The WitchSpring games never cease to amaze me with their blend of character development, leisurely pace, and unexpectedly deep lore. “WitchSpring R,” a major remake of the original title, enhances the game’s narrative and gameplay, offering an even more polished experience compared to its predecessor.
The protagonist, Pieberry, is a young witch with a fragmented memory of her past. She cherishes pies and berries, which is why she chose her unique name. Despite her affection for her home in the forest, Pieberry is essentially trapped there due to the presence of a formidable golem. However, there is much more to her and her world than she realizes. As she embarks on a journey beyond her secluded sanctuary, she will venture into the Springs of Vavelia, seek to restore them, and uncover the truth about her identity amidst humanity’s ongoing campaign against witches.
Now, as I discussed earlier, WitchSpring R finally ends up being fairly a dramatic and darkish recreation. The witch hunts are not any joke. Unhealthy issues occur to good individuals. There are occasions we see characters we care about damaged. However on the identical time, it’s additionally a really touching story! There are completely satisfied moments scattered all through, and the character of it means loads of instances it does really feel downright cozy. Pieberry herself is a enjoyable, although maybe a bit too naive, character. This model of the sport and story stands out as a result of further consideration given to supporting solid members. Nevertheless, whereas I do recognize the bigger plot beats and lore surrounding witches and the world, there are some moments that really feel somewhat… dumb. Like conditions is perhaps too apparent or ridiculous, spoilers apart.
Like all different WitchSpring entries, WitchSpring R includes build up Pieberry’s magical repertoire through getting new spells, buying pets to assist out and in of battles, collaborating in turn-based fights, crafting, and coaching the witch. The final gameplay loop doesn’t change all that a lot between the unique recreation and remaster. Whereas the unique model of this recreation additionally concerned a time-limit, it takes a queue from different video games and the Atelier sequence for a extra relaxed strategy that permits Pieberry to finish her targets at your leisure.
These are all launched in a gradual approach, that will help you ease into the brand new tasks. A lot in order that it’d really feel somewhat overbearing or like your hand is being held too tightly. Despite the fact that you possibly can straight away see sure areas and alternatives to discover, Kiwiwalks determines if you get to come across new gadgets, acquire entry to new areas, and discover ways to practice or use sure options. Whereas in a approach, it is smart since they present up when the story calls for Pieberry want them. Nevertheless, I want it bought by means of these parts a bit faster so we might actually let unfastened.
Which is humorous, as a result of WitchSpring R is nice at respecting your time in different methods. Anti-grinding options equivalent to simply avoidable enemies, incessantly replenished materials sources, and the sport outright telling you that you just gained’t get EXP for redoing enemy encounters retains you from losing time going by means of sure routines. I actually felt like I used to be robust sufficient to deal with something even once I raced by means of it for the sake of the assessment. I’d say basically the pacing is okay, as soon as the tutorials are all finished. It’s simply the introduction and sure moments afterward that get a bit slowed down, particularly when it seems like there’s restricted freedom in relation to what you are able to do “subsequent.”
I actually wouldn’t have minded extra excuses to battle. The battle system and mechanics surrounding it are fairly enjoyable. When coaching Pieberry by means of scheduled lessons, you establish her specializations. So you may make her a bodily bruiser or lean heavy into magic. Having pets act as further occasion members and traversal strategies makes them really feel extra vital, particularly since you possibly can bond with them with meals to make them extra highly effective. The battle system clearly telegraphs the flip order, to will let you plot issues out and maintain conditions from getting overwhelming. Utilizing magic first can strengthen and have an effect on bodily assaults after. To not point out you possibly can set off bonus hits. Additionally, the magic system actually enables you to customise Pieberry’s spells through selecting the weather like the kind of slab and magic circle to find out the results, MP value, essential hit probabilities, boosts, and energy. If you wish to go overboard making her a serious powerhouse, you possibly can! But additionally, the character of it means you may take a extra relaxed strategy and nonetheless see her succeed.
However what makes WitchSpring R really feel a lot extra worthwhile is the way it differs from that authentic cell launch. The graphics, the character designs, the story, the overworld… all of it is a lot grander than it was earlier than. It’s such a considerable sequence of adjustments that it seems like a brand new, contemporary recreation that simply so occurred to tug from the concepts and ideas within the authentic. The techniques and mechanics really feel a lot stronger, although you possibly can see the inspirations and roots from that first launch.
While I thoroughly enjoyed playing WitchSpring R on the Nintendo Switch, I did encounter a peculiar issue early on with Pieberry’s character model. This happened during the first Pudding Cave dungeon after I unlocked the teleportation feature. After using it to teleport out and restock potions, I returned to the dungeon and used the teleportation function to reach the newly unlocked area. Although the game seemed to teleport me to the right location, Pieberry’s character model was missing. Fortunately, quitting the game, reloading, and retrying resolved the issue, and I didn’t face it again. By the time you read this review, a patch might have addressed this problem, so you might not encounter it yourself.
Overall, WitchSpring R feels like the comfort food of JRPGs. It’s not overly demanding and features classic JRPG elements. The turn-based battle system works well, and while the story starts slowly due to a hand-holding tutorial, it becomes engaging as you delve into the lore and Pieberry’s journey.
WitchSpring R is available on Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PC, with an Xbox One version currently in development.
