Deep in the heart of Witch Hollow, a sinister hex is said to reside. It is a place shrouded in mystery and darkness, where even the bravest souls tread with caution. Legends speak of a powerful witch who cast a spell long ago that imbued the hollow with an eerie energy, plaguing all who venture there. **The hex of Witch Hollow is believed to bring misfortune, ill health, and even death to those who dare to enter its cursed boundaries.** Supposedly, the hex was cast as an act of revenge by the witch against the townspeople who wronged her. Whether these stories are true or simply tales passed down through generations, the fear surrounding Witch Hollow is very real.
As the title states, the game just launches up to just past the intro video, then sits on a black screen forever. The mouse cursor is visible and can move around normally, the game just doesn't do anything. It's not frozen, it doesn't crash, it just sits there at a black screen. I've tried everything I can think of (every combination of the compatibility settings, DPI settings, run as admin, disable fullscreen optimizations, all of that. Uninstall and reinstall on every different harddrive, verify integr.
What I enjoyed was that the cards were never lost once used, so as long as I kept using cards I could keep cycling back to the same cards in any fight. You can set up your deck of spell cards at beacons save points which also provide a training area that allows you to try out any new cards you might find.
Whether these stories are true or simply tales passed down through generations, the fear surrounding Witch Hollow is very real. **People in the nearby villages avoid the hollow at all costs, believing it to be a place cursed by supernatural forces.** It is said that those who have ventured into Witch Hollow have encountered strange occurrences and witnessed unexplainable phenomena.
The knight witch stkam
I love a good Metroidvania as much as the next person. I grew up playing Castlevania games and Metroid games, along with every Metroidvania in between that I could get my hands on. However, I’m always curious about Metroidvanias that do things a little differently. The Knight Witch is one such game and takes the Metroidvania genre in a completely new direction.
The Knight Witch is a Metroidvania/Bullet Hell/Deckbuilder hybrid that puts you in the role of Rayne, a trainee Knight Witch who winds up having to defend her people after a mysterious threat takes out her sister Knight Witches. For a bit of an explanation (without spoilers) Knight Witches are powerful spellcasting defenders who were enlisted to stop the spread of an industrialized empire that was destroying the natural resources of the planet.
Rayne starts out as a failed trainee, who wasn’t needed when the “final battle” took place and thus went back to her life with her husband Akai. She always wished she could have been more useful and lamented not being able to fight with the other witches. However, on a celebration day of the anniversary of the final battle, the peaceful underground city the remaining people have taken shelter in is attacked.
Afterward, Rayne must take up arms and become the Knight Witch she was always meant to be while finding captured citizens and undergoing quests to increase their faith and trust in her. Knight Witches grow stronger by their “Link” which grows stronger when more people believe in them. The plot itself seems simple, but it is clear from the beginning that there is something sinister at work.
As far as gameplay goes, The Knight Witch (as its hybrid genres describe) takes some getting used to. You shoot magic either just by hitting the attack button or by aiming with the right stick and attacking. However, as you kill enemies and collect Mana, you can use spell cards that have different costs and do different things. Some change how Rayne’s attack functions, making it have rapid-fire, triple-shot, or even more powerful single-shot attacks.
Other cards provide things like damage over time hazards that can damage enemies, bombs, and all sorts of attacks that will help you take out the myriad of threats you’ll face. You can set up your “deck” of spell cards at beacons (save points) which also provide a training area that allows you to try out any new cards you might find.
By raising your link level, you’ll level up Rayne’s capabilities. You can choose (at each level) between a Knight upgrade which is usually health or damage related or a Witch upgrade that focuses on Mana or spell card damage. By collecting shards off fallen enemies, you can purchase armor that only blocks a single hit of damage, upgrade spell cards, and even purchase new ones.
In true Metroidvania fashion, there are all sorts of secrets, hidden items, and upgrades scattered throughout each area. Admittedly, I really like the story and the visual style of The Knight Witch, but the Bullet Hell gameplay leads to a few issues. The main issue is that a game like The Knight Witch needs varying difficulty levels. It has a cheat function, and with a few well-placed google searches you can find options that increase mana gain, make you invulnerable, and other useful cheats, but that’s not a substitute for accessibility.
The sheer volume of enemy bullets is enough to make even small encounters a challenge. If you’re a Bullet Hell veteran, then you probably wouldn’t have an issue with this. However, for beginners or someone just looking to experience The Knight Witch’s story, this causes a high barrier to entry.
That doesn’t even take the difficulty of the bosses into account, which ramps things up considerably. I could see people with joint problems or reflex issues having a hard time, just from how demanding the combat system can be. It is a disappointing reality when you look at how much love and attention went into every aspect of The Knight Witch’s story and gameplay.
The characters are colorful, the environments are vibrant, and the combat systems weave in and out of each other seamlessly. It just isn’t an experience that will be playable by everyone. On top of that, even people without reflex issues may be turned off by the difficulty, if they aren’t Bullet Hell fans.
As far as Metroidvanias go, I like The Knight Witch‘s inspiration and style. It brings together some interesting ideas and somehow manages to become something totally unique and fresh. However, the difficulty and lack of accessibility features are going to turn people off. If you find yourself questioning whether you’ll be able to play The Knight Witch, I’d suggest checking out a Let’s Play, or you could always go hunt down the cheats and play that way to enjoy the story.
A Nintendo Switch review copy of The Knight Witch was provided by Team17 for this review.
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The Knight Witch © 2022 Super Mega Team, Published under licence by TEAM17 Digital Limited.
Some claim to have seen shadowy figures lurking in the dense fog that blankets the hollow. Others speak of hearing eerie whispers and feeling an unshakeable sense of unease. **These experiences have only fueled the belief that the hex of Witch Hollow is more than just a legend.** While skeptics dismiss the stories as mere superstition, there have been instances of unexplained events within Witch Hollow. Mysterious disappearances, unexplained illnesses, and strange natural phenomena all add to the dark reputation of the hex. **These occurrences have led some to believe that there may indeed be a curse lingering in the depths of Witch Hollow.** Despite the warnings, there are those who are drawn to the forbidden allure of Witch Hollow. Thrill-seekers and curious individuals who believe in the paranormal are enticed by the tales and seek to uncover the truth behind the hex. **They enter Witch Hollow, defying the warnings, in search of answers and sometimes never return.** As the legends continue to circulate and the hex of Witch Hollow persists, the fascination with the cursed place only grows. **The sinister energy of the hex looms over Witch Hollow, captivating the imaginations of those who fear it and draw the daring few who dare to test its power.** Whether the hex is real or merely a creation of fearful minds, Witch Hollow remains a place of mystery and intrigue, forever tied to the shadows that envelope it..
Reviews for "The Malevolent Hex of Witch Hollow: A Chilling Legacy"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "The Sinister Hex of Witch Hollow" after hearing so many good things about it, but honestly, I was disappointed. The characters were underdeveloped and the plot felt rushed. The writing style was also quite simplistic, and I found it hard to stay engaged in the story. Overall, it didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. John - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "The Sinister Hex of Witch Hollow." The storyline was confusing and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. The dialogue felt forced, and the descriptions were lacking. It seemed like the author was trying too hard to make it spooky but ended up making it feel overdone and predictable. It's definitely not a book I would recommend.
3. Emily - 2 stars - "The Sinister Hex of Witch Hollow" had an interesting concept, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, with too much time spent on unnecessary details. The ending felt rushed and didn't tie up loose ends. I also found the main character to be quite annoying and inconsistent in her actions. Overall, it had potential but failed to deliver an enjoyable reading experience.
4. Mike - 1 star - I don't understand how "The Sinister Hex of Witch Hollow" received positive reviews. The writing was amateurish, full of cliches, and lacked any originality. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth. The plot was predictable and unexciting. I struggled to even get through a few chapters before giving up. Save your time and skip this one.
5. Anna - 2 stars - "The Sinister Hex of Witch Hollow" started off with promise, but it quickly became repetitive and predictable. The dialogue was stilted, and the characters lacked development. It seemed like the author tried to cram too many plotlines into one book, and as a result, none of them were fully explored. The ending also left a lot to be desired. Overall, it was a disappointing read.