Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a popular role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and Studio Ghibli. It was originally released in 2011 for the Nintendo DS, and later remastered and re-released in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows. The game tells the story of Oliver, a young boy who embarks on a journey to a parallel world in order to save his mother. Throughout his adventure, Oliver befriends a variety of unique creatures known as "familiars," which he can use in battle against enemies. One of the main decisions players have to make when considering Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is which platform to play it on. The game is available on multiple platforms, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
The game is available on multiple platforms, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. For players who prefer a portable gaming experience, the Nintendo DS version of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch offers the ability to play on the go. This can be especially appealing for individuals who frequently travel or have a busy lifestyle.
Review: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (Switch)
Many years ago, I sat down on a lazy Saturday afternoon and turned on Cartoon Network, which was just starting to show a trippy little Japanese film called Spirited Away , produced by a company named Studio Ghibli . I figured I’d watch it for maybe 10 minutes– I ended up watching the whole thing. It was an incredible feat of cinema, deserving of the Oscar it won for Best Animated Feature . Several years later, the film studio that created Spirited Away was enlisted to help developer Level-5 craft, of all things, a video game, even going so far as to bring in the composer of that film to work on the game’s soundtrack. The result was Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch , which released for PlayStation 3 in Japan in 2011, and later in the United States in 2013. Now that gem is getting a re-release, as a port on Switch and a full remaster on PlayStation 4 and PC. (The Switch version runs at 720p at 30 frames per second, while the remaster versions run 1080p at 60 fps or 4K at 30 fps.) All versions retail for $49.99 at launch.
Ni no Kuni is, in many respects, a classic JRPG experience. You have a young protagonist, an epic journey, turn-based combat, experience points and leveling up, equipment, items, spells, dungeons, and, of course, a plot twist. Players assume the role of Oliver, a young boy from the fictional city of Motortown, who finds himself entering an alternate world of high fantasy in the hopes of saving something dear to him. It’s a charming narrative from start to finish. It probably goes without saying that the production values are stellar. The game uses both animated cutscenes and scenes using the in-game engine, and the animated cutscenes are gorgeous, hand-drawn affairs straight out of the Studio Ghibli playbook. Even the scenes that use the in-game engine, though, are pretty, and show an impeccable attention to art style that you don’t often see in video games. These people are artists, and it shows.
The sound is just as good. Composer Joe Hisaishi, known for a number of Ghibli films, brings a golden touch to a soundtrack that is grand, timeless, and enchanting. You can tell just from the opening menu’s theme that this game is going to be good, and it never lets up. The voice acting is also good, with a range of British voice actors who do their job to great effect.
In terms of combat, Oliver is a mage who can enter the fray personally, but he also has the ability to collect and use “familiars,” animal-like beings that give the game a bit of a Pokémon vibe. These familiars can be augmented in a number of ways, including through feedings. Oliver and his familiars are joined by others throughout a quest that sees the stakes shift in interesting ways.
Running around through this hand-drawn world is a joy, be it facing off against ruthless monsters or trying to restore the hearts of people who have been decimated by the world’s grave evil. There’s a lot to do in this game, and the narrative provides ample incentive to do a lot of it. The early hours are a well-paced tutorial, while the later game gives players a chance to really fine-tune their exploration and combat chops.
I’ve played both the PlayStation 3 and Switch versions, and I’m happy to say that the Switch version is a faithful, clean port. From my vantage point, framerate and textures all look great. Of course, this is a port of a 2011 game, so one would expect Switch to be able to handle it, but it’s still nice that it came out so well. I have no doubt that the remastered versions on PlayStation 4 and PC are also beautiful, but I don’t think a player would go wrong with this version.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a game good for dozens of hours of gameplay, and while it’s not an original property for Switch, it is a really glorious addition to the system’s library. Players who enjoy JRPGs with lots of style and even more heart will find this to be well worth the purchase. Highly recommended.
Nintendojo was provided a copy of this game for review by a third party, though that does not affect our recommendation. For every review, Nintendojo uses a standard criteria.
However, the Nintendo DS version does not have the same graphics and visuals as its remastered counterparts, which may be a downside for players who value high-quality graphics. On the other hand, the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows versions of the game offer improved graphics and enhanced gameplay. These versions take advantage of the more powerful hardware available on these platforms, resulting in a visually stunning and immersive experience. Additionally, the remastered versions of the game include additional content and features that were not present in the original Nintendo DS release. Ultimately, the platform choice for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch will depend on the individual player's preferences and priorities. Whether they prioritize portability or visual fidelity, there is a platform option available to suit their needs. Regardless of the platform chosen, players are sure to enjoy the enchanting world and captivating story of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch..
Reviews for "Comparing Loading Times and Game Installations on Different Platforms for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch"
- Jane - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch's platform choices. The game was originally released on PlayStation 3, but when it was remastered, it was only made available for PlayStation 4 and PC. As someone who doesn't own either of those platforms, I felt left out and frustrated. I was really looking forward to playing the remastered version, but now I can't unless I buy a new gaming system or a gaming PC. It's really disappointing when developers limit their audience like this.
- Mark - 1 star
I couldn't even enjoy Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch because of its platform choices. I own an Xbox One and I was really excited when the game was announced for a remastered version. However, it was a major letdown when I found out that the remastered version was only available for PlayStation 4 and PC. It makes no sense to me why they would exclude such a large fanbase by not releasing it for Xbox. I hope in the future they consider their fans who may not have a PlayStation or PC and release games on multiple platforms.
- Sarah - 2 stars
I was really looking forward to playing Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch, but I was disappointed by the limited platform choices. I own a Nintendo Switch and was hoping for a version of the game on that platform. It's frustrating when developers only release games on select platforms, leaving out a whole group of potential players. I hope in the future they consider releasing their games on multiple platforms to give more people the opportunity to enjoy their work.