The Witch's Isle - Spoiler-free Review
Table of Contents
Thinking I'd play a Steam game after a while, I played The Witch's Isle which was in my Wishlist.
Overall rating: +1 (Recommended)
While there aren't many brain-teasing puzzle elements (you progress smoothly as you explore), it was a work that allowed me to fully enjoy the pleasure of discovery.
With a volume that can be completed in about 4-6 hours, it's recommended for when you want to kill some time.
Good Points
I felt that the placement of items and the flow of solving mysteries were very refined. While exploration is the main focus and there aren't many puzzles, I found the tricks using character perspective changes interesting. It reminds me of Majora's Mask.
Moreover, the well-developed guide function is a plus. Being able to see how much of the story and unknown items are left eliminates unnecessary exploration, which I personally find positive. And the way it uses this to surprise you shows it's an excellent work. It even has a hint function for when you're stuck, providing more than enough features to progress smoothly.
In addition to the above, the graphics and sound effectively convey the game's atmosphere, making it a 2D RPG lover's delight.
Not-so-good Points
While it can be said to be an excellent work overall, it could also be said to lack punch.
Characters that aren't important to the story are somewhat disposable. With few characters appearing, I felt that if the individuality and background of the characters were revealed as the story progressed, it would add more color to the plot.
Also, since the puzzles aren't difficult, if you buy it expecting puzzle elements, you might be somewhat disappointed. This isn't the fault of the work itself, so research beforehand.
And while it won't matter to most people, when I played it with English translation, I felt the expressions were mediocre. I think the English itself is accurate, but somehow the expressions don't seem to come alive. It's that thing often said about English subtitles in anime. I'm curious how native speakers would actually feel about it.
Other Information
- It seems it was originally a smartphone game, so you can play on your preferred platform
- I wanted hints for completing achievements, as I think it's normally impossible to figure out
Overall Assessment
It was a game that can be called an excellent small work. I think it will particularly resonate with fans of old RPGs. As it can be finished in a few hours, how about trying it on a free holiday?
