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Originally recorded: October 3, 2021
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I've got to say, this session threw a lot of stuff at me to sour my opinion on this game. I'm not sure if it worked, because I ended up progressing through all of it anyway. But I can't say I was too happy with it, regardless.

First off, we had that maze area, where the level design kept shifting based on progression. The funny thing is, on their own, I never really mind maze-type level designs in platformers. It's only when they tack on an extra gimmick that they begin to bother me. Underwater mazes that change the control scheme; timed mazes that force you to complete it quickly (looking at you, Bebe's Kids); mazes with a limited number of chances to complete -- whether it's limited lives, continues or hitting a dead end straight up killing you.

Then, after clearing that, I had to do the next "dungeon", which required carrying around an object that effectively gimps my character in order to progress. I utterly despise segments like this: they're basically an escort mission's more annoying cousin. Not only do you have to lug around a useless object, but you can no longer use your full suite of abilities in the process. The worst part is, the game actually telegraphed this with the final segment of the previous area. The escape sequence was also a pain in the ass, simply due to the sheer amount of trial and error involved.

Finally, there was the stealth sequence after completing the second "dungeon". Lord almighty, do I hate stealth sequences. And stealth in video games in general -- I'm pretty sure my rage at the two MGS games I streamed and my utter dread over the next one proves that. Honestly, one of my major issues with Ori is that the designs are a bit too artistic to be fully functional. There are times where hazards just seem to melt into the background. Nothing's really clear. And that really hurt the point where I'm forced to hide in front of walls in order to escape the wrath of the game's primary antagonist.

And that might actually be the thing that soured me most of all: the game made me sympathize with what was supposed to be its main villain... and it's a freaking bird, of all things. I feel the way about birds that most people feel about insects, fish and lizards. They creep me out. They've creeped me out since childhood, when my next door neighbor had a pet bird that would constantly bite her when she tried to pet it. And yet, this game got me to empathize with one of those horrid flying abominations, even if it's just a fictional one. Yeech.