Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a poor couple. The couple wished for a child but had been unable to conceive for many years. One day, while the husband was working in the fields, he came across a magical pot half-buried in the ground. Intrigued, he dug it out and took it home to show his wife. As the couple examined the pot, they noticed strange symbols engraved on its surface. Curiosity got the better of them, and they decided to recite the symbols out loud.
Ultimately, my biggest complaint is the font size, and geez, WitchSpring3 Re:Fine has the smallest text possible! I know the Nintendo Switch Lite—which I used for my review—has a smaller screen size, but the text is so small that I had to play with the Switch fairly close to my face. This might not be a problem for most players, but it’s definitely an accessibility concern. Perhaps there will be an update to remedy this, though I wouldn’t count on it. For now, be prepared to dock your Switch if you want to see the text without exhausting your eyes. Otherwise, the numerous text boxes will strain your vision, making this a fairly frustrating experience.
And while I love her over-the-top outfit, love the fact she wields a sword and magic, and find the concept of a witch who works with dolls pretty neat, she often felt a bit bland, even in the midst of character growth. And while I love her over-the-top outfit, love the fact she wields a sword and magic, and find the concept of a witch who works with dolls pretty neat, she often felt a bit bland, even in the midst of character growth.
Curiosity got the better of them, and they decided to recite the symbols out loud. To their amazement, the pot started to shake and emit a soft glow. Suddenly, a cloud of smoke billowed out, and when it cleared, the couple saw a beautiful baby boy lying inside the pot! Overwhelmed with joy, they named the baby Peter and raised him as their own.
REVIEW: ‘WitchSpring3 Re:Fine’ Is Charming, Cute, and Full of Potential, But Still Feels Lacking (Switch)
WitchSpring3 Re:Fine – The Story of Eirudy, the Marionette Witch ( WitchSpring3 Re:Fine ) was initially developed Kiwi Walks as a mobile game and originally published in South Korea by Clouded Leopard Entertainment. Now, however, WitchSpring3 Re:Fine is now seeing wider releases globally on the Nintendo Switch thanks to I NIN Games.
Our story follows Eirudy, a white-haired witch who lives separate from the world. Her sole companions are her enchanted puppets, which Eirudy attempts to make capable of speech. But Eriudy’s world gets turned upside down when she finds soldiers in her quiet neck of the woods. Things only get more tangled when Eirudy meets a young man who opens up her entire world.
WitchSpring3 Re:Fine is billed as a unique RPG, but honestly, it isn’t. In fact, I’d say WitchSpring3 Re:Fine reminded me a bit of Rune Factory and older Atelier titles, like Atelier Annie on the Nintendo DS. I was also reminded of Final Fantasy, but I think that might not be fair in the case of WitchSpring3 Re:Fine, and might be too easy of a comparison. What does set the game apart is its Magic Circle system, which come in two flavors: Main Magic Circles and Supportive Magic Circles. The former determines the element and strength, while the latter offers buffs that alter the magic itself. While a bit tricky to understand at first, I found with a bit of reading and some close attention, I understood the system well enough.
Still, the game has the vibe of a lot of fantasy RPGs, pulling on elemental magic, genre typical beasties, and the like to create the world that Eirudy inhabits. The turn-based battle system is familiar enough that players of all levels can easily adapt to it without too many hiccups. Basically, if you’ve ever played or watched someone play a JRPG, you’ll be okay. There’s also some material-gathering you’ll do, which reminded me of the Atelier series , where material gathering is key to crafting.
In fact, gathering is your first task in the game, as are many rote RPG mechanics that help you get accustomed to this world. This definitely becomes apparent in the in-game battle system. Battles are turn-based: players. In the case of Eirudy, this is a combination of magic and swordplay, with both being blended for magical swipes against enemies. But for the most part, everything present here will be familiar to most players picking up this title.
Interestingly, WitchSpring3 Re:Fine is also billed as a stand-alone title in the WitchSpring universe, and by and large, that’s pretty true. I felt like I could enter the WitchSpring universe in this game without prior knowledge. It’s not always perfect, but you can, by and large, handwave any confusion away or simply lean on prior JRPG settings for personal explanations. There are some occasions where you’ll need to pay attention, but for the most part, everything is stored in your in-game Journal, which will help you keep track of the story at large. Plus, you’ll get some good training right upfront.
The game features multiple languages with a Japan dub track. That means that players who choose from one of the game’s five languages—Japanese, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and English—will still hear Eirudy and company in Japanese beneath the subtitles. However, players will also be able to enjoy Korean voice acting, which I personally feel makes Eirudy shine a bit more. It’s a shame too because Eirudy’s Japanese voice actor, Marika Kouna, has done loads of popular anime and video game character voices.
I’ll credit Kouna’s performance to the director, and not to her skills. It feels like she was asked to give a more reserved performance versus injecting a bit of warmth into Eirudy most of the time. Then again, you could argue that that fits Eirudy’s characterization in the game. However, I definitely recommend you play this with the Korean voice actors instead. I need to give Eirudy’s Korean voice actor a lot of credit: she really conveyed a lot of nuance in Eirudy’s voice, which felt a bit muddled in the Japanese performance of her character. It perks up Eirudy and gives a bit of flavor to her, even though she’s still largely solemn. I also recommend rebalancing the voice acting as soon as you can because they’re a bit hard to hear beneath the booming BGM. Unfortunately, you won’t get to adjust it until you can access the in-game menu, as well as all the options.
Speaking of Eirudy, initially the Nameless Witch, I found her… interesting. Sometimes I liked her, but most of the time, I wasn’t very charmed by her. And while I love her over-the-top outfit, love the fact she wields a sword and magic, and find the concept of a witch who works with dolls pretty neat, she often felt a bit bland, even in the midst of character growth. I might be being a tad bit hard on her character, but I don’t find her memory. She got lost amidst remembering the plot, trying to read pop-up windows, and remembering some of the game’s mechanics.
Graphically, the game looks like a dollhouse and kind of feels like you’re playing pretend, in a way. Everything is in chibi miniature with a storybook-esque feel. The game flips to stunning illustrated stills for character moments. Both styles give the game a magical vibe, which is fitting for a story about a witch. I’m especially fond of Eirudy’s very magical costume: it has that fantasy witch vibe down pat!
That said, WitchSpring3 Re:Fine also looks like it belongs on a smartphone, not the Nintendo Switch. It has that puni plush-esque vibe where everything is squishy. Then again, this kind of tracks for this entry into the series. After all, WitchvSpring3 started life as a mobile game. This is a port of that game, with some artistic updates. It makes me curious how this game looked back on smartphones.
Ultimately, my biggest complaint is the font size, and geez, WitchSpring3 Re:Fine has the smallest text possible! I know the Nintendo Switch Lite—which I used for my review—has a smaller screen size, but the text is so small that I had to play with the Switch fairly close to my face. This might not be a problem for most players, but it’s definitely an accessibility concern. Perhaps there will be an update to remedy this, though I wouldn’t count on it. For now, be prepared to dock your Switch if you want to see the text without exhausting your eyes. Otherwise, the numerous text boxes will strain your vision, making this a fairly frustrating experience.
Even with the temptation of multiple ends, I couldn’t find it in me to keep on playing around in Eirudy’s world. That might be due to the general sluggish feel of moving around her world, the uninteresting plot, and the general “mobile game port” feeling that left me wishing this had been built a bit differently for the Switch. It’s cute, but… that’s kind of where I fell off. Cute wasn’t enough to do it for me this time, nor was it enough to keep me engaged with Eirudy and her world. Whatever combination of things it was, WitchSpring3: Re:Fine just isn’t the game for me, and that’s okay.
Ultimately, WitchSpring3 Re:Fine is a perfectly average title with its highs and lows. It’s not my kind of game, but I’m certainly glad that fans of this Korean franchise will be getting a chance to have it on a major platform. Bogged down by the shadow of its mobile game past, WitchSpring3 Re:Fine will probably appeal, primarily, to fans of the franchise. Newcomers might find this entry hit or miss: it just depends on if Eirudy and her story grab your attention. I will say that the Magic Circle system—this is used to power up your magic—was a bit confusing. That might be due to the overwhelming amount of info stuffed into each textbox, which unfortunately suffers from the small font size.
As Peter grew up, the couple quickly discovered that their son possessed extraordinary powers. He could make objects levitate with a flick of his wrist and had an uncanny ability to heal the sick. The villagers soon caught wind of Peter's magical abilities and flocked to witness his incredible powers. Word of the amazing "pot baby" spread far and wide, attracting visitors from neighboring villages and even from distant lands. The couple became famous and never had to worry about their poverty again. They set up a small performance area in their backyard, where Peter would entertain and astonish the crowd with his magical abilities. People would come from far and wide to see the "pot baby" perform his extraordinary feats. With time, Peter grew into a wise and compassionate young man. He used his powers for good, healing the sick and helping those in need. The fame and fortune that came with his abilities did not corrupt him; instead, he remained humble and grateful for the chance he had been given. However, as Peter grew older, he began to feel a sense of emptiness. Despite his magical abilities and the admiration of the villagers, he yearned for a deeper connection and a sense of purpose beyond his powers. Realizing that true happiness lies in human relationships and love, Peter decided to leave his prosperous life behind and set out on a journey to find his true identity. In his travels, Peter encountered an ancient sorcerer who revealed the truth about his origins. The sorcerer explained that he had been sent to the couple through the magical pot as a gift from the gods. Peter's destiny was to use his powers to bring joy and wonder to the world, but he was also meant to seek his own path and create his own identity. With this newfound knowledge, Peter returned to his village, but this time, he used his powers not for fame or fortune but to bring happiness and inspiration to the lives of others. He became a beloved figure in the village, not just for his magical abilities but for his kindness and wisdom. The story of the "pot baby" spread even further, now as a tale of self-discovery and the importance of finding one's own path. Peter's journey taught the villagers that it is not the gifts we possess that define us but the choices we make and the love we share with others. And so, the tale of the "pot baby" lived on, a reminder that true magic lies not in the extraordinary abilities we possess but in the goodness of our hearts. So, those who had the chance to witness the magic of the "pot baby" were inspired to search for their own paths, discover their own identities, and spread love and kindness to all they encountered..
Reviews for "The Magical Pot Baby and the Quest for Fulfillment"
1. Amanda - 2/5
I found "Magical pot baby" to be quite disappointing. The writing style was inconsistent, making it difficult to follow the storyline. The plot itself was weak and lacked depth, leaving me bored and uninterested. The characters felt one-dimensional, with no real development or relatability. Overall, I did not enjoy my reading experience and would not recommend this book to others.
2. Thomas - 1/5
"Magical pot baby" was a complete waste of my time. The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was incredibly poor. The dialogue felt forced, the pacing was off, and the entire story seemed like a jumble of random events thrown together without any coherent direction. The author's attempt at humor fell flat, and I struggled to find any redeeming qualities in this book. I regret reading it and would advise others to steer clear.
3. Sophie - 2/5
I had high hopes for "Magical pot baby," but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The writing was amateurish and lacked polish. The characters were poorly developed, and their motivations were unclear. The plot was predictable and did not offer any surprises or unique elements. While the idea behind the story had potential, the execution was lacking, resulting in a disappointing read. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-crafted and engaging story.