I really like a very good magic based mostly sport. There’s one thing interesting about being to discover a world and methods that would by no means exist, however do. Nonetheless, one factor I’ve at all times saved an eye fixed out for had been video games that had an identical enchantment to both a Sailor Moon or Kiki’s Supply Service, two issues I grew up with and longed to discover these worlds. So every time a sport incorporates 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 interesting introduction, we discover out that the earlier gods of the world had been overtaken by humanity and at the moment are thought of 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 searching for out the perfect 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 solid of characters with varied allegiances, interactions, and character. This solid and Pieberry herself are a few of my favourite components of WitchSpring R – everybody was so likable. The writing and character designs are glorious, however the voice appearing specifically shone. The sport defaulted to the Japanese voice actors, who had been phenomenal, however there’s voice appearing in each Japanese and Korean (the place the developer is from). I ended up stunned 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 stunned by simply how a lot I cherished 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 collection, which is one in all my favourite sport collection. You collect gadgets, craft them into gadgets, after which use the crafting to bolster your fight talents. You’ll be able to improve your magic abilities by crafting magic circles to reinforce talents, make therapeutic gadgets, and even make consumables with everlasting stat will increase. The crafting system is a bit easy and simple – you probably have the precise substances you can also make the merchandise, however I do love this gameplay loop. It results in a whole lot of satisfying moments the place you get the precise substances to enhance your fireplace magic spell, for example.
There are a selection of different methods at play as nicely. All through WitchSpring R you’ll be capable to recruit a lot of pets to affix you in battle, every with totally different talents and powers. Some even assist with traversal, which ends up in extra choices. You’ll be able to enhance Pieberry’s stats by coaching, as nicely, which has numerous nicely designed mini video games that reward you with additional stat factors for those who do significantly nicely. I favored this transformation of tempo, and that these additional methods result in a very good reward with further summons or increased stats. This additionally makes Pieberry’s construct fairly customizable, furthered by upgrades you can also make to your magic workers.
My largest gripe with these methods and WitchSpring R as an entire is that I want there was extra depth to a few of these methods, significantly with crafting and battle. At a sure level, battle techniques turned principally 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 most of the time I simply defaulted to creating and utilizing no matter would have the best energy. There’s additionally so many little methods in place that it seems like the main focus was on having quite a lot of shallow experiences over depth to 1 or two core methods. Did we actually want a selected aiming mechanic to shoot a bow and arrow to reap supplies from animals? Did we’d like the blacksmithing mechanic that I used solely as soon as? I favored all these mechanics simply tremendous, however my largest challenge was wanting extra.
That each one being stated, WitchSpring R is an achievement. Coming from a two individual improvement crew, it is a labor of affection that remade the primary sport in a cellular gaming collection 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 holding an eye fixed out for every other video games from Kiwiwalks. This can be a actually nice idea and I hope to see much more from this collection and this sport.
