Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a role-playing video game developed by Level-5. It was first released in Japan for the PlayStation 3 in 2011, and later translated into English and released worldwide in 2013. The game features a unique art style created by Studio Ghibli, the renowned Japanese animation studio known for films such as Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro. The story follows a young boy named Oliver who sets out on a journey to save his mother after she dies suddenly. With the help of a mysterious doll named Mr. Drippy, Oliver travels to an alternate world called Ni no Kuni, where he discovers that he has the ability to use magic.
Her other attacks are fairly strong, but not nearly as worrisome. Star Bolt is easily defended against, her physical attacks can be avoided by casting spells from a distance, and Pillars of Darkness is a powerful attack but you can see where it's going to hit. Do be sure to defend against it if possible.
If Cassiopeia has her blue stripes on, certainly use All-Out Attacks; conversely, if her red stripes show, play defensively and use All-Out Defense along with healing. Genus Nobilia Resistance None Elemental Weakness None Tricks Pillars of Darkness, Star Bolt, Fallen Star, Nightshade Wrathful Rush, Harrowing Horns, Death Drop, Annihilation Items Dropped None Location Ivory Tower.
Drippy, Oliver travels to an alternate world called Ni no Kuni, where he discovers that he has the ability to use magic. In Ni no Kuni, magic is obtained by forming bonds with creatures called familiars. These familiars can be captured and trained to fight alongside Oliver in battles.
Ni no kunu white witch
Originally released in 2011, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch was actually an enhanced version of a DS game released a year prior. At the time, it was a PS3 exclusive, a console I did not own then and still don’t own to this day. It was one of those games that always made me want to buy a used PS3 just so I could experience it, alongside a few Yakuza titles as well as Resistance. That was until Bandai Namco announced a remastered version of the game for modern consoles, with the exception of the poor Xbox One. I could finally play Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch and find out what I have been missing.
Putting Studio Ghibli’s storytelling skills to the test.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way, shall we? Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is one of the most gosh darn beautiful games ever conceived. The Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Ponyo) art style is instantly recognizable and looks fantastic to this day. It’s like as if the game hasn’t aged a single minute ever since it was released years ago. Everything, from characters to environments, is just pleasing to the eyes. The fully animated cutscenes feature the same quality as Studio Ghibli’s best works, making you want to progress through the story in order to be rewarded with another beautiful clip. The framerate is equally fantastic and the characters look like proper cartoons, even though they’re polygonal.
The same can be said about the sound design. From the second Ni No Kuni starts, you’re greeted to a big orchestral tune that makes you feel like you’re on an epic journey, and it never slows down from then on. The soundtrack is incredibly well-composed, making even the most mundane of tasks, such as traversing a forest in the beginning of the game, sound like the climax of most adventures games or movies. The voice acting is also pretty good. At first, I thought I’d hate it, given how the game’s protagonists are a little kid and a comic relief with a Scottish accent. I ended up warming up to both, to the point I started caring about them and even laughed a few times due to their dialogue exchanges.
Every cartoon/movie/game animated by Ghibli always has these dead-eyed monsters with simple faces.
The gameplay is where people will either love or hate Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. It features tons of typical elements from the most common of JRPGs, such as leveling up, various equipment, a bit of grinding (but nothing too absurd), item crafting, puzzle-solving, sidequests, and an overworld populated by monsters and NPCs. There is also a bit of Pokémon thrown into the mix. You can fight alongside little creatures called “familiars” and you can capture and train them. It’s like as if Ni No Kuni saw everything that had ever been added to a JRPG prior to its release and decided to include it in its gameplay in order to try to appeal to every niche possible.
The combat system is very divisive. It feels a bit like a mix between a Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts game. It’s not exactly turn-based, as you can freely walk around the small arena you’re confined to, but it’s not a full action RPG system either. You walk around and then select your actions, such as a normal attack or a spell, with each action featuring a small cooldown to prevent you from spamming them. You can also collect health and magic restoring items if you either kill an enemy or successfully defend an attack. It’s a bit confusing, as the game takes an eternity to explain you all of its features, to the point it even acknowledges that there is too much to learn. Even though I did enjoy the combat system, as it allows for a lot of different strategies, I wouldn’t try to argue against someone who ended up disliking the game because of it.
It’s like a bit of Final Fantasy, and a bit of Pokémon, and a bit of Kingdom Hearts, and a bit of…
If someone had told me that this game wasn’t a remaster of a title originally released eight years ago, I would have totally believed them. Ni No Kuni hasn’t aged a bit. It looks astonishing, it features and epic soundtrack, it runs well and it has a metric ton of content. I’m delighted that I have finally played it, as it is a true testament of how video games can (and should) be considered art, even if it does feature a few annoying issues due to its excessively convoluted combat system.
Graphics: 10
Gameplay: 8.0
The combat system is a hybrid of real-time action and turn-based strategy, allowing players to switch between characters and familiars on the fly. Throughout the game, Oliver interacts with various characters and undertakes quests to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of the White Witch. The White Witch is a powerful sorceress who has been casting a dark spell over the world of Ni no Kuni, turning people into familiars and draining their emotions. The game features a vast and vibrant world to explore, with diverse landscapes and towns to visit. Players can engage in side quests, collectibles, and participate in casino games for additional rewards. The game also includes a variety of puzzles and challenges that require the player's problem-solving skills. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch received critical acclaim for its captivating story, stunning visuals, and engaging gameplay. It was praised for its emotional storytelling, memorable characters, and the collaboration between Level-5 and Studio Ghibli. The game was later remastered and released for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC, allowing more players to experience the enchanting world of Ni no Kuni..
Reviews for "The Impact of Ni no Kuni: White Witch on Japanese Pop Culture"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with Ni no Kuni: White Witch. The graphics were beautiful, but the gameplay felt repetitive and dull. The combat system was too simplistic, and I didn't feel connected to the characters or the story. Additionally, the side quests felt like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience. Overall, I found the game to be underwhelming and didn't live up to the hype surrounding it.
2. Sarah - 1 star - Ni no Kuni: White Witch was a complete letdown for me. The story felt convoluted and confusing, making it hard to stay engaged. The voice acting was lackluster and didn't bring any depth to the characters. The AI of the companions was incredibly frustrating, often making poor decisions during combat. I also encountered several technical issues, such as game crashes and freezing, which further dampened my experience. I was looking forward to an immersive and enjoyable RPG, but unfortunately, this game fell short on all fronts for me.
3. Mark - 2 stars - I had high expectations for Ni no Kuni: White Witch, but it turned out to be a disappointment. The gameplay mechanics felt clunky, and the controls were not intuitive. The difficulty spikes were unforgiving, making progress feel like a slog. The world design, although visually stunning, lacked exploration and felt linear. The story didn't captivate me, and the characters were forgettable. Overall, I found the game to be a mediocre RPG that failed to deliver a compelling experience.
4. Anna - 2 stars - Ni no Kuni: White Witch didn't live up to the hype for me. The gameplay felt repetitive and monotonous, with little variety in combat and quests. The pacing of the story was off, with long stretches of uneventful moments followed by rushed plot developments. The dialogue and character interactions lacked depth and emotion, making it hard to invest in the narrative. Despite its beautiful visuals, the game lacked substance and failed to keep me engaged for long periods of time.