Wiccan fashion looks incorporate elements of nature, spirituality, and witchcraft into a modern and stylish aesthetic. Wiccans, who practice a modern form of witchcraft, often embrace the ideas of nature, magic, and connection to the divine. This is reflected in their choice of clothing and accessories. Many Wiccans prefer to wear clothing made from natural materials such as cotton, linen, and wool, as these fabrics are believed to have a positive energy and significance to the earth. Colors associated with nature, such as deep greens, earthy browns, and vibrant blues, are often favored in Wiccan fashion looks. One popular style within Wiccan fashion is bohemian chic.
Much of the game takes place in the city of Aphes.
Players encounter a variety of NPCs to interact with, who offer lore and insight into the past of this city, while other story tidbits are offered from a sort of magic cloud recording of the past. Enemies can absolutely overpower Hilda if left unchecked, and though most of the baddies I encountered could be dispatched with some hack-and-slash maneuvers, the harder foes required the dodge rolling and parry blocking that I am accustomed to.
One popular style within Wiccan fashion is bohemian chic. This style is characterized by flowing maxi dresses, loose-fit blouses, and layered skirts. These garments often feature floral prints, embroidery, and intricate lace details.
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars (Steam) Review
Sometimes, a game comes along that I have a great deal of difficulty connecting with, despite my best efforts. Asterigos: Curse of the Stars became one of those. Writing this review prior to finishing this game is out of pocket for me, because I normally don’t want to deliver what I perceive to be an “incomplete review.” However, my time with this game was mediocre at best, as much as I wanted to really enjoy it. While I wouldn’t disparage anyone from playing it, I feel as if Asterigos plays like a game that chooses to exist in a Soulsborne space without doing anything to engage me or teach me something new.
Asterigos, developed by Acme Gamestudio, takes place within a sort of post-apocalypse magic environment similar to what players of Horizon: Zero Dawn experienced in that world. Hilda, the protagonist, travels to a city long-forgotten to discover the whereabouts of her father and his soldiers. Inside the city, she discovers a population lost in time and magic, surviving on whatever scraps of power they can find. Hilda must perform tasks for an underground resistance group in order to learn more about her father’s fate, whilst also helping in side quests and doing favors for city dwellers. Players encounter a variety of NPCs to interact with, who offer lore and insight into the past of this city, while other story tidbits are offered from a sort of magic cloud recording of the past.
Much of the game takes place in the city of Aphes.
How I would describe Asterigos’ story progression is something akin to Diablo or Lost Ark. The game doesn’t rely on many cutscenes to tell its story. Rather, there are numerous in-game dialogue sequences with conversation trees. All of these conversations happen within the normal point-of-view for the player, eliminating a sort of natural back-and-forth flow in the talking. This detracted from the flow of the plot for me, as every interaction I had in the game felt less like a plot driver and more like a side conversation that holds less importance. Alongside the static dialogue, each interaction offered so many side branches to explore that would have interested me if the voice acting felt more organic and enthusiastic. A majority of the time, I felt as if I was selecting dialogue options to “gray them out” more than actually listening to what was said. At times I was actively listening, but the conversations, especially the in-event ones, seemed to drag on far too long.
Dialogue trees open up backstory, though sometimes conversations can overstay their welcome.
In terms of combat, Asterigos plays like a softer Soulsborne. Enemies can absolutely overpower Hilda if left unchecked, and though most of the baddies I encountered could be dispatched with some hack-and-slash maneuvers, the harder foes required the dodge rolling and parry blocking that I am accustomed to. Players can swap between two weapons at a time, each offering both regular attacks and special abilities to use. Hilda can also access quick-use items on the fly, such as healing vials and throwable offensive items. If players die, they are automatically resurrected at the most recent “rest altar” they interacted with, albeit short some Starlight, the upgrade materials Hilda gains upon defeating enemies; fans of the original Bioshock will recognize this system. Enemies return upon resting, as is the case in other Soulsborne titles, so Hilda can farm materials and experience if desired. This system never really gave me any problems, though I did find myself annoyed after dying once or twice and realizing I did not rest at a nearby altar, thereby having to retrace a lot of my steps. I blame myself more for this than the game though.
Combat includes a block and parry system stacked with abilities, light, and heavy attacks.
For RPG mechanics, this title offers a fairly robust system for leveling up and weaponry. Players don’t swap out different versions of weapon archetypes, but rather equip a generic version of the item, such as a sword, spear, daggers, etc. Starlight and scavenged materials are used to level these weapons up, thereby taking some of the decision-making out of the weapon process. For stats, players gain access to both attribute points that build up one of 3 major stats as well as talent points for abilities. The ability system holds the bulk of the customization in this game, as players can mix and match what abilities off of three trees to invest in. I found the visual representation of these trees a little jumbled, and I wish that everything was on one full screen instead of a scroll wheel I had to constantly adjust back and forth. Once I understood the mark and spend aspect of this wheel, the abilities seemed rather straightforward.
One of the aspects that I found most disappointing pertained to the different areas of the city. The game does a good job of keeping this from being a larger, open-world setting, which I appreciate. However, I never quite felt like any of these areas were interesting or worth exploring. For instance, in one of the main market areas, all the buildings, homes, and businesses looked incredibly similar. What makes this worse for me is that there is no world map or mini map to reference locations and previously discovered hidden areas. In one instance I must have spent close to 20 minutes looking for the next location for a main mission simply because I could not remember where I had previously found it and had no reference of where I should look. I found aimless wandering until finally finding the next step tedious and not engaging whatsoever. This also deterred me from doing any side quests, as I knew I’d have to almost rediscover where I found the quest in the first place.
Visually, Asterigos has a soothing art style to it. Setting aside my gripes on the various locations, this game has a bright tone, even when certain story elements became heavy or violent. The audio complements this too, with music tracks that never seem too boisterous or adventurous. Asterigos does a fair job of keeping most of the game settings calm and lighthearted, offering almost a Zelda-like adventure quality to the whole experience.
Overall, Asterigos: Curse of the Stars failed to really stand out above other games in the RPG action-adventure space for me. While the combat and leveling systems felt accommodating for both casual and tenured players of this genre, the lackluster environments and disengaging character interactions failed to hold my attention for any period of time. This game would, in my opinion, appeal to someone who is looking for a lighter adventure title centered more on the gameplay rather than the narrative. During this heavier release season, I didn’t find anything about Asterigos that was unique or exemplary. Perhaps in the future, I can revisit this game and gain a different opinion on it, but during my roughly 10-hour playthrough with it, I can’t quite recommend it to players looking for something refreshing this fall release season.
Wiccan fashion also embraces the use of natural accessories, such as crystal or gemstone jewelry, feathers, and leather accents. The use of symbols and talismans is an important aspect of Wiccan fashion. Amulets, pendants, and rings with symbols such as the triple moon, pentagram, or Celtic knot are often worn as a representation of personal beliefs and spiritual connection. These symbols are believed to bring protection, guidance, and positive energy to the wearer. In terms of footwear, Wiccans often choose comfortable and practical options such as boots or sandals made from natural materials. Some may opt for handmade or eco-friendly alternatives to align with their beliefs in sustainability and connection to the earth. Overall, Wiccan fashion looks embrace nature, spirituality, and magic. They incorporate elements of bohemian style, natural materials, and symbols to create a unique and meaningful aesthetic. By staying true to their beliefs and personal style, Wiccans are able to express themselves through their clothing and accessories..
Reviews for "Wiccan Runway: How High Fashion Brands Are Embracing Witchy Influences"
1. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the Wiccan fashion looks. I was expecting something more authentic and enchanting, but instead, it just looked like a mishmash of random symbols and patterns. The clothes were poorly made and lacked any real meaning or depth. I was hoping for something that would honor the spiritual traditions of Wicca, but all I got was a hodgepodge of trendy fashion items with no substance.
2. Michael - 2/5 stars - As someone who has a deep appreciation for Wiccan beliefs and practices, I was excited to see what the Wiccan fashion looks had to offer. However, I found them to be quite disappointing. The designs were cliché and felt like they were trying too hard to fit into a specific aesthetic. Additionally, the quality of the materials used was subpar and did not justify the high price tag. Overall, I felt that the Wiccan fashion looks missed the mark in truly capturing the essence of Wicca and instead turned it into a commercialized trend.
3. Emma - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for the Wiccan fashion looks, but unfortunately, they fell short of my expectations. The designs lacked originality and creativity, and instead, relied on tired clichés and stereotypes. The clothing items felt like they were made for a costume party rather than for everyday wear. I was also disappointed with the lack of inclusivity in the sizes available, as it seemed like the brand was catering to a specific body type. Overall, I did not find the Wiccan fashion looks to be authentic or empowering, which was a letdown.