The wanderer and the witch is a captivating tale that explores the meeting of two contrasting characters in a mystical setting. The wanderer, a nomadic soul, journeys through the vast wilderness, searching for meaning and purpose in his existence. Meanwhile, the witch, a mysterious and powerful figure, resides in a secluded hut deep within the forest. As the wanderer loses his way, stumbling upon the witch's dwelling, he is immediately struck by her enigmatic aura. The witch, sensing his presence, welcomes him cautiously, knowing the profound impact their encounter will have on both of their lives. Through their interactions, the wanderer learns about the witch's vast knowledge of the natural world and her ability to harness the powers of the elements.
From the Force Echo above, turn around and follow the path back to the intersection. Now, continue a short distance forward and enter the corridor that leads right.
From the elevator, follow the path forward, past the campfire, and you ll find the Force Echo on the ground in the middle of the opening when traveling through a curved corridor. When reaching the end of the path, where there s a large rope swing, jump onto the rope but instead of jumping across the large gap, turn around, and you ll find a small wooden platform back along the path you just traveled.
Through their interactions, the wanderer learns about the witch's vast knowledge of the natural world and her ability to harness the powers of the elements. In turn, he shares tales of his travels and the various encounters he has had with different cultures and lands. The wanderer soon realizes that the witch holds the key to his deepest desires – to uncover his purpose in life and find inner peace.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Tower of Fortune and the Dice of Fate Review
Hey guys! Finally managed to finish the game and made a quick review on it! Have you played it? Maybe the original versions? First title in the series I've played and it was quite an interesting (a bit stressing) experience. As usual I'm leaving the video and the script. :)
Background
The fifth in the Shiren series, this game was released originally for the DS in 2010 in Japan with a later release for the Vita that made it into our shores in 2016 and more recently for PC and the Switch in 2020. Shiren is part of the mystery dungeon series and is characterized by randomized dungeons and losing your level and items on death which can be a bit nerve wracking for some. Let’s see if the game is worth the stress.
Story
The story is quite simple. Shiren arrives into a town and hears that if you get to the top of a mysterious tower nearby, you can change your fate. A girl from the same town is about to die from a weird sickness and his childhood friend is about to go to the tower to save her, so you decide to help out. You meet some other characters with different objectives through the towns and dungeons, but these things are mostly excuses to explore the main dungeons and the extra ones, so the story and characters take a distant second place to the gameplay.
Graphics and Audio
Graphics are what one can expect from a DS title, they are simple, but clear, colorful, cute and don’t get in the way of the game at all. The audio design is equally simple, but good. You probably won’t remember any of the tunes, but they blend with the action quite well so you won’t get tired of them either. (At least while going through the main campaign)
Gameplay
Basically, there are two sides to the game. Towns, where you move like in any RPG and talk to characters, buy, sell, and set other things for your adventure. Due to the permadeath mechanic the item storage, bank and the ability to mark your weapon and shield so they can be recovered even if you die are quite important plus the point store which gives you the chance to buy an item that let’s you teleport to town instead of dying which becomes primordial.
The dungeons, and where you’ll spend most of the game, work in quite a different way. You move square by square and when you do so, the enemies move too. Taking actions depletes your hunger bar, so you need to be mindful of having enough food, but don’t worry, it doesn’t deplete fast and I never had problems running out of food, so it’s not a big deal. You also heal damage when doing non aggressive actions. The game loop consists of calculating your moves to defeat the enemies in the best way using your weapons or the huge amount of items, scrolls and staffs while you look for the exit to the floor. Sounds simple, but the variety of enemies and things you can do get pretty crazy the more you progress. Need to mention that you can only carry 20 items at a time, but you also find some pots in which you can put items so you can carry more things. Some of these are basic like the preserving ones where you put your food so it won’t spoil, but others have a wide variety of different effects like selling items or merging them. Probably one of the least fun parts of the game is the huge amount of time you’ll spend playing with your inventory due to this.
In the last two dungeons a day/night mechanic appears. Day is normal, but at night your weapons won’t do jack and you need to equip a torch to see more than one square around. Enemies’ damage also becomes ridiculous in some cases, so you need to use everything you can to avoid them (luckily the also have problem seeing you) and using some abilities that you set in 8 slots and that you can use 1 time per floor, so you need to be careful about using them and specially about which ones you choose to have. AT the beginning you only have one, but you’ll soon be getting more through people you find in the dungeon and sometimes spontaneously. The first times night will likely destroy you, but eventually it’s not that bad and at least brings a twist to things (although I never particularly liked it)
There is also a mode where you can rescue people or be rescued when dying so items won’t be lost, but taking advantage of this will be reliant on how many people are still playing the game when you do so. Cool, but not happily necessary if you buy undo herbs in the point shop.
The game is pretty difficult, but at least you can bring allies and they never lose their levels, so they will become more powerful the more you die/escape. The main story took me close to 20 hours, but the main plot seems more like an introduction to the game due to the huge number of extra dungeons with special rules and settings you can go in besides it. I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes you like 200 hours to complete all of it. Personally, after ending the main story and playing around a bit I had had my fill of the game and was ready to move on. Fans of rogue-like games can have a field day with how much content this game has though.
Conclusion 4/5
A 5 for fans of the genre and a 4 for the rest of mortals like me. The game is certainly fun, but some design choices like considering that you died and lose everything if the game turns off while playing can be utterly frustrating if they happen to you, or the time I ruined my best weapon when synthesizing it with another one and making it so it would lose levels every time I use it (and of course I didn’t realize until it was too late since the effects things have are difficult to guess unless you read a guide.) In general, due to how easy it is to mess things up, this is the type of game that will give you more, the more you put into it. If you have the will to research and test things, you will have a blast. Otherwise, although initially fun, the game might end frustrating you. Great, but not for everyone.
When it’s time to leave the Swamp of Sacrifice, you’ll encounter a large moveable piece on the wall, covered in vines. Instead of using your Force Push, leave the piece as is and climb up the vines.
In exchange for her guidance, the witch seeks the wanderer's assistance in fulfilling a crucial task that requires his unique set of skills and experiences. Together, they embark on a transformative journey, traversing treacherous terrains and facing formidable challenges. Along the way, the wanderer learns valuable lessons about trust, perseverance, and the intertwined nature of life and magic. As their bond deepens, the wanderer begins to understand the witch's isolation and the sacrifices she has made in order to wield her extraordinary powers. He becomes not only her student but also her confidant, offering companionship and support that she never thought possible. Through their shared experiences, the wanderer and the witch discover that the true power lies not in their individual abilities but in the strength of their connection. They realize that in unity, they can overcome any obstacle, unlocking greater potential within themselves and the world around them. As their journey nears its conclusion, the wanderer and the witch find solace in the knowledge that their meeting was no coincidence. It was a meeting orchestrated by fate, destined to change their lives forever. In the end, the wanderer finds the purpose and fulfillment he has long sought, while the witch gains a much-needed sense of belonging and finds kindred spirits in the wanderer and the natural world they have traversed together. "The wanderer and the witch" is a tale of self-discovery, friendship, and the transformative power of connection. It reminds us that sometimes, the answers we seek are not found in the destination but in the journey itself..
Reviews for "In the Shadows: The Wanderer's Descent into the Witch's Realm"
1. John - 2/5 - I really thought "The Wanderer and the Witch" was going to be an exciting and engaging fantasy novel, but I was sorely disappointed. The plot felt confusing and disjointed, with too many subplots that didn't seem to contribute to the main story. The characters were also poorly developed, lacking depth and relatability. I found myself not caring about their fates or what would happen next. Overall, the book felt underwhelming and failed to live up to its potential.
2. Emily - 3/5 - I had high hopes for "The Wanderer and the Witch" based on the positive reviews I had seen, but I found it to be a bit underwhelming. While the writing style was decent and the descriptions were vivid, the pacing was slow and the story dragged on in parts. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me with many unanswered questions about the setting and the magic system. Although there were moments of intrigue, the overall execution fell short of my expectations.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I found "The Wanderer and the Witch" to be a rather unremarkable reading experience. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it difficult for me to connect with the characters. Additionally, the plot lacked originality and came across as formulaic. The book failed to hold my interest, and I struggled to finish it. Overall, I would not recommend it to those looking for a captivating fantasy read.
4. Michael - 2/5 - "The Wanderer and the Witch" had an interesting concept, but it was poorly executed. The writing style felt amateurish, with awkward sentence structures and unnecessary repetitions. The pacing was also off, with long stretches of monotony interrupted by abrupt action scenes that lacked depth. The book had potential, but it ultimately fell flat and left me feeling unsatisfied.
5. Amanda - 1/5 - I had high expectations for "The Wanderer and the Witch," but unfortunately, it turned out to be a major disappointment. The plot was predictable and cliché, and there were numerous plot holes and inconsistencies throughout. The characters lacked development and felt one-dimensional. Reading this book felt like a chore, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking an engaging and well-crafted fantasy novel.