How one game made all of the Microsft E3 Conference worth watching

To be fair to other games, I am going to say that there were some titles worth examining or at least giving some attention to. Metro: Exodus looks to be something worth at least paying attention to, potentially trying out. I'm definitely picking up Dragon Ball Fighters Z, as I've always been a huge fan of Dragon Ball. Anthem looks decent, but since it's EA, it's doubtful whether or not I'll actually be bothering to pick it up. The new Assassin's Creed looks to be somewhat fun, but it's part of a series that I've long since abandoned. I only play them here and there, though I might start getting back into them soon here. And, of course, I'm getting Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. I really enjoy the first one, so this can only get better...I hope.

The rest of the Microsoft E3 Conference, however, was pretty much lame. I spent most of it half-heartedly glancing at titles and kind of paying attention while playing Styx: Master of Shadows on my second monitor. I briefly got my interest renewed when the lead presenter talked about games that told story through music, art, etc. It reminded me of my favorite game, Ori and the Blind Forest. Before this press conference, there had been a leak about a year out now about a new title. I talked about it here, but I figured it was just a rumor, nothing more. Ori and the Blind Forest was a standalone title, in my opinion, and would more than likely remain that way.

Then, during the midst of all of this and the presentations, shortly after a look at Shadow of War, I heard a piano piece. I thought little of it, other than it sounded nice, continuing to play Styx until it hit an all too familiar note that caught my attention. I was glued to the screen and couldn't decide what the game was. I was hopeful but I doubted, thinking it was another Trine title or some other fantasy. Then the high notes hit and all of my hopes were confirmed, and from that point forward I couldn't help but feel an all new excitement come up in me. The trailer was sad, ominous, and beautiful all at the same time and Gareth Coker's amazing composing once again shone through.

This game, above all of the others, is the one game that made all of the rest of the Microsoft Conference worth watching. Forget "Anthem", I thought, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is now real! It's no longer just a rumor flitting across the internet because someone said "I leaked it" with nothing backing it up. There's a new trailer out that I have rewatched so many times because I can't get enough of it. I never thought that the music from Ori and the Blind Forest could get better, and Gareth proved me wrong.

It's sad for Microsoft, I think, that out of all of the mainstream titles they showed off, the one title that caught my attention was one of their hosted indie-developer titles. However, I think it speaks volumes for indie development as well if a game made by a small, relatively independent studio could capture my attention, and the attention of hundreds of others, with a wordless trailer set to beautiful music.

I'm going to be looking more and more into this and hoping that I find more news as the game develops, because I am thoroughly excited now. I have never been this excited for a new game release, not since I was a child thinking that Sonic 06 was going to be great. Not even Sonic Mania, a game that I know I'm going to love, made me THIS excited.

Anyone else hyped as hell for Ori and the Will of the Wisps?...No? Well, drat...

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