Navigating Challenges: The Vision Behind Ori’s Evolution in Metroidvania Design

Ori director and Moon Studios co-founder Thomas Mahler reveals that Microsoft initially conveyed to him that the cherished Metroidvania platforming series was overly challenging for a general audience, but Mahler maintained that the difficulty level was essential for his creative vision.

Speaking on the Destin podcast (timestamped here), Mahler discussed his game design philosophy, likening it to that of Nintendo and FromSoftware‘s Hidetaka Miyazaki.

“Our philosophy closely mirrors how Nintendo develops games, prioritizing fun above all else,” Mahler asserted. “Even with Ori, we routinely heard feedback saying, ‘Hey, the game is too difficult,’ particularly from the Microsoft team. There was frequent concern of, ‘Oh my god, but the game’s visuals are stunning. Wouldn’t it be more enjoyable if everyone could experience it?’

“Nonetheless, I align more with Miyazaki on this matter. The challenge must be meticulously calibrated to foster a psychological aspect where it becomes crucial to overcome that challenge. We always aim to create moments where we present players with a challenge that seems impossible, but then we empower them to succeed, leading to that exhilarating moment of realization, ‘oh my god.’

Ori and the Blind Forest, along with its successor, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, are widely regarded as fairly tough games to navigate, yet within the realm of Metroidvanias, they rank as moderate in terms of difficulty. Players might find themselves dying numerous times, especially during certain infamous speed-based sequences, but all this serves the purpose of mastering the precise timing needed to advance. Essentially, it’s about improving your skills.

Mahler and the entire team at Moon Studios are diligently engaged in the development of their Diablo-inspired early access action-RPG, No Rest for the Vulgar, likely for several years, but they are also not dismissing a potential return to Metroidvanias in the meantime.

The developer of Ori and the Blind Forest is now “fully independent” following “months of negotiation” with what was left of its previous publisher.