Ori sequel has all the punishing charm of the original

Don't let the Disney aesthetic detract from the sophisticated themes.

Traversing the enchanted forests, mystical grottos, and windswept plains of Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a pure kinetic joy. Linking jumps with glides with wall-hops with yet more jumping is platforming at its finest, so precise is the player's control over the diminutive titular spirit.

And it only gets better. As you progress, so too does your ability to move – your hop morphing into a double- and then triple-jump, your glide transforming into a powerful mid-air launch – in turn opening up previously inaccessible areas for exploration. By the time this loop has reached its zenith, it's practically possible to navigate the entire ants-nest map without putting a foot on the ground.

A good thing, too, because Ori demands an awful lot of players. Don't let the gorgeous Saturday Disney aesthetic fool you: this isn't a game for young children.

The game's best features are carryovers from the original.

Like the original, sections of this sequel culminate in punishing checkpoint-free gauntlets that require you to have mastered recently acquired abilities. You'll need to leap from snowy trunks and across icy chasms as an avalanche descends on you; burrow through sand and across collapsing ruins as a Tremors-esque sandworm devours everything in its path.

These moments feel ever-so-slightly easier now (thanks in part to a new shard system that lets you tweak optimised playstyles), but they're still the game's highlight. They'll linger in your mind long after the 10-15 hour playtime has wrapped up.

Although it's expertly crafted at every turn, Will of the Wisps at times feels like a fairly straightforward sequel. There's now a hub section to build upon, with more characters to talk to and sidequests to complete, but this adds relatively little to the experience. The game's best features are carryovers from the original.

The biggest addition to the formula is traditional boss fights. They're all tough, spectacular, and elevate Ori's combat closer to the standard of its platforming. Each boss is a multi-stage affair, and some are even peppered throughout the platforming gauntlet sections. They'll act as roadblocks for some, but there's immense satisfaction for those that endure.

During a console generation where Xbox let its published IP lag behind the competition's, Ori stands tall as the rare exception. With Will of the Wisps, Moon Studios has again proven itself one of Xbox's most talented, valuable partners.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is out now on Xbox One and PC, classified PG.