In the world of role-playing games, there are countless characters and stories that come to life. One such game that has garnered a dedicated following is "The Witch and the Hundred Soldier Metallia." This game combines fantasy, adventure, and strategy, immersing players into a unique and captivating narrative. The central character of the game is Metallia, a powerful, enigmatic witch. Players control Metallia as she embarks on a quest to destroy the legendary witches who have sealed her in a swamp for centuries. Metallia is a complex character, possessing both dark and light qualities.
The gameplay is typical hack and slash, with you being able to equip hundred Knight with up to five weapons, two pieces of armor, and two accessories that can help boost defense/offense. A meter builds up to launch a powerful blast by pressing Triangle, which is followed by a very brief moment of invulnerability. As long as you have AP (action points), you can use up to four different skills mapped to the face buttons and activated by holding down R1. As you proceed through the game, you’ll unlock up to six different Facets, which you can equip up to three at a time. Each Facet has their own advantages/disadvantages, with one being more magic based and another better suited for defense. Eventually, you’ll also get to unlock Tochkas, little minions that can be summoned to aid in battle. The Tochkas come in five varieties, from a swarm of knights to a large tower gun that fires magic-based bullets. You’ll need to play with each of the Facets and see what works best. There is some strategy in which ones you need to use.
The costs are ridiculous when you compare similar items in other JRPGs, meaning you re better off getting enemies to drop healing items instead of stocking up by shopping. Undying Loyalty In spite of Teresa s claims of being a more legitimate witch and other attempts to sway Lucchini to her side, Lucchini had already pledged himself Lia and wants to honor that pledge.
Metallia is a complex character, possessing both dark and light qualities. She is often seen as a villain, but as the game progresses, players uncover her tragic backstory, revealing her motivations and the depths of her pain. This dichotomy makes her a compelling character to explore, as players are torn between sympathizing with her and being wary of her unpredictable nature.
The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 Review- Please, Let It End!
Some games should just be one-offs, but they get sequels anyway. The Witch and the Hundred Knight, first released on the PS3 in 2014 and then in an enhanced version for the PS4 in 2016, is such a game. The JRPG featured a witch named Metallia fighting her rival with Hundred Knight, a manania with multiple modes of battle. It had its moments and was even downright funny in spots, but it wasn’t anything that screamed to me, “Make a second game!” However, such things aren’t up to me, and so we get, built from the ground up for the PS4, the sequel, The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2.
This time around we get new characters on the world of Kevala. Amalie has a young sister named Milm, who suffers from Hexensyndrome, the “witch disease”. Amalie wants to cure Milm and becomes a Holy Valkyrie in the organization WR to find a cure. Before she can, Milm transforms into the witch Chelka, and things mushroom from there into a long, glacially told tale of Amalie trying to find a cure and a battle against witches for control of the world. And, of course, we have the head of the WR, Lord Theodore, who fancies himself a prophet, and has predicted the end of the world, and is adored by the masses. Naturally, things are not what they seem, but you may not care, even if you complete the 40 hour or so journey though the game’s nine chapters.
The problem is twofold. First, the story unfolds at a very slow pace, never truly building up your interest, only your impatience to get things moving along. Second, there are no really likeable characters (Milm comes closest, but just because she is the most innocent). Amalie’s an idiot, Chelka comes off as a lesser version of the first game’s Metallia, and the rest of the characters fall into assorted anime tropes, with some being a little amusing and others being outright annoying. Only Hundred Knight remains solid, and he does have a bit of a cute personality, though he can’t speak. But Hundred Knight is just a device to add gameplay outside of pressing X to advance dialogue in the static and slightly animated cut scenes.
The gameplay is typical hack and slash, with you being able to equip hundred Knight with up to five weapons, two pieces of armor, and two accessories that can help boost defense/offense. A meter builds up to launch a powerful blast by pressing Triangle, which is followed by a very brief moment of invulnerability. As long as you have AP (action points), you can use up to four different skills mapped to the face buttons and activated by holding down R1. As you proceed through the game, you’ll unlock up to six different Facets, which you can equip up to three at a time. Each Facet has their own advantages/disadvantages, with one being more magic based and another better suited for defense. Eventually, you’ll also get to unlock Tochkas, little minions that can be summoned to aid in battle. The Tochkas come in five varieties, from a swarm of knights to a large tower gun that fires magic-based bullets. You’ll need to play with each of the Facets and see what works best. There is some strategy in which ones you need to use.
Unfortunately, you can’t switch Facets in the field. That means warping back to your home base and swapping there. Fast travel is accomplished by activating Managlands, but there are long stretches in some areas where there are none to be found. Managlands also serve as your save points. Hundred Knight can regenerate health as long as he has Gigacalories (he uses these when you dodge attacks as well). When your Gigacalories hit zero and you’re out of healing items (of which you can only carry up to 10 of two types), you’re sent back to your last save point. Early on, this can get frustrating, as it’s easier to die. The game levels are not the best in design, as they often have convoluted paths from Point A to Point B. Add to that a poor map which can be hard to read (you can’t scan the full map or rotate it), and navigation can be a real chore.
You’ll also need to warp back to home base if you want to save any items you find in your journey. Items found by defeating enemies go into your stomach, with the exception of consumables. Die along the way and you can lose an item or two. Clearing a stage (done by warping from a Managland to home base) allows you to keep the items, which you can then equip, use for crafting, or sell for Shell, the game’s currency. Be warned you won’t get much for selling most items, and buying anything in the store is expensive (there is no way to make things cheaper). The costs are ridiculous when you compare similar items in other JRPGs, meaning you’re better off getting enemies to drop healing items instead of stocking up by shopping. The problem is, you never know what an enemy will drop, and most times it won’t be what you need.
You’ll eventually unlock Witch’s Petitions, which is how you get your assorted Tochkas. You can also change mana into Shell or vice versa, and even make life a little easier by lowering enemy levels (you can also make things harder by doing the reverse). Crafting is done at the Atelier located in your home base, where each item can be upgraded with various materials. Everything is all very typical of mechanics found in most JRPGs, with the exception that this game makes everything seem so tedious. Everything in your item list is listed on its own- there’s no combining like items, making it a pain to scroll through every single thing when you want to sell something at the store or find an item to use for crafting. Navigating through is made worse by the amount of clutter on your screen, and the fact edges are darkened so you can’t see what’s coming up. Some areas, like the Shulka Caves, can get very confusing to find your way through. It’s easy to get caught in a dead end or head in the wrong direction.
The game feels padded out because of this, as well as having the difficulty level being artificially raised. Of course, you can adopt my strategy- running for the exit point without fighting, and just grinding once you found a Managland. Even using this I found myself hitting dead ends and sometimes (especially early in the game) being on the receiving end of cheap deaths. It doesn’t help that you get locked into animations either- those too led to some cheap deaths. The camera is not always your friend, especially in boss battles, where the boss is offscreen and you can’t always see where their attacks are coming from. Most bosses may require a grinding session or two before taking them down, though late game bosses can be taken care of by good usage of your Tochkas, making them a bit easier than perhaps they should be. Adding to the padding is the slow way the story is told. There are three endings, if you end up caring to get them all (one even gets you to avoid final bosses by leaving when instructed).
On the bright side, the game is very colorful to look at, and there are a wide variety of enemy types. The music is also a highlight and fits the game well. Voice acting is serviceable for the main characters and downright awful for other characters like villagers and WR soldiers you encounter on your travels. I ended up speeding through the dialogue boxes just so I wouldn’t have to listen to the voice acting (plus, it moved the game along a little quicker). I had the game in English, so I don’t know if the Japanese voices were any better.
To be sure, this game will have its share of fans. If you highly enjoyed the first game, then The Witch and the hundred Knight 2 will be right up your alley. If you didn’t care for that one, this one won’t win you over. It’s both shorter and not as enjoyable to play as its predecessor. The host of problems, from poor story telling to poor level design to a bad camera, just weigh this game down. A few tweaks here and there might have made this worth your while. as it is, unless you’re a fan of the first one, you may want to stay away. It’s a game that seems to go on forever, and while for some games that’s a good thing, it’s not in this case. By the end of just under 40 hour playthrough, I just felt exhausted by the chore of getting though this. I just wanted it to end. For fans, this may be a fun time. For others, there are better choices out there.
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The world in which Metallia resides is mysterious and full of danger. The game takes place in a dark fantasy realm known as Dusk, a world on the brink of destruction. Dusk is inhabited by various factions and creatures, each possessing their own ambitions and motivations. Players must navigate through this treacherous landscape, encountering powerful enemies and forging alliances with other characters to aid in their quest. What sets "The Witch and the Hundred Soldier Metallia" apart is its unique gameplay mechanics. The game combines action, strategy, and role-playing elements, allowing players to engage in thrilling battles, strategize their moves, and customize their characters according to their playstyle. Metallia's magic plays a crucial role in combat, and players must utilize her spells and abilities effectively to overcome formidable foes. Throughout the game, players will also encounter moral choices that impact the narrative. These choices force players to weigh the consequences of their actions, further blurring the lines between good and evil. This aspect adds another layer of depth to the game, as players must carefully consider their decisions and their potential implications. "The Witch and the Hundred Soldier Metallia" is more than just a game - it is an immersive experience that transports players into a world of dark magic, complex characters, and challenging gameplay. It is a tale of redemption, revenge, and the weight of one's actions. Whether players choose to embrace the darkness or seek redemption will ultimately shape the outcome of Metallia's journey, making this game a must-play for fans of the genre..
Reviews for "The Witch and the Hundred Soldier: A Character Study on Metallia"
1. Jane - ★★☆☆☆
I was really excited to play "The Witch and the Hundred Soldier Metallia" as I am a big fan of action RPGs. However, I was severely disappointed with this game. The graphics were underwhelming and felt outdated, and the gameplay mechanics were clunky and unresponsive. I also found the story to be lacking and the dialogue to be overly simplistic. Overall, I felt bored and frustrated while playing, and it didn't live up to my expectations at all.
2. Tom - ★☆☆☆☆
"The Witch and the Hundred Soldier Metallia" is one of the worst games I've played in a long time. The controls are incredibly frustrating and the camera angles are just awful. The combat feels repetitive and lacks any real depth. Additionally, the game suffers from numerous technical issues, such as frame rate drops and frequent glitches. I couldn't even bring myself to finish the game because it was such a painful experience. I would not recommend this game to anyone.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
While "The Witch and the Hundred Soldier Metallia" had its moments, overall, it failed to captivate me. The storyline felt weak and poorly executed, and the characters were shallow and uninteresting. The game also suffered from repetitive gameplay, where I felt like I was doing the same tasks over and over again. The lack of innovation and variety made it hard for me to stay engaged. Additionally, the graphics and animations were subpar, making the whole experience feel lackluster. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed by this game.