WitchSpringR: A Surprisingly Great Adventure – Rushdown Review

Initial Release Date: 2023 (PC), August 28, 2024 (Console)
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
Engine: Unity
Developer: Kiwiwalks
Genres: Role-playing Video Game, Adventure Game, Indie Game
Publishers: Kiwiwalks, PM Studios
Series: WitchSpring

WitchSpring R is a full remake of the original WitchSpring, first released on iOS and Android. This remake revitalizes the game with new content, upgraded visuals, and enhanced gameplay mechanics while preserving the charm that made the original a sleeper hit. At its core, WitchSpring R is an RPG that combines training, exploration, and narrative depth, inviting players to step into the shoes of Pieberry, a young witch learning to navigate a complex world filled with prejudice, magic, and mystery.

Overview:

In WitchSpring R, you follow Pieberry, a white-haired, bunny-eared witch growing up in a monster-filled forest, through an all-new story. As Pieberry, you’ll encounter a variety of witches, humans, and monsters—some are friends, others foes, and some fall into the ambiguous “other” category. Pieberry longs to relive her childhood memories (especially eating delicious food!) and dreams of exploring the human world, but she can’t seem to find a way out of her secluded home until your story begins.

This full remake introduces a world of new experiences waiting for you and Pieberry to uncover. Outside, you’ll collect magical ingredients, battle warriors and monsters, and develop relationships with various characters. At home, Pieberry trains, practices magic, and fuses ingredients to grow stronger, making the balance between adventure and preparation a key part of gameplay.

Story:

The story follows Pieberry, a young deity on the continent of Vavelia, who after living in seclusion for most of her life, sets out into the world and unwittingly finds herself entangled in a struggle far bigger than she ever imagined. What starts as a personal journey of discovery quickly escalates into a fight against a tyrannical dictator who wields religion as a tool of oppression.

From the very beginning, the game presents a world rife with racism against witches, driven by the Pope’s relentless propaganda. Misinformation has painted witches as dangerous and evil beings, justifying their extermination as a moral duty. This use of propaganda is a central theme, manipulating people’s perceptions as powerfully as any spell. The influence of this propaganda becomes clear when soldiers invade Pieberry’s home, trying to kill her simply because she’s a witch. Additionally, when Pieberry first ventures into a nearby village, the villagers flee in fear at the sight of her, showing how deeply ingrained their prejudice is. The Pope’s army, still recovering from past witch hunts, seeks to completely eradicate witches, creating an atmosphere of constant fear and tension.

Pieberry’s character development is one of the highlights of the narrative. Initially naive and sheltered, she gradually learns the complexities of human behavior. Despite the rampant prejudice she faces, Pieberry resists generalizing all humans as evil, showing a maturity that many characters in the game lack. This nuanced portrayal of racism, where both witches and humans grapple with prejudice based on isolated experiences, adds depth to the story.

There’s also an interesting layer of colorism woven into the narrative. The witches, or “deities,” are depicted as dark-skinned, while humans are fair-skinned. Pieberry even uses makeup to lighten her skin and blend in with humans, which echoes the real-world issue of colorism. This added social commentary provides a deeper subtext to the story, making it more than just a standard tale of good versus evil.

A central theme in WitchSpring R is self-actualization. Many characters, Pieberry included, are on personal journeys of self-discovery. Pieberry starts the game isolated, with no family or friends, and over the course of the story, she builds her own “chosen family” through the relationships she forms. The exploration of identity and family is one of the game’s most rewarding emotional arcs.

Gameplay:

WitchSpring R stands out for its smart gameplay choices. The crafting, forging, and weapon-enhancing systems are useful for progression, but they’re not the only ways to grow stronger. The game gives players a lot of freedom to shape Pieberry’s abilities and playstyle. Whether you prefer upgrading her magical skills or focusing on more martial abilities, you have the flexibility to tailor her growth in a way that reinforces the broader themes of self-discovery. This level of player agency is a strong point, as it mirrors Pieberry’s journey toward understanding her own identity.

The turn-based combat is well-designed, with a variety of mechanics that keep battles fresh. Pieberry’s diverse skill set and the dynamic battle system prevent the game from ever feeling repetitive or stale. There’s always something new to explore, and the game’s strategic depth ensures that combat remains engaging throughout.

The pet system is an interesting take on the monster-catching mechanic found in other RPGs. While you don’t directly control your pets, you can influence where they attack, which adds another layer of strategy to combat. It’s a small but effective feature that complements the broader gameplay experience.

One notable aspect of the game is its unique leveling system. Instead of traditional levels, the game uses milestones that you achieve through training and combat. You have Combat Level, Physical Level, and Mental Level, and reaching milestones in these areas grants you additional stat boosts and new abilities. Enemies provide experience points only the first time you defeat them; after that, they respawn, but you won’t earn additional EXP from subsequent encounters. This mechanic encourages players to focus on strategy and resource gathering rather than simply grinding. Similarly, you can farm materials and items from respawned enemies and capture pets, but if you kill a pet by mistake, you’ll need to wait for it to respawn before you can attempt to capture it again.

As for difficulty, the game is fairly easy on normal mode. There were a few moments where I struggled with boss fights, but for the most part, it’s not very challenging. However, the game does offer several difficulty modes, allowing players to adjust the challenge according to their preferences. Whether you want tough battles or just want to enjoy the story, there’s a mode for you.

Visuals:

WitchSpring R excels in creating a vibrant and crisp visual style that fits well within its magical world. The environments and characters are colorful and charming, but the visual effects—especially for the magic attacks and spells—feel somewhat underwhelming. Many of the spell animations lack the detail and flair you’d expect from a modern RPG. This is especially noticeable during battles, where the visual effects for some of the game’s more powerful magic attacks fail to deliver the level of spectacle they seem to promise.

The lighting effects, too, are rather flat and don’t do much to enhance the atmosphere, especially in key moments where dynamic lighting could have elevated the experience. While these issues don’t detract heavily from the overall aesthetic, they are noticeable, particularly for players accustomed to higher levels of graphical polish in more recent games.

Audio:

One of WitchSpring R’s strongest elements is its audio. The soundtrack is beautifully composed, offering serene melodies during exploration and high-energy battle themes that add excitement to combat encounters. Each area of the game is paired with music that complements its atmosphere, adding an extra layer of immersion.

The voice acting, available in both Japanese and Korean, is another highlight. The performances bring life and emotion to the characters, making them feel more grounded and relatable. Unfortunately, there’s no English voice cast, which may disappoint some players. Still, the quality of the original voice acting does a great job of carrying the story.

Conclusion:

WitchSpring R is a pleasant surprise and a masterful remake. Its engaging story, deep themes of prejudice, self-actualization, and chosen family, alongside its solid gameplay mechanics, make it a standout among RPG remakes. While it may not push the boundaries of graphical fidelity, the charm of its world, combined with its fresh take on storytelling, more than makes up for it.

If you’re a fan of the original or simply looking for a unique and heartfelt RPG experience, WitchSpring R is a journey worth taking. Its thoughtful narrative, enjoyable gameplay, and emotional depth make it a memorable adventure, standing tall alongside other standout remakes like Star Ocean 2 R and Super Mario RPG.

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