Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a video game that combines the elements of a role-playing game (RPG) and an adventure game. Developed by Level-5 and Studio Ghibli, the game was first released in Japan on November 2011 for the PlayStation 3. It was later localized and released worldwide in January 2013. The game follows the story of a young boy named Oliver, who embarks on a quest to save his mother, exploring a magical world parallel to his own. **The gameplay of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch takes place in two main environments: the real world of Oliver and the alternate reality known as "Ni no Kuni."** In the real world, Oliver interacts with other characters, completes side quests, and progresses through the main storyline.
During this time, a version of the ‘satanic panic’ of the 1980s existed in many European Christian countries, though at that time it was Jewish people who were considered the culprits. Starting around the 12th century it was a common belief that Jewish people possessed magical powers gained from deals with the devil.
Before the more well-known yellow badge that denoted a person was Jewish in the Middle Ages, a type of cap called a judenhut or Jewish hat was often worn to signify someone was Jewish. The judenhut takes a lot of different forms, some with a skinny peak with a ball on top, but others look almost exactly like the witches hats we know today.
"** In the real world, Oliver interacts with other characters, completes side quests, and progresses through the main storyline. However, the majority of the gameplay occurs in Ni no Kuni, a beautifully animated and vibrant world filled with mythical creatures, unique towns, and dangerous dungeons. **One of the game's key features is the use of familiars, creatures that Oliver can capture and train to fight alongside him in battles.
The Ale-Soaked Medieval Origins of the Witch's Hat
The tall pointed hats we associate with witches in pop culture were first worn by women hawking homemade beer.
October 31, 2018, 9:22pm Illustration via Getty Images/lezhepyoka; composite image by Munchies Staff.All this time, you thought witches were supposed to be brewing up potions in those big, bubbling cauldrons. But what if we told you that instead, those massive black pots were full of a more popular poison: beer?
As far as Halloween decorations and elementary school literature is concerned, witches are frequently portrayed as a craggy old woman with wispy gray hair, a big hooked nose, a pointed black hat, and maybe a broom. Those latter two accessories have historically also been tools of the once-female-dominated ale brewing trade, a connection that historians have been puzzling out for decades. Yep—historically speaking, those ladies in big pointy hats might have actually been brewing ale.
AdvertisementIllustration of a 17th century alewife by David Loggan, via Wikimedia Commons.
Women who brewed ale at home were known in medieval Europe as “alewives,” and they did so as part of their normal routine of domestic duties. While in contemporary America, beer brewing is often dominated by hyper-masculine stereotypes and entrepreneurship, ale brewing—much like butter churning or bread baking—was considered well within the domain of the woman’s sphere of work within the home. It was as much of a necessity of life as any of those other chores, given that fermented beverages were often safer to drink than water. And like butter, cheese, or any other homemade foodstuffs, if a household could produce enough beyond their own immediate needs, the women of the house often took their goods to market to make a little extra money.
In order to catch as many eyes as possible, and to signal from a distance what they were selling, these “brewsters” wore tall hats. As a cottage industry, there was very little oversight or regulation to the home-grown brewing businesses, according to Rod Phillips in the comprehensive text Alcohol: A History. But there were also large-scale commercial breweries, widely owned by men, which were leveraging new technologies and making larger quantities of product. As these operations grew and took on the appearance of a "real" profession, with guilds and trade associations, women were by and large excluded.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, small-scale ale producers, mostly brewsters, began to face accusations of a whole host of immoralities that caused irreparable damage to their reputations. According to Judith Bennett, the preeminent historian of women brewers in this period of England’s history, both the public and the male-dominated brewing industry accused brewsters of diluting or adulterating their ale with cheaper brews, and thus of cheating customers. Brewsters were also accused of selling tainted ales that could make drinkers sick, perhaps intentionally. And generally speaking, at this time, a woman having a working knowledge of herbal concoctions and medicines was highly suspect, and might face rumors that she was using her knowledge for nefarious ends. Thus, the sign of the humble alewife’s hat came to be associated with all the same evil maliciousness of a poison-peddling witch.
In order to catch as many eyes as possible, and to signal from a distance what they were selling, these “brewsters” wore tall hats. As a cottage industry, there was very little oversight or regulation to the home-grown brewing businesses, according to Rod Phillips in the comprehensive text Alcohol: A History. But there were also large-scale commercial breweries, widely owned by men, which were leveraging new technologies and making larger quantities of product. As these operations grew and took on the appearance of a "real" profession, with guilds and trade associations, women were by and large excluded.
** Familiars have their own unique abilities, and players must strategically choose which familiars to use and level up to overcome various obstacles and enemies throughout the game. Battles are fought in real-time, allowing for quick reflexes and strategic decision-making. **Throughout the game, Oliver gains access to spells and abilities called "glims," which he can use to manipulate the environment and solve puzzles.** These glims are obtained by completing quests or defeating enemies, adding an extra layer of depth to the gameplay. **The game also features a vibrant art style and a captivating soundtrack, both of which were heavily influenced by Studio Ghibli's animation and films.** The combination of the game's visuals, music, and storytelling creates an immersive and enchanting experience for players. In conclusion, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch offers an engaging gameplay experience that combines the elements of an RPG and an adventure game. With its unique world, captivating storyline, and strategic gameplay mechanics, it has garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase since its release..
Reviews for "Exploring the Lore and Mythology of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch"
1. John - 2/5 - I found the gameplay of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch to be incredibly tedious and repetitive. The combat system was overly simplistic and lacked any real depth or strategy. The side quests were uninspired and felt like busy work, adding nothing of substance to the overall experience. Additionally, the game's controls were clunky and unresponsive, making even basic actions feel frustrating. Overall, I was disappointed with the gameplay and would not recommend it to others.
2. Emily - 1/5 - I was highly disappointed with the gameplay of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. The combat was repetitive and became a monotonous button-mashing fest. The lack of variety in enemies and moves made battles feel dull and uninspired. Furthermore, the game's pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of tedious fetch quests and excessive dialogue. The gameplay failed to hold my interest and left me feeling bored and unengaged throughout the entire experience.
3. Michael - 2/5 - While the visuals and story of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch were captivating, I found the gameplay to be lackluster. The combat system felt overly simplistic and lacked any real challenge or depth. Progression was slow, and the game often left me feeling like I was just going through the motions without any real sense of achievement. Additionally, the side quests felt like a chore rather than a meaningful addition to the game. Ultimately, I was left disappointed and unsatisfied with the gameplay experience.