In the mystical land of Eldoria, there lived a powerful witch named Silvia. Silvia possessed an array of magical abilities that surpassed all others in the kingdom. She had the power to control the elements, communicate with animals, and even foresee future events. However, along with her incredible gifts came a great burden. Silvia felt an immense responsibility to protect Eldoria from any threats that may arise. One day, news spread throughout the kingdom of a new threat called the Hundred Leader Metallia.
For the record, that’s The Witch and the Hundred Knight, not The Witch and the Hundred Knights. There’s just one, and its name is Hundred Knight.
And the plot twists and turns so rapidly that there is little room to get attached to any one character, especially as the characters change drastically, becoming quite unlike the characters you thought you knew. After a series of logos that couldn t be skipped, I got to stare at a loading screen before finally arriving at the title screen a minute and twenty-three seconds after I had loaded the game from the cross media bar.
One day, news spread throughout the kingdom of a new threat called the Hundred Leader Metallia. Metallia was a wicked sorceress who desired to rule over Eldoria with an iron fist. She had amassed a hundred loyal followers who were just as determined to see her succeed.
Slick’s Nit-Picks: The Witch and the Hundred Knight: Revival Edition
The Witch and the Hundred Knight was a PlayStation 3 exclusive originally released in 2013 (2014 in North America). The titular witch of the story actually made her first appearance a few months before her game came out. She was a monster encounter in Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness. A bit more random trivia is that you always see her name written as Metallia, but if you played with the Japanese dialogue, she makes sure to tell you that it is “Metallica.” In localizing the game, NIS America most likely wanted to avoid any trouble with the popular heavy metal band. Poor Metallia’s life is just surrounded in lies (oops, spoiler alert). Anyway, fans loved the game except for the issue of it randomly stopping and kicking them back to the PS3 XMB. This was an issue that plagued most if not all players in North America that greatly reduced their enjoyment of a title they wanted to love. Obviously, the first thing we want to explore in The Witch and the Hundred Knight: Revival Edition is how well it works. Once establishing that the previous nightmare is over, we will look at what is different in this version.
METALLIA IN THE MIRROR The story of The Witch and the Hundred Knight was weird initially and the Revival Edition is even more so. I am not saying that to condemn the game, just noting that the story is slightly abstract. Metallia, like any good Japanese-designed female, is a top-heavy girl that looks like she is in high school. In fact, she is a one hundred year old swamp witch that wants the rest of the witches to recognize her as the greatest. She lso wants to expand her domain across the entire world. In her hundred years, she has not accomplished this because her nemesis, Malia, has locked her in a stalemate the entire time. Now that one hundred years have passed, Metallia now only has one hundred days left to live and has chosen to seek the help of the Hundred Knight to end the stalemate. Having summoned him and gained his obedience through contract, this mystical being (you) will do her bidding and help her subjugate the world. First things first: she wants Malia's head.
Back in 2013, this would be our story. However, this is called the Revival Edition and Nippon Ichi Software wanted to give players a little something extra.
Once you have completed your primary objective, you can continue with the game or you can take a detour and explore the Tower of Illusion. Now this is not in the original game and the tower is not located in the original world you started in. What transpires as you approach the tower door is going to feel oddly familiar as a girl you completely recognize but do not seem to know forms a contract with you and names you the “Hundred Knight.” You must fight your way to the top of the tower in order to allow “Lia” to get her wish granted. Entrance to the tower requires the sacrifice of one weapon; the better the weapon, the more powerful the enemies and the better the loot. In that sense, playing through the tower can enhance the main game and vice versa. Batle your way to the top to unlock the full story of this new chapter.
A LOT TO STOMACH The Hundred Knight is the only character you control in the main story. Playing as Metallia is a bonus if you play in the Tower of Illusion. This means that most of your time will be spent listening to his incoherent grunts and whimpers. I really wish HK could talk but he makes up for it with his ability to whoop some ass. The Witch and the Hundred Knight is easy to pick up and play, but it can take some time to master due to the intricacy of the system. Of course there is the battle system, which consists primarily of hitting square. Enemies are not going to just sit there and take punishment. To avoid counterattacks, notice that many enemies (and all bosses) have a tell. Depending upon how much time you have between a tell and the actual attack you can move around them or jump over some. Then there is what is called a Mystical Dodge. This happens when you dodge at just the right moment and the color washes out of the screen so you know that it happened. You get 5 seconds of stopped time to run around your enemy and beat the crap out of them with free hits or do whatever you please. With all of this, you will still take damage. If your HP reaches zero, you will be revived at the cost of a piece of your stomach inventory. I know you just said “stomach inventory?” There are items you carry on you like your equipped weapons and armor along with items in your primary inventory. As you fight in a level, you may find treasure chests and until you complete a level and return to Metallia, stuff you find goes in your stomach. You have limited space in your stomach (which can be increased) and that space can be used up if you get full on garbage (actual garbage). More on that in a moment. The flame on HK's head represents his life force and his ability to exist away from Metallia. You start every area with one hundred gigacals. As you move, fight and replenish HP, you use up gigacals. Should your gigacals hit zero, you will lose all stamina and be returned to Metallia's swamp to be replenished. There are several ways to replenish gigacals in the field and one of those is to eat weakened enemies. Doing so has the side effect of filling your stomach with garbage. There are also consumables that restore gigicals along with the ability to do so at bloomed pillars, so remember that you always have options. Life for The Witch and the Hundred Knight is quite unfair. Every bonus they encounter has a negative or a catch. Learning to deal with them early on is vital to progressing through later stages.
BONUS! If you have played this game before you might be wondering what the big deal is about the Tower of Illusion. Calling it a tacked-on dungeon is not wrong but is not correct either. The tower has its own smaller story which becomes apparent the moment you notice that Metallia is not the same witch that Hundred Knight knows. She is the main differential in this mode of the game. There had been many requests to play as Metallia when the game first came out. The foul-mouthed witch was always bragging about how powerful she is and you get some glimpses of that during the story. In the Revival Edition you finally get to see just how powerful. Much like Hundred Knight, the control of Metallia is straightforward. You can slash with her ridiculously large sword or use her magic. The difference is that she is a summon of sorts. As Hundred Knight battles in the tower you fill up a concentrated mana gauge that is under his AP meter. It is clear to tell what it is for as it has a witch hat attached to it. When you summon Metallia, you have until this gauge depletes and then you return to Hundred Knight. your battle prowess can extend that time depending upon how proficient you are in battle. Even in the tower, there are trade offs but playing as Metallia is incredibly satisfying once you really get the hang of her abilities. Make sure you sacrifice a rare item as it improves the loot you get in the tower. Your experience and goods obtained in the tower can be brought back to the main game to really wreak havoc. IS it annoying having to worry about gigacals running out? Yes, it is, but that just means players need to improve their skills to maintain a decent level while on the field. Every game should have some kind of challenge in it. The detractors of The Witch and the Hundred Knight just do not realize this is a different kind of challenge.
FOUL-MOUTHED BEAUTY On the PlayStation 3, The Witch and the Hundred Knight was a decent looking game. I missed out on it so I cannot show you side by side comparisons to the Revival Edition. A quick Google search will provide you with comparisons however and you can clearly see the difference. The forests look more lush as you can see individual leaves and there are more detailed lighting effects. In towns, the improved detail allows you to see the cobblestone floors to the point where you can see the grooves where cement holds each stone in place. Nippon Ichi also boasts a framerate improvement from 30 to 60fps. The biggest improvement aside from graphics is the fact that the glitch the PS3 version had is gone. Many players who wanted to love the original were disappointed because while playing they would randomly be returned to the XMB. This would cause a loss in all unsaved progress. It was something you could not predict so it was difficult to prevent. I am happy to say that this does not happen in the Revival Edition. There is a lot to visually enjoy in the game. The art style makes me wonder why there isn't more merchandise available for the characters. You would think otaku culture would eat this up. The music is also well done and ranges from Disney fairy tale to full-blown Fantasia nightmares. If you happen to score the limited edtion on eBay, there is a two-disc soundtrack filled with the game's musical score. The soothing tunes are there to heal your eardrums after listening to Metallia's exceedingly foul-mouth! Sometimes I wonder how this game managed a T rating, especially since the Japanese dialogue is not edited.
The Witch and the Hundred Knight has somewhat of a cult following, especially in it being a Disgaea offshoot. Fans supported the original release despite the fact that for many, a glitch made it nearly unplayable. Nippon Ichi Software listened to those complaints and others with the result being the Revival Edition. I always say that I am tired of the PlayStation 4 being flooded with remakes but there are some exceptions. When developers build upon the original game and offer something new, particularly of substance, that can be a reason to revisit a game. There is also the case where a title fell under the radar. I was aware of this game when it was first being developed but I missed the actual release. I have friends on my PS3 list all over the world and yet no one that I know has this game. Releasing it for PS4 gives gamers another chance to experience a great title they missed for one reason or another. Finally, when a developer puts in effort to not only enhance a game's graphics and gameplay, but to fix the issues that may have plagued the original, there is more of a reason for a remake to arise. Nippon Ichi hit all three of these areas and made a good game into something great on the PS4. Hundred Knight is a quirky, yet lovable little character that you want to see succeed. I found myself fighting hard for his sake, not that of the witch. Metallia is a bit of a tragic antiheroine, but her annoying attitude and foul mouth make it difficult to feel bad for her. Even still, raiding the homes of the townsfolk for goods is fun. On the gameplay side, this title may not be for everyone but remember that it is an action-RPG. The gameplay is not supposed to be without its challenges and the gigacal/stomach system is that challenge for us to master. If you are not at least a fan of games like The Legend of Zelda, you should not take on The Witch and the Hundred Knight. Even if you are, I would primarily recommend this game to those that also enjoy a more dedicated RPG system. Even though this game is more action than RPG, the maintenance of Hundred Knight is a constant throughout that some may not care for. Every RPG fan should download the free demo and if you enjoy that this game is a must-have. The curious should do the same as you might find yourself opening up to a new genre.
There are also some roguelike mechanics. Items and experience earned in the game cannot be utilized until the player leaves the level, and can be lost if the Hundred Knight is downed. The Hundred Knight burns Gcals while in combat and while revealing the map, and if it is downed when no Gcals remain, the player will lose all of the items and half of the experience found on that map. I found these mechanics to be completely unnecessary as this is not a proper roguelike. Dungeons can be escaped at almost any time, and running out of Gcals merely forces player to leave the dungeon and reenter it, pointlessly.
As the rumors of Metallia's intentions grew stronger, the people of Eldoria became fearful. They knew that Silvia was their only hope in defeating Metallia and her powerful army. They pleaded with Silvia to take action and save their beloved land. Silvia knew that the battle against Metallia would not be an easy one. It would require great strength and sacrifice. However, Silvia also knew that it was her destiny to protect Eldoria, and she could not turn her back on her people. Gathering her courage, Silvia set out to recruit allies from all corners of the kingdom. She sought out warriors, healers, and enchanters who shared her desire to protect Eldoria. Together, they formed a powerful alliance, ready to face any challenge that lay ahead. The day of the battle finally arrived. Silvia and her allies stood on the battlefield, ready to face Metallia and her Hundred Leader. As the two powerful witches squared off, the air crackled with magic. For hours, Silvia and Metallia engaged in a fierce battle, their powers colliding with magnificent force. Both witches were evenly matched, and it seemed that neither would prevail. But Silvia's determination and love for Eldoria gave her an edge, and slowly but surely, she began to gain the upper hand. As Silvia's powers grew stronger, Metallia's followers started to lose faith. They began to question Metallia's leadership and the path they had chosen. One by one, they abandoned Metallia's side and joined Silvia's alliance, realizing that she was truly fighting for the greater good. With each defection, Metallia's power weakened, and soon she found herself standing alone against Silvia. Overwhelmed and defeated, Metallia begged for mercy. Silvia, true to her compassionate nature, spared Metallia's life but banished her from Eldoria forever. From that day forward, Silvia was hailed as a hero by the people of Eldoria. Her bravery and selflessness had saved their land from the clutches of evil. Silvia's victory proved that even in the face of overwhelming odds, one person's determination and love for their homeland could triumph over darkness. And so, the witch and the Hundred Leader Metallia became tales passed down through the generations. They serve as a reminder that true power lies not in strength alone, but rather in the bonds of friendship, love, and the unwavering belief in doing what is right..
Reviews for "Metallia's Witch: A Powerful Guardian of the Hundred Leader's Power"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "The Witch and the Hundred Leader Metallia." The premise of the book seemed intriguing, but the execution fell flat for me. I found the writing style to be confusing and hard to follow, which made it difficult to fully engage with the story. Additionally, I found the characters to be underdeveloped and lacking depth, which made it hard to form a connection with them. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wouldn't recommend this book to others.
2. Sarah - 1 star
"The Witch and the Hundred Leader Metallia" was a complete letdown for me. I had high hopes for this book based on the synopsis, but it just didn't deliver. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it felt like nothing of importance was happening for the majority of the story. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me feeling confused and disoriented. The dialogue between characters was awkward and unrealistic, making it hard to believe in their interactions. I struggled to finish this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking an engaging fantasy read.
3. Mark - 2 stars
I had such high expectations for "The Witch and the Hundred Leader Metallia," but sadly, it didn't live up to the hype. The plot felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction, making it hard to follow along and stay engaged. The writing style was also not to my taste, as it seemed overly descriptive and often became tedious. I wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. I would caution others to approach it with caution and consider their personal preferences before diving in.
4. Emily - 3 stars
While "The Witch and the Hundred Leader Metallia" had some interesting elements, it ultimately left me feeling underwhelmed. The storytelling felt choppy and disjointed, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the world. The characters, although intriguing, lacked sufficient development to make them truly relatable or likable. The pacing also seemed off, with rushed moments followed by long stretches of slow progression. Overall, this book had potential but failed to capitalize on it, leaving me feeling somewhat disappointed.