Little Witch Nobeta is a video game developed by Pupuya Games. It is an action-adventure game that takes place in a magical world filled with dangerous creatures and powerful witches. You play as Nobeta, a young witch who has lost her memories and awakening in a mysterious dungeon. The game features fast-paced combat and exploration, with players able to use a variety of spells and abilities to defeat enemies and overcome obstacles. As you progress through the game, you will uncover the secrets of Nobeta's past and discover the truth behind the mystical world she finds herself in. One of the standout features of Little Witch Nobeta is the intricate magic system.
One of the things that I enjoyed was the fact that there are no English voice lines. While some people may want it, I believe that this helps cement the game as being a love note of sorts to anime fans who are on the side of subs over dubs. While I am not educated in the Japanese language, it does appear from conversations and other reviews that the translations are done well, to the point where the full range of emotion is translated to English ears. It would probably be interesting to see how an English voice cast would’ve handled the work. However, I understand why the studio didn’t bother with it.
While there aren t any hint spots left behind by other players that have gone through the levels, the spots that are there allow you to learn the basic mechanics and controls of the game. They deal quite a bit of damage while also needing to take a fair bit to kill, so they really test your ability to use Little Witch Nobeta s combat system.
One of the standout features of Little Witch Nobeta is the intricate magic system. Nobeta can use various elements and combine them in unique ways to create powerful spells. Players will need to experiment with different combinations to find the most effective strategies against different enemies and situations.
Review: Little Witch Nobeta Is Big on Soulslike Shooter Fun
Before I’d even installed the game, Little Witch Nobeta really caught my attention. How could an action-shooter-slash-soulslike starring a cute anime girl and her kitty companion not? I’m glad it did too, because for as weird of a combination as that may seem, it works here. The game is fairly short, but there’s more than enough here to keep things entertaining without feeling drawn out.
First and foremost, Little Witch Nobeta is an action shooter. Players run around the game’s castle and use Nobeta’s staff to shoot spells at enemies. There are four types of unlockable, upgradable attacks that can be effortlessly swapped. While all of them work somewhat similarly, there are differences between them. Arcane, for example, is a mid-range single-shot spell, whereas Fire is close-range multi-shot one. Certain areas of the castle lend themselves better to certain spell types, but you can use whichever type of spell you prefer at pretty much all times. The one exception is that there are a handful of puzzles requiring certain spells to solve. These are quite nice for both making the different types feel useful and teaching you how to use them, but there aren’t a lot of them. Adding a few more puzzles built around using one type or another could have helped spice things up.
Where the spell types have major differences is in their charge attacks. Each spell type has a very unique charge shot, such as Ice’s rain of ice shards that lock onto enemies or Thunder’s AOE thunderbolt that lets players choose where it strikes. These attacks are the main reason for swapping between spell types, and they’re very fun to play around with. More often than not, I found myself using these on even the easiest of foes just because I could.
There are also physical staff attacks, but these tend to be used only when you’re running low on MP. Physical attacks are a lot like dodges in that successful ones regenerate mana, but using them costs stamina, so it’s important to make sure that doesn’t dip too low either. Running out of stamina will cause Nobeta to fall down, leaving her completely vulnerable. The game is a soulslike, after all, and opening yourself up like that can easily spell your death.
Speaking of soulslike elements, Little Witch Nobeta has plenty, and they actually make the game a lot of fun. Players must pray at shrines to set checkpoints in the event that they die, and these shrines also allow for things like enhancements. Nobeta’s HP, MP, and spell damage, among other things, can all be upgraded, and it’s a nice way to give a small extra power creep in addition to learning and upgrading (via a separate system) spells. It’s important to purchase upgrades whenever possible too, as another soulslike element is that the game’s enemies, specifically its bosses, can pose quite the threat.
As mentioned in my preview of Little Witch Nobeta, a lot of its non-boss enemies can feel more like annoying obstacles than challenges to overcome. After spending more time with the game, I think I can chalk that up to the shooter elements. Most enemies that shoot back don’t do a lot of damage and are easy to dispatch, while the majority of the close-range enemies are easy enough to simply dodge, then kill while they recover from their attack and get ready to try again. Playing on the higher of the game’s two difficulty settings does help with this, as enemies deal more damage and take longer to kill, but they still often felt like a chore. Larger areas that housed several enemies of several types did make for fun battles, but I found that those didn’t come as often as I would have liked. A few more sections like that would have been a welcome addition.
Boss fights, on the other hand, were incredibly fun. They deal quite a bit of damage while also needing to take a fair bit to kill, so they really test your ability to use Little Witch Nobeta’s combat system. I found myself dying against several bosses while trying to figure out their attacks on the easier difficulty, to say nothing of what happened on the harder one. The magic system allowing for easy changes to spell type helps make these fights even more fun by allowing you to quickly change up your tactics if you find that the one you’re using isn’t working as well as you would have liked. Bosses are where this game is at its absolute best, and for a game as short as Little Witch Nobeta, there are a good number of them, which is fantastic. I could spend hours running through a boss rush mode if there was one.
Another issue that I brought up in my preview was that I would have liked the world of Little Witch Nobeta to be a little more open, and I am pleased to report that it does feel like it opens up a bit more as you progress through the game. You gain access to earlier areas of the castle as you go, and there’s even an unlockable Teleport ability to help you get around even faster. It’s a great help in finding any treasure chests you may have missed or getting back to puzzles you were previously unable to solve. Personally, I would have liked it to be a bit more open by way of more interconnected passageways, but you are eventually able to travel back to any part of the castle with relative ease, so in reality, it’s not much of an issue. Unlocking Teleport expedites the return process even further, making it even harder to complain.
For a game that would make most anybody do a double take because of its mixture of anime art style, action shooter genre, and soulslike gameplay, Little Witch Nobeta comes together very well as a whole. The shooter components are enjoyable to play with and offer enough diversity to give you several options for battles. The soulslike parts add fun and difficulty, as well as a tiny bit of a strategic element in the upgrade system. And though the story isn’t grandiose or deep, with most of the worldbuilding coming in the form of the stories attached to items found throughout the castle, there’s enough to carry the game forward, which is fine by me. It’s not perfect, but the game is nothing if not fun, and I’ll definitely be coming back to play some more of it.
Little Witch Nobeta releases for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on March 7, 2023. It is available now for PC via Steam.
Little Witch Nobeta
To unveil the secret of her past, Nobeta the little witch arrived at the castle alone. After her encounter with the mysterious black cat, she battled her way through powerful crafted souls and studied powerful magics and abilities. What secret awaits her in the depth of the castle? Switch version reviewed.
Little Witch Nobeta combines the fun of a shooter with the difficulty of a soulslike with an anime sense of style in a natural way.
Food for Thought
- Cooperation between the soulslike and shooter elements of the game are highlighted in boss fights but can sometimes otherwise fall flat.
- The easier difficulty mode is a great accessibility option for those new to the genre.
- Having multiple types of spells helps vary the play style options.
The game also offers a challenging difficulty level, with intense boss battles that require precise timing and strategy to defeat. Players will need to learn the attack patterns of each boss and adapt their tactics accordingly. In addition to its gameplay, Little Witch Nobeta also features beautiful visuals and a captivating soundtrack that helps to immerse players in its magical world. The attention to detail and artistry of the game's design further enhances the overall experience. Overall, Little Witch Nobeta is a unique and engaging game that combines action, strategy, and exploration in a magical setting. Whether you are a fan of action-adventure games or simply enjoy a captivating story, this game is worth checking out. So, grab your broomstick and get ready to embark on a thrilling journey with Little Witch Nobeta!.
Reviews for "The Art of Witchcraft in Little Witch Nobeta"
1. Emily - 2/5
Little Witch Nobeta was a major disappointment for me. The game had such potential with its unique concept of a young witch exploring a magical world, but the execution fell flat. Firstly, the controls were incredibly clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to navigate through the game. Additionally, the graphics were underwhelming, lacking the vibrant and immersive visuals I was hoping for. The combat system felt repetitive and lacked depth, leading to a monotonous gameplay experience. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this game to others.
2. James - 1/5
I found Little Witch Nobeta to be a complete waste of time and money. The game lacked any sort of engaging storyline, leaving me uninterested in the characters or the world they inhabit. The gameplay was incredibly repetitive, featuring the same enemy types with minimal variation. To make matters worse, the game was riddled with bugs and glitches that hindered my progress and made it impossible to fully enjoy the experience. I regret purchasing this game and would advise others to stay away.
3. Sarah - 3/5
Little Witch Nobeta had some positive aspects, but it was overshadowed by its numerous flaws. The game had potential with its interesting mechanics and magical theme, but it lacked depth and substance. The levels felt repetitive, and the puzzles were too simplistic, offering little challenge. Additionally, the voice acting was subpar, lacking emotion and immersion. While I appreciate the effort put into this game, I can't wholeheartedly recommend it due to its shortcomings.