Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition is a re-released and enhanced version of Ori and the Blind Forest. Initially revealed by Moon Studios during Gamescon 2015, the game was initially set to be released during the holiday period of 2015. It is now set to be released on March 11th 2016 for both Xbox One and Steam.
The Definitive Edition features all the same areas and story as the original Ori and the Blind Forest but with some unique additions. The largest of these is a brand new area called the Black Root Burrows, located at the bottom corner of the existing map. Designed to be an expansion of the game's lore, the Burrows prominently focus on the past of Naru. Executive Producer Mark Coates states that players will:
"...discover her roots, where she came from, and you learn a bit more about her as a character and why maybe she is compelled to do some of the things that she does later on in the game. It’s all interwoven with the already-existing story.”
The Black Root Burrows themselves allow Ori to gain new abilities. One of them is Dash, an ability that lets Ori gain a quick burst of speed in the direction they are facing with a tap of RB. This can later be upgraded in the Ability Tree to be used in the air and also as an attack. Those who venture into the more dangerous parts of the Burrows will also gain Light Burst, a skill that is described as essentially a grenade. Triggered by pressing LB, tapping the button will cause Ori to throw grenades at the nearest enemies whilst holding it down will allow them to aim the shot.
The Definitive Edition also comes with new multiple difficulty levels. Players wanting to focus on the story and world can now use an "Easy" setting to tone down the challenge of the some of the game's more difficult sections. On the other hand, those wanting more of a challenge can use the new "Hard" mode and self-explanatory "One-Life" mode. An expanded Theater Mode will also be included. Not only will players be able to view all of the cutscenes, but also see early concept material from the game, trailers, and other bonuses. Other minor tweaks, such as allowing warping between Spirit Wells, will also be included.
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