In the forest, there lived a powerful witch. She had the ability to control the elements and had a multitude of magical spells. The surrounding villagers feared her and believed she was evil. However, the witch did not wish to harm anyone. She simply wanted to live her life in solitude and peace. One day, news reached the witch that an army of a hundred soldiers was approaching her forest.
One day, news reached the witch that an army of a hundred soldiers was approaching her forest. The soldiers were led by a ruthless king who aimed to conquer all the lands in the kingdom. The villagers begged the witch for help, knowing that their villages would be destroyed if the king succeeded.
The witch and the hundred soldier
I have limited familiarity with the first The Witch and the Hundred Knight title. I played it for a while before something else inevitably stole my time, and I promised myself I would get back to it. Now there is a sequel so it appears I failed at getting back to that original game. Jumping into a sequel without fully appreciating what the first game has to offer can sometimes be difficult because sometimes the sequel is drastically different or makes enough important changes that going backwards through the series becomes a chore. That’s not the case with this game.
The story is about a girl trying to save her younger sister from a witch disease that is plaguing the nation, while trying to eradicate the world of witches. Unfortunately, before her sister can be saved, the witch inside her is awakened and brings to life a doll (Hundred Knight) to use as her minion. This witch and the younger sister whose body she inhabits are two different people essentially, which leads to wacky mischief occurring. That’s what the plot ends up being anyways, other than dry dialog that keeps enforcing the fact that witches are bad. When I say wacky mischief, I mean original Scooby-Doo levels of humor acted out with visual novel style graphics (portraits with blinking and mouth movement). There’s a crow that is a drag queen and I think that says enough about the level of humor on display. The good news is that playing the first game is not necessary to grasp the plot.
PLATFORMS: PS4
MSRP: $49.99
PRICE I’D PAY: $19.99
Gameplay isn’t far different from the previous title in the series. It’s an isometric hack and slash game where Hundred Knight must do the bidding of the witch that brought him to life. Combat is done simply by mashing the square button and Hundred Knight will cycle through the currently equipped weapons in order (maximum of five). Special attacks can be done by holding the R1 button and hitting any of the face buttons. Hundred Knight can also change form (called Facets) to change stats and abilities, which is necessary for success. Outside of combat areas equipment can be upgraded and items can be bought and sold to increase Hundred Knight’s chances of survival.
The key difference between The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 (as well as its predecessor) and other games is the way Hundred Knight needs Gigacalories for survival. Gigacalories can be traded for Hundred Knight to refill health as well as dodge, but Gigacalories are consistently decreasing with time as well. To refill Gigacalories, Hundred Knight needs to complete a five attack combo to have the chance to perform a move called Depletura where Hundred Knight devours enemies as food. Enemies need to be weak enough for Depletura to work, and if Hundred Knight misses or doesn’t do enough damage to kill the enemy it doesn’t get another chance at Depletura until another five string combo is completed. Gigacalories can also be refilled with cookies which are uncommon/expensive items and by consuming items picked up and stored in its stomach. Items picked up throughout the level don’t automatically go into inventory, but rather wait in Hundred Knight’s stomach and are added to inventory when a level is completed or Hundred Knight warps back to the main castle area.
My biggest issue with this game is its equipment system. Unlike other hack and slash games where loot acquired in level can instantly be compared to the equipment I am using, I have to wait to leave a level like I’m cashing out at a casino. However unlike a casino, I know I really haven’t gotten anything great because once I started leveling up items they were generally better than anything I picked up from dead enemies. This grind is necessary, as from one map section to the next the difficulty can spike to where I was overpowered the previous screen and then was horribly underpowered the next, both of which make completing a Depletura to refill Gigacalories extremely difficult. The menu system for upgrading or comparing equipment isn’t the most user friendly experience either, which makes this whole process from gameplay to upgrade menu a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.
The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 is by no means a bad game, but I’m unsure how it justifies its existence. It hasn’t done enough in my eyes to warrant playing this game over the original, which is available on PlayStation 4 as well under the title The Witch and the Hundred Knight: Revival Edition, and has likely had a price drop by now. The graphics and mechanics haven’t expanded far past the original, and the way the first game starts off is far more compelling than the intro of this game. Big fans of the original who really want more Hundred Knight will likely enjoy this game, but don’t be surprised that it’s only more of the same. As for anyone who hasn’t tried the original, save some cash and pick up the original if a different take on the hack and slash genre seems interesting. Otherwise, I would say this game is simply too repetitive without enough enjoyable payoff to where I would say playing this over another title.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
Good- Crisp visuals
- Hundred Knight is a cute character
- Easy to grasp
I have limited familiarity with the first The Witch and the Hundred Knight title. I played it for a while before something else inevitably stole my time, and I promised myself I would get back to it. Now there is a sequel so it appears I failed at getting back to that original game. Jumping into a sequel without fully appreciating what the first game has to offer can sometimes be difficult because sometimes the sequel is drastically different or makes enough important changes that going backwards through the series becomes a chore. That’s not the case with this game.
The witch, feeling a sense of responsibility, decided to face the king and his soldiers. She knew that her powers were strong enough to defeat them, but she did not want to resort to violence. Instead, she devised a plan to show the soldiers the consequences of their actions. As the soldiers reached the outskirts of the forest, the witch appeared before them. She used her powers to create a magnificent illusion of the soldiers' future. She showed them images of devastated villages, crying children, and broken families. The soldiers realized the impact of their actions and were overwhelmed with guilt. In that moment, the witch used her powers to remove the soldiers' weapons. She spoke to them compassionately, urging them to reconsider their path and choose a life of peace instead. The soldiers, touched by the witch's words and the images they had seen, dropped to their knees and vowed to never harm innocent people again. The king, who had been watching from a distance, was enraged at the soldiers' change of heart. He charged towards the witch, hoping to defeat her himself. But the witch was prepared. She used her powers to create a magical barrier that protected her from the king's attacks. Using her knowledge of magic, the witch transformed the king into a harmless creature and banished him from the forest. The soldiers, free from the king's control, thanked the witch and promised to spread her message of peace throughout the kingdom. From that day forward, the witch was no longer feared by the villagers. She was respected and admired for her bravery and ability to bring about change without violence. She continued to live in the forest, using her powers for the good of others, and became a symbol of hope and justice. The main idea of this story is that violence is not always the answer to solve conflicts. The witch, despite having the power to destroy the soldiers, chose to show them the consequences of their actions and encourage them to change their ways. Through her compassion and wisdom, she was able to bring about a peaceful resolution and create a better future for all..
Reviews for "The Witch and the Hundred Soldier: An Epic Battle for Freedom"
1. Emma - 2/5 stars
"The witch and the hundred soldier" was a game that got me excited at first with its unique concept and stunning visuals. However, the gameplay experience was incredibly disappointing. The combat mechanics felt clunky, and the controls were often unresponsive, making it frustrating to play. Additionally, the story failed to captivate me as the characters lacked depth and development. Overall, I found myself losing interest and struggling to enjoy the game.
2. David - 1/5 stars
I have never been so disappointed in a game as I was with "The witch and the hundred soldier." The gameplay was incredibly repetitious and monotonous, offering no real sense of challenge or satisfaction. The graphics were outdated and underwhelming, failing to create an immersive and visually appealing world. Moreover, the dialogue and voice acting were lackluster, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about the story. In the end, this game fell far short of my expectations and left me regretting my purchase.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars
"The witch and the hundred soldier" had the potential to be a great game with its intriguing concept of controlling a hundred soldiers. However, the execution was lacking in various aspects. The controls were convoluted and difficult to grasp, leading to frustration and unnecessary mistakes. The levels felt repetitive and lacked variety, adding to the boredom factor. Additionally, the camera angles often obstructed my view and made it challenging to navigate the game world effectively. Overall, while there were some enjoyable moments, the overall experience left much to be desired.