Little Witch Nobeta is a popular video game that follows the story of a young witch named Nobeta. The game is set in a mystical world where magic and fantasy coexist. Nobeta is a lively and curious character who embarks on an adventure to uncover the truth about her own identity and powers. Throughout the game, players control Nobeta as she battles enemies and overcomes various obstacles. Her main weapon is a magical staff that allows her to cast powerful spells and abilities. As the game progresses, Nobeta gains new abilities and upgrades her equipment, making her stronger and more capable of facing increasingly challenging enemies.
Where the visuals shine are in its animations. Everything has a realistic, weighty quality to it, no matter the importance of character or enemy. The mere act of smacking an enemy around feels good because of how well the animations, sound, and impact convey it all. You can also tell that the developers put special emphasis on Nobeta’s animations in particular. They loved her as much as they wanted the player to, and by the end I was pretty attached to the little mischief-maker. From start to credits, the way she moves, speaks, and reacts is as adorable as it is endearing.
Though it has been a Steam Early Access game, with its first 40 or so playable for around two years, I only just recently stumbled upon some footage of this game in action and immediately knew that I had to try it out when the final release dropped for multiple systems in early October. The provided moveset is limited, but it never becomes especially dull since, as enemies are slain, they drop a currency used to upgrade various stats of Nobeta, such as her basic stats, magical damage, and even casting speed.
As the game progresses, Nobeta gains new abilities and upgrades her equipment, making her stronger and more capable of facing increasingly challenging enemies. One of the unique aspects of Little Witch Nobeta is its fast-paced combat system. Players can combine different spells and abilities to execute devastating combos and defeat their foes.
Little Witch Nobeta – Review
Back in 2020, a game called Little Witch Nobeta was put into Steam’s Early Access. It immediately gained popularity thanks to its blend of a cute anime aesthetic and Dark Souls-inspired gameplay. Now, it’s finally seen its release and is a fully completed game, so how does it fare?
In Search of the Throne
Nobeta, the titular witch, is off to a strange ruin in search of answers about who she is. Leading her along is a prickly, impatient black cat that also seems to be keeping secrets from her. According to the black cat, the only thing that they should be worried about is reaching “the throne”, everything else is superfluous. Along the way, Nobeta will face off against various strange entities called Crafted Souls, autonomous dolls that harbor souls which can experience conscious thought.
Despite Crafted Souls being your enemies, there is a bittersweetness to the encounters involving them. Simply due to their nature of not being human, they’re forced to fight Nobeta just so they can keep on living and not have their thoughts and dreams fade. This, in turn, gives Nobeta a sense of humanity as she starts to question the things happening around her, causing tension and friction with the black cat. The more you play through the story, the more Nobeta’s sense of personhood comes to the forefront.
It’s not a very involved story, especially considering the generally low number of cutscenes the game has, but I did like it for what it was. The narrative left a nice trail of breadcrumbs on the adventure’s critical path that made it just that much more fulfilling to play. It’s esoteric, as Souls-likes usually are, and the only way you’ll really piece together the full scope of what’s happening here is through optional items and pickups. It wraps the whole game in a nice and alluring bow of mystery.
Trials of the Little Witch
The castle is fraught with danger that comes in many different forms. From perilous platforming, traps, hazards, enemies, and so on, you’ll find no shortage of things out to kill Nobeta. One thing you’ll be quick to learn as you make your way through each location is that you can never pay too much attention to your surroundings. Enemies are all too eager to flank you and make you look like a fool if you don’t cover all your bases. Some will sneak up on you at harrowingly fast speeds, others will throw projectiles on you, and some may fall from above and flatten you.
Luckily, Nobeta’s more than equipped for the job if you know what you’re doing. She has some weight behind her, making each action you take feel like a commitment. Just brainlessly trying to smack at an enemy won’t get you far. Like the games that inspired it, learning enemy patterns and reading their movements before going on the offensive is the key to success here. Thanks to excellent animation, keyframing, and being deceptive enough to trip me up the first few times, enemies are a joy to overcome.
You can parry oncoming attacks, dodge roll, or jump away from enemy attacks. Although enemies may come in numbers that feel daunting, dispatching them is always a possibility thanks to great overall difficulty balancing. Once you do defeat enemies, you’re rewarded with Crafted Souls, which can be spent at the game’s various save points. Spending Crafted Souls allows you to buy items like healing or magic restoration, or level up Nobeta’s stats. If you think you can grind up her stats to a point where you’re unstoppable, think again. While leveling up does make a difference in the long run, what ultimately still matters most is your skill at the game.
Additionally, dying will only cause you to drop some of your Crafted Souls rather than all of them, making death less penalizing. Couple this with the game’s generally more straightforward level design, and you’re left with a great entrypoint into the genre.
What’s A Witch Without Magic?
By casting a variety of spells received over the course of the game, Nobeta is quite capable of toppling anything that may get in her way. By default, she can fire magic of different elemental varieties and effects. This can include a shotgun-like fire spell, a sniper-like lightning spell, rapid-fire ice spells, and a simple arcane magic spell. All of this magic is good, and it feels like every option warrants using depending on the situation. Depending on how you personally play, you may wind up leaning towards a favorite magic. Personally, I ended up swapping between them all on a regular basis.
That’s not all the power these elements hold, however. Through the power of chanting incantation, Nobeta can temporarily strengthen both herself and the next elemental magic she fires off. If you like using physical attacks and parries, you can use a Fire chant and bolster your damage output. If you want to get a read on the situation you’re in, need to use an item, or make a quick escape from danger—slow time with a Lightning incantation. Ice incantations will help to nullify some damage and give you super armor, allowing you to more easily tank hits from powerful enemies.
While these incantations are strong, the chants you have to perform while doing them will leave you especially vulnerable for a time. They also take a good amount of time to cast, meaning that you have to learn an enemy’s patterns well before you can reap the benefits. By attacking an enemy beforehand or dodging an attack at just the right time, you can drastically speed up casting time and fire away spells in more rapid succession.
When combined with learning boss and enemy patterns, incantations give the combat an awesome sense of rhythm. Dodging, finding openings to land attacks, and firing away spells at a quick pace makes the combat and its systems a joy to master. This is elevated further by the bosses themselves being a treat to fight against, with each having difficult and appropriately stressful attack patterns and damage output.
Sights of the Strange Castle
Little Witch Nobeta is an okay-looking game that is mostly elevated by great character and enemy design. While most environments prioritize function over form, other areas can look quite striking thanks to good visual design and lighting. It’s thanks to the aforementioned characters that the game’s visuals stuck with me well after I finished it. You’ve got weird, lifeless mannequins strewn about the scenery and giant dolls that attack you with enormous clippers. It’s uncanny in a way that’s both intentional and effective.
Where the visuals shine are in its animations. Everything has a realistic, weighty quality to it, no matter the importance of character or enemy. The mere act of smacking an enemy around feels good because of how well the animations, sound, and impact convey it all. You can also tell that the developers put special emphasis on Nobeta’s animations in particular. They loved her as much as they wanted the player to, and by the end I was pretty attached to the little mischief-maker. From start to credits, the way she moves, speaks, and reacts is as adorable as it is endearing.
Verdict
My only complaint with Little Witch Nobeta is that I wish there was just more of it to enjoy. Even for a Souls-like game, it’s pretty short and I clocked in about 9 hours before the credits rolled. That said, within that time span, I was left consistently impressed by its razor-sharp level design, strong enemy and boss design, and smart application of its unique mechanics. Nobeta may be little, but she leaves a big impression.
Additionally, the game features a variety of enemies, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, which adds depth to the combat experience. In addition to its combat-focused gameplay, Little Witch Nobeta also features puzzle-solving elements. Players must use their intelligence and observation skills to solve various puzzles and progress through the game's world. These puzzles serve as a refreshing break from the action and add an extra layer of complexity to the gameplay. Graphically, Little Witch Nobeta is visually stunning. The game's world is beautifully designed, filled with vibrant colors and intricate details. The character models and animations are fluid and well-crafted. The attention to detail in the game's visuals further immerses players in the enchanting world of Little Witch Nobeta. The storyline of Little Witch Nobeta is engaging and full of mysteries. As players accompany Nobeta on her journey, they uncover the secrets of her past and the truth behind her powers. The game's narrative keeps players engaged and eager to uncover more about the intriguing world and characters. Overall, Little Witch Nobeta is an enjoyable and captivating game. With its unique combat system, challenging puzzles, stunning visuals, and intriguing storyline, it offers a complete gaming experience. Whether you are a fan of action games, puzzles, or captivating narratives, Little Witch Nobeta has something to offer for everyone..
Reviews for "Lessons We Can Learn from "Little Witch Nobera"."
1. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I found "Little Witch Novera" to be incredibly disappointing. The animation quality was subpar and the characters lacked depth. The storyline felt rushed and uninteresting, making it hard to stay engaged throughout the series. Additionally, the humor often fell flat and didn't resonate with me. Overall, I was left unimpressed and would not recommend this show to others.
2. Michael - 2/5 stars - While "Little Witch Novera" had potential, it ultimately fell short for me. The concept was unique and had the opportunity to explore interesting themes, but the execution was lacking. The characters felt one-dimensional, and the storyline became repetitive and predictable. The animation was decent, but not enough to carry the show. I was hoping for more depth and complexity, but it turned out to be a forgettable experience.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - "Little Witch Novera" failed to capture my attention. The plot lacked originality and felt like a watered-down version of other magical girl anime. The character development was weak, and I couldn't connect with any of them on a deeper level. The comedy aspect was hit or miss, with some jokes falling flat and others feeling forced. Overall, it was a forgettable and uninspiring series that I wouldn't recommend investing time in.
4. Benjamin - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Little Witch Novera" based on the positive reviews, but it left me disappointed. The animation was average at best, and the characters felt cliché and underdeveloped. The storylines lacked depth and complexity, and I found myself losing interest quickly. The humor was juvenile and failed to make me laugh. Overall, it fell short of my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it to others unless they are die-hard fans of the genre.
5. Jessica - 1/5 stars - "Little Witch Novera" was a complete letdown for me. The animation looked cheap and poorly done. The characters were annoying and lacked any real depth or growth. The storyline was predictable and lacked any real excitement or intrigue. I couldn't find anything redeeming about this series and found it to be a waste of my time. I would not recommend it to anyone.