I really like a great magic based mostly recreation. There’s one thing interesting about being to discover a world and programs that might by no means exist, however do. Nonetheless, one factor I’ve all the time saved a watch out for had been video games that had an identical attraction to both a Sailor Moon or Kiki’s Supply Service, two issues I grew up with and longed to discover these worlds. So at any time when a recreation contains a magical woman, I’m already intrigued. WitchSpring R does this and does it nicely.
WitchSpring R is an RPG set in a world of turmoil for witches. In an attractive introduction, we discover out that the earlier gods of the world had been overtaken by humanity and at the moment are thought-about demons, and witches, who’re the offspring of those former gods, are being hunted for this. After this intense and epic introduction, the tone quickly shifts after we’re launched to our protagonist, Pieberry, a younger witch who named herself after her two favourite things- pie and strawberries. At first, Pieberry is simply in search of out the very best pie she will be able to eat, some she remembers from earlier in her childhood, however then an increasing number of of the world and the witch hunts of humanity encroach on her small life within the forest she has established for herself.
This results in a largely linear story the place Pieberry will get concerned in additional of this battle between witches and people, assembly a big forged of characters with varied allegiances, interactions, and persona. This forged and Pieberry herself are a few of my favourite elements of WitchSpring R – everybody was so likable. The writing and character designs are wonderful, however the voice appearing specifically shone. The sport defaulted to the Japanese voice actors, who had been phenomenal, however there may be voice appearing in each Japanese and Korean (the place the developer is from). I ended up shocked by how a lot I used to be moved by the story, significantly with Pieberry’s storyline. Early on a fowl named Black Joe turns into a companion and I ended up shocked by simply how a lot I liked their relationship because it developed.
That is all bolstered by participating gameplay that includes each crafting and switch based mostly fight. This jogged my memory a whole lot of the core gameplay loop of the Atelier sequence, which is certainly one of my favourite recreation sequence. You collect objects, craft them into objects, after which use the crafting to bolster your fight talents. You may improve your magic expertise by way of crafting magic circles to toughen talents, make therapeutic objects, and even make consumables with everlasting stat will increase. The crafting system is a bit easy and simple – when you’ve got the suitable substances you may make the merchandise, however I do love this gameplay loop. It results in a whole lot of satisfying moments the place you get the suitable substances to enhance your hearth magic spell, as an illustration.
There are a selection of different programs at play as nicely. All through WitchSpring R you’ll be capable of recruit a lot of pets to hitch you in battle, every with completely different talents and powers. Some even assist with traversal, which ends up in extra choices. You may enhance Pieberry’s stats by way of coaching, as nicely, which has quite a few nicely designed mini video games that reward you with additional stat factors if you happen to do significantly nicely. I favored this alteration of tempo, and that these additional programs result in a great reward with further summons or larger stats. This additionally makes Pieberry’s construct fairly customizable, furthered by upgrades you may make to your magic employees.
My greatest gripe with these programs and WitchSpring R as an entire is that I want there was extra depth to a few of these programs, significantly with crafting and battle. At a sure level, battle ways grew to become largely about getting out the identical highly effective strikes again and again with out actual technique. I want there was extra to the crafting and the fight as a result of these are enjoyable, however as a rule I simply defaulted to creating and utilizing no matter would have the very best energy. There’s additionally so many little programs in place that it seems like the main target was on having quite a lot of shallow experiences over depth to at least one or two core programs. Did we actually want a particular aiming mechanic to shoot a bow and arrow to reap supplies from animals? Did we want the blacksmithing mechanic that I used solely as soon as? I favored all these mechanics simply tremendous, however my greatest situation was wanting extra.
That each one being mentioned, WitchSpring R is an achievement. Coming from a two individual growth group, this can be a labor of affection that remade the primary recreation in a cell gaming sequence right into a hidden gem of an RPG that’s nicely price your time. I loved each second I had with WitchSpring R and I’ll be protecting a watch out for every other video games from Kiwiwalks. It is a actually nice idea and I hope to see much more from this sequence and this recreation.