{"id":1049899,"date":"2024-09-01T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-01T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.siliconera.com\/?p=1049899"},"modified":"2024-08-28T15:16:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T19:16:36","slug":"review-witchspring-r-can-be-both-delightful-and-deep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.siliconera.com\/review-witchspring-r-can-be-both-delightful-and-deep\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: WitchSpring R Can Be Both Delightful and Deep"},"content":{"rendered":"

The WitchSpring <\/em>games always surprise me<\/a>. The blend of character training, a relaxed pace, and shockingly deep lore tend to enthrall me. WitchSpring R, <\/em>a major remake of the original game, fleshes out the original game even further while ensuring this version of the game looks and plays even more smoothly than the original.<\/p>

Pieberry is a young woman and a witch. She doesn\u2019t remember much about herself or her past! She knows she loves pies and berries, hence the name she gave herself. She also knows she\u2019s pretty much stuck in the forest where she lives, due to a golem and all. However, there\u2019s more to her, and the world around her, than she realizes. And since humans have been on a crusade against witches ever since, she\u2019ll soon find herself leaving her safe space and going to the Springs around Vavelia, reviving them and learning who she is.<\/p>

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Screenshot by Siliconera<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Now, as I mentioned earlier, WitchSpring R <\/em>ends up being quite a dramatic and dark game. The witch hunts are no joke. Bad things happen to good people. There are times we see characters we care about broken. But at the same time, it\u2019s also a very touching story! There are happy moments scattered throughout, and the nature of it means plenty of times it does feel downright cozy.  Pieberry herself is a fun, though perhaps a bit too naive, character. This version of the game and story stands out due to the extra attention given to supporting cast members. However, while I do appreciate the larger plot beats and lore surrounding witches and the world, there are some moments that feel a little\u2026 dumb. Like situations might be too obvious or ridiculous, spoilers aside. <\/p>

Like all other WitchSpring <\/em>entries, WitchSpring R <\/em>involves building up Pieberry\u2019s magical repertoire via getting new spells, acquiring pets to help in and out of battles, taking part in turn-based fights, crafting, and training the witch. The general gameplay loop doesn\u2019t change all that much between the original game and remaster. While the original version of this game also involved a time-limit, it takes a queue from other games and the Atelier <\/em>series for a more relaxed approach that allows Pieberry to complete her objectives at your leisure. <\/p>