The Making of Ori and the Will of the Wisps: Developer Insights

From the Forest to the Screen

The journey of Ori and the Will of the Wisps started in a forest. The team at Moon Studios went on a research trip to the forests of Canada where they were inspired by the natural beauty and magic of the environment. They gathered footage, images and sounds to bring back to the studio to use as reference for the game. Here are some of the things they found that influenced the game:

• The way light filters through the trees
• The shapes of the roots and branches
• The sounds of the animals and insects
• The changing colors of the leaves in autumn

Crafting a Stunning Sequel

With Ori and the Will of the Wisps, the team at Moon Studios wanted to create a sequel that built on the emotional journey of the first game. They wanted to make sure that the gameplay was refined and polished, the soundtrack was memorable and the story was compelling. Here are some of the things they focused on:

• Introducing new abilities and mechanics to keep the gameplay fresh
• Creating memorable boss battles that tested the player’s skills
• Collaborating with a live orchestra to record the soundtrack
• Writing a story that explored themes of family, friendship and sacrifice

Behind the Scenes: Developer Secrets

Making a game is never easy and the team at Moon Studios faced many challenges during the development of Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Here are some of the secrets they revealed about the development process:

• They used a tool called ‘Dancing Lights’ to create the lighting effects in the game
• They had to create new animation rigging systems to accommodate the new abilities Ori has
• They used a technique called ‘generative audio’ to create the sounds of the forest
• They had to optimize the game to run smoothly on the Nintendo Switch

Illuminating the World of Ori

One of the standout features of Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the stunning art style and visuals. The team at Moon Studios wanted to create a world that was beautiful, immersive and full of life. Here are some of the ways they achieved this:

• Using hand-painted textures to give the game a unique look
• Creating a dynamic lighting system that changed based on the time of day
• Adding particle effects to enhance the magic and atmosphere of the game
• Using camera angles and framing to create memorable moments and vistas

Overall, the making of Ori and the Will of the Wisps was a labor of love for the team at Moon Studios. Their attention to detail and commitment to crafting a memorable experience has paid off in spades. If you haven’t played the game yet, we highly recommend it!