Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch™ Remastered

This game has many good things going for it especially the sound, voice acting, characters, and graphics. It really falls short on fun and gameplay. Many things are long and drawn out when they don't have to be, such as giving snacks to your familiars, and the large amounts of monsters. Also leveling is a pain as new familiars start at lower level, so aren't good without effort. The AI companions are frustrating, and if an enemy gets a spell off right before you, many times your spell will just vanish. The battles are repetitive. No kidding, I listened to podcasts a lot during this game.

After finally finishing the game I can only say, what a beautiful journey that was. I started it because I wanted a more lighthearted RPG and it delivered splendidly! The story is predictable and in one or two cases a bit cheesy but overall solid for the kind of family friendly game it wants to be. The world is beautiful and the character design great, as can be expected from Studio Ghibli. The best part for me was that the world lets you dream and wonder, it is so beautiful and the great music enhances it even more! The fighting system is OK once you get used to it, normal fights can be a bit boring and repetiv in some parts but you will get mechanics to avoid them. Boss battles on the other hand are allways fun. The only frutstrating part was the monster catch system, the catch success rate for some of the rare ones is hardcoded to 6% so you can imagine how depended on the RNG gods you are. The raising of your familiars is solid, nothing groundbreaking but fun enough. I can warmly recommend this great game to anyone who wants to have a charming long adventure in a beautiful world.

Le tengo 150h al juego en Switch, una absolutísima joya, 100% recomendado

I tried it, I put it down for a very long time, tried it again, and it just didn't click with me. I'm already not the most rpg-inclinced person, so having an rpg with an awkward and clunky combat system with unending and unavoidable random encounters just does not feel good. Maybe I'll come back to this some day when I'm extremely bored because the ghibli vibes are on point, but that sadly is not enough to carry the game.

I really really want to recommend this game but I just can't. I don't think it's bad. At worst it's mediocre and clunky but it has some fatal flaws that keep someone like me from enjoying my time with it, which is a shame because I adore Ni No Kuni: Revenant Kingdom. The writing is pretty good at times but it suffers a in quite a few areas. The one I noticed first was Oliver gets over being in a new world pretty quickly, it feels weird. You're telling me a kid, even one with Oliver's situation, wouldn't be wowed by traveling to a parallel world with magic and monsters? Conversely, the other characters don't seem to bat an eye at his world either. I wouldn't want to constantly have the story stop to be like, "Look at how different it is!" but there was really nothing. It also suffers from a repetition, you will hear something the characters say and go "Yes, I know already!" a lot. It also just lacks subtlety sometimes. While I have problems with the writing it was typically enjoyable, the gameplay thought is the real barrier that's keeping me from having a good time. When it was introduced, I though the broken-hearted thing was really cool and was excited to see how the mechanic developed further. It did not. It's like, "Ollie boy! This person here sure seems to be lacking some ENTHUSIAM." and then you give them the enthusiam or go grab someone from someone standing 5 meters away. The combat is really what gets me though. When I felt like picking it up again the combat made me dread my time with the game. I would list how it sucks but I don't have the energy to be upset about it anymore If you can handle the gameplay's quirks, pick up this game, I personally though can't recommend it. Go grab the second game, it's better.

Ni no Kuni: La Vengeance de la Sorcière Céleste Une direction artistique digne du Studio Ghibli — chaque décor, chaque animation respire la magie et la poésie. C’est beau, c’est doux, c’est un vrai dessin animé jouable. La musique de Joe Hisaishi finit de t’achever émotionnellement. 🥲 Mais alors… Level-5, ils ont pensé aux chasseurs de trophées comme à un test d’endurance ! 😅 Quand j’ai vu qu’il fallait plus de 130 heures pour le 100%, avec un taux de drop plus rare qu’un Shiny sur Pokémon, j’ai compris qu’ils voulaient notre santé mentale. Un bijou visuel et émotionnel, mais prépare ton café si tu veux le platiner. ⭐ 9/10 – Ghibli aurait pas fait mieux

[h1]Heart Torn Asunder[/h1] Picture this: a plucky lad named Oliver, living in the quaint little town of Motorville, suffers a tragedy so profound that his tears quite literally summon a doorway to another world full of talking fairies, colossal treefolk, and a wicked White Witch threatening the balance of all things magical. Accompanied by the ever-cheeky Drippy the fairy, Oliver embarks on a quest of courage, kindness, and a touch of wizardly whimsy to restore hope and save two intertwined realms. It's pure Studio Ghibli magic wrapped in an RPG adventure — heartwarming, hand-drawn beauty everywhere, and a score by Joe Hisaishi that tugs at every string in your soul! [h1]Real-Time Battles Unfold[/h1] In this grand tale, combat unfolds in lively real-time skirmishes where Oliver and his companions dash about the battlefield, casting spells and swinging weapons while directing a trio of captured familiars—adorable little creatures that fight alongside you, each with their own unique tricks, tricks that can be swapped and strengthened through careful nurturing and metamorphosis into ever-more-powerful forms, much like taming beasts in Pokémon yet blended seamlessly with action-oriented commands from classics like Final Fantasy. Battles demand thoughtful positioning and timing as you switch between controlling Oliver's direct actions and issuing orders to your familiars, who scamper and soar independently yet respond to your strategic whims, building up a dynamic rhythm that evolves from simple clashes into elaborate dances of elemental affinities, tricks, and combo opportunities that reward observation and adaptation across sprawling dungeons, vast overworld seas navigated by trusty ship, and towns brimming with side tales and hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered through exploration and gentle persistence. [h1]Hand-Drawn Wonder[/h1] The visuals burst forth like pages from a living storybook, every frame lovingly hand-drawn in that unmistakable Studio Ghibli style with lush, vibrant landscapes that shift from cozy English countryside vibes to fantastical forests, deserts, and floating isles, making exploration feel like stepping into an animated dream where even the smallest flower sways with personality. Joe Hisaishi's orchestral score weaves a tapestry of emotion so enchanting that melodies linger long after the screen fades, lifting quiet moments of reflection and swelling triumphantly during heartfelt confrontations. The narrative delivers a profoundly touching journey of loss, growth, and the power of kindness, told through characters whose sincerity and charm shine brightly, especially young Oliver's earnest quest that tugs at heartstrings without ever feeling overwrought. Capturing and evolving familiars offers endless delight as you collect hundreds of quirky creatures, each with distinct evolutions and abilities that encourage experimentation and deep attachment, turning battles into joyful collections of personality-packed allies. Pacing builds gradually yet satisfyingly, rewarding patience with increasingly intricate systems that feel rewarding rather than overwhelming once the world fully opens. Voice acting brings every whimsical line to life with warmth and wit, particularly Drippy's nonstop banter that adds layers of humor and heart to even the direst situations. Side quests abound with creative puzzles and heartfelt stories that flesh out the world's lore, making every detour feel meaningful and full of surprise. Overall cohesion of art, music, story, and mechanics creates an experience that feels utterly magical and cohesive, standing proudly alongside gems like Persona 5 in evoking genuine wonder within the JRPG realm. [h1]Pacing Stumbles[/h1] The early portions unfold rather leisurely, taking considerable time to introduce mechanics and build momentum before the grander adventures truly ignite, which can test the eagerness of those hoping for swift enchantment. Combat occasionally suffers from companion AI that doesn't always anticipate threats with perfect grace, leading to moments where familiars dawdle or get stuck in unfortunate positions during heated exchanges. Backtracking through previously visited areas for certain quests and collectibles grows a tad wearisome over extended play, especially when rare drops demand repeated visits to the same spots. Some boss encounters spike sharply in difficulty without ample warning, forcing sudden adjustments or grinding that momentarily disrupts the otherwise gentle flow of discovery and delight. [h1]Magical Memories Linger[/h1] In the end, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch stands as a breathtaking fusion of Studio Ghibli's timeless artistry and classic JRPG adventure, delivering a heartfelt tale that warms the spirit while inviting hours of joyful exploration and creature companionship. Its blend of wonder, challenge, and emotional depth makes it a treasure worth cherishing for anyone who adores worlds where kindness wields true power. Even today in 2026, the remastered edition sparkles with polish, offering tremendous value at its frequently discounted price tag—often dipping below $10 during sales, with no significant DLC to chase since the core experience arrives complete and bountiful. [h1]Grade[/h1] 8.7/10 - score reflects a near-masterpiece of charm and beauty that enchants deeply yet holds back from perfection due to occasional pacing lulls and minor frustrations in combat flow, still soaring high as one of the most heartwarming journeys in gaming

​This is just false advertisement: the game. In a 44+ hour game, you only get 18 minutes of beautiful, hand-drawn Studio Ghibli animation. ​I stopped playing after 1.5 hours, and I don't feel like that was too soon. I should have dropped it immediately after realizing how broken the audio mixing is. The only good part of my experience was the Ghibli animation, but when it comes on screen, the audio is suddenly painfully quiet, followed immediately by the 3D cutscenes blasting your eardrums. ​The art style constantly clashes, shifting from gorgeous Ghibli scenes to genuinely hideous and jarring 3D models (like the Great Oak Tree). Honestly, most of this game is ugly. It doesn't look any better than the 3DS era of Pokémon games, and with certain character models, it looks far worse. ​Finally, Drippy is the worst companion I've ever had in a game. That mfer is incredibly rude and aggravating right off the bat. Ugly ah wearing a lantern for a septum ring mfer. I swear it's a miracle I made it past his first cutscene because dude is the genuine worst. ​This game sucks fr, and it's unfortunate that Ghibli had their work put into such an undeserving title.