I’ve been a fan of the Ori IP ever since I saw the trailer for the first game. I’ve bought the original game four times now (the original release, the upgrade to the definitive edition, a physical copy and now the Nintendo Switch Collector’s Edition). Needless to say, I might’ve jumped onto Ori and the Will of the Wisps as soon as I could as well. With the release of Ori and the Will of the Wisps on the Xbox Series X, developer Moon Studios have taken an already amazing game and made it look and feel better than ever (If you’re after a more in-depth review, check out David’s review here).

Being a 2D Platformer/Metroidvania, the ways the game can use the power of the Xbox Series X are somewhat limited when compared to a fully 3D game. In this instance, Moon Studios have used that extra technical oomph in two different ways that you can choose from at will: a super sampled 6K mode where the game runs at 60fps or a 4K mode where the game runs at 120fps. Along with these modes, there’s also a range of updates that work across both modes, such as increased graphical fidelity, lowered input lag and faster loading times.

Something that was immediately noticeable when I first started playing Ori and the Will of the Wisps on Xbox Series X was just how much better the game looked. While the game already looked great on an Xbox One X, the game’s art style has been taken to another level on Xbox Series X. This is especially noticeable with the games visuals effects, which are significantly more vibrant in this version of the game that they were on Xbox One X. Background and foreground elements also look better than ever, combining with the heightened visual effects to make the game look better than I thought possible.

These visual improvements are further boosted by the game’s super sampled 6K60fps mode. The benefit of sampling a higher resolution image and downscaling it comes from bigger assets being able to draw in more detail. It results in cleaner lines and clearer details in game, with less jagged or blurred edges. Combined with the art style of the game, it creates a sharper and cleaner image that is great to look at.

With that said, the real showpiece of Ori and the Will of the Wisps on Xbox Series X comes from its 120fps mode. You still get all the benefits of the increased graphical and visual effects but wrapped in a package that is so incredibly responsive and fluid that it feels like a dream. The game’s animation has always been fantastic, but with it now running at 120fps it has a fluidity to it that is a sight to behold. Combined with the decreased input lag, combat and platforming felt absolutely exceptional in practice. There’s no doubt at all in my mind that this is the best way to play the game if you have the means.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is another example of a fantastic Xbox Series X update to an existing game. If you’re after a Metroidvania that looks and feels incredible, then I can’t recommend this enough.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps was played on an Xbox Series X with a copy of the game provided by Xbox. It is also available on Nintendo Switch, PC and Xbox One. For more information, check the official website.