watch the trailer below, because it's beautiful.
]]>Everyone should be allowed to take two goes at a game. A second pass after a year or so, with gained wisdom and feedback informing changes and new additions. Even a game that was wonderful on release, like Ori & The Blind Forest, has benefited hugely from such treatment, and I’m delighted to report that the Definitive Edition [official site] is sublime. Here's wot I think:
]]>Although first scheduled to release alongside its console counterpart last month, Microsoft have now confirmed the gorgeous 2D platformer Ori and the Blind Forest [official site] will launch its Definitive Edition on PC next week. In fact it's so gorgeous that I think we should take a look at its latest trailer before we get onto what the Definitive Edition entails, don't you agree?
]]>The Witcher 3 took home two awards last night at the 16th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards, including the coveted Game of the Year prize. Her Story, after winning big at the IGF Awards hours earlier, captured a further three trophies. Comes see the full list of winners and nominees below.
]]>After much success following its release last year, Ori and the Blind Forest [official site] will launch its Definitive Edition on March 11th. With it, come tweaks to the game's theater mode, new story material and a brand new arena. Pop below to find out more.
]]>What are the best Steam Summer Sale deals? Each day for the duration of the sale, we'll be offering our picks - based on price, what we like, and what we think more people should play. Read on for the five best deals from day 8 of the sale.
]]>Ori and the Blind Forest [official site] is a beautiful game. That's the first thing you'll notice. The extended intro sequence plays out like a vaguely interactive Studio Ghibli animation as your character - a glowing mouse-like guardian spirit called Ori - is cared for by adopted bear-like parent Naru after she falls into the forest from the Spirit Tree. The animation is luxurious as Ori perches on Naru's shoulders as they seek apples and while the pair build a bridge over a pool. It's the first cut scene in a long time where I've sat back and watched rather than mash buttons in order to move the action along.
As the intro draws to a close the story and the forest darken. A gigantic angry-looking owl has disturbed the natural order of things, ripping the light from the woods and from the Spirit Tree which cares for the area. It's at this point that the game proper begins with Ori stranded in a tangled wilderness, needing to heal or repair the damage to the land.
From this point you'll find a tight, polished Metroidvania-style platformer with echoes of Ocarina of Time.
]]>Get ready to feel feelings like you've never felt before, emotional puzzle-platformer Ori And The Blind Forest [official site] is just around the corner, with release coming on Wednesday. The launch trailer has been let loose, showing it isn't all sad bears and melancholy trees - there's also extremely angry owls and lava. It also had a short segment on stream at PAX East, showing off the intriguing way objects, enemies and projectiles can be used to throw yourself around a level.
]]>Do you struggle to form tears within your eyes and release them from your body to express sorrow, joy, or other related emotions? Good news! A video game may help you. Moon Studios' Metroidvania-y platformer Ori and the Blind Forest "is going to be one of those games that might make you cry," publishers Microsoft say, "we can feel that much already." Big deal; people cry at the John Lewis Christmas advert. Join in the chant: no more tears! No more tears!
The game does look jolly nice though, with a little forest spirit leaping about verdant glades. As well as Metroid and Castlevania and all those, it's looking to Princess Mononoke and perhaps Rayman Legends and My Neighbor Totoro as influences.
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