Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
9.5
10
57
57
Beautiful Rich Graphics, Amazing RPG
Ni no Kuni is an absolutely gorgeous game with graphics by the amazing Studio Ghibli (My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away). It's as lovely as watching one of the Ghibli films, but with amazing Pokemon-style battles. As a friend described it, "it's like dragon quest and Pokemon hybrid." I strongly recommend this game to anyone who loves gorgeous graphics, great storyline, fun battles, and anime. One of the best RPG's i've ever played!
5/17/13
Fun, charming, excellent
Fantastic game. The animation is absolutely incredible. Each city has it's own unique charm and style. The gameplay is good but don't expect the few tactic changes you can make to be a set it and forget type. Instead you must constantly switch characters and make tactical adjustments to get the attacking done but stay alive as well as conserve MP.
Along with the stupendous animation the soundtrack is awesome. Cities get a unique soundtrack composed by Joe Hisashi (has done work for Studio Ghibli in some very successful animated movies) AND composed impeccably by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. I love the soundtrack. But if you don't enjoy disney type stuff (toy story type movies) then you MAY not like this game. I love it.
5/8/13
A Unique Gaming Experience.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is a brilliant JRPG with absolutely stunning artwork by Studio Ghibli (artists of My Neighbor Totoro) and an amazing soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi (composer for many Studio Ghibli films). I'm so glad that there is a great new game that isn't full of guns, war, or bloody violence. There are no chubby cats or magical fairies in Call of Duty. And in a game like Pokemon you don't get graphics that are even close to Studio Ghibli's outstanding anime artwork. The story is very unique, and it makes you feel like you are playing through a real Studio Ghibli movie. The characters are really funny and likable. But, while playing this game, you MUST watch the cutscenes. The cutscenes are great, and if you skip any of them, you will not get full enjoyment of this game. Although Ni no Kuni does have a few awkward camera angles and a battling system that takes some time to get used to, all of the major positives outweigh the negatives. And if you like it as much as I do, the side missions after the main story should keep you playing for hours and hours. If you're looking to 100% complete this game, it should take at least eighty hours.
5/5/13
Best in its Class, No Question.
How can I describe Ni No Kuni? Better yet, where to begin? The graphics are stunning, thanks to Studio Gibli, and make you feel as if you're taking part in an epic movie rather than a video game. And the music only heightens that feeling; I can't remember the last time a brilliant game like this was polished off with a full scale orchestra in the background. Gameplay may seem complicated at first (Pokemon-like turn based, except with the ability to move around and actively defend), but the game eases you into its system and helps you master it. There is also plenty to do in terms of side quests and you can't help feeling for Oliver and his friends. I can't lie: some of those scenes made me cry like a waterfall. I hope this game always remains a classic, 'cause I can't think of any better game!
4/23/13
AMAZING GAME
This game is awesome i never write a review but this game is BEST GAME EVER... I played for several hours and never get boring the story is even better than zelda.
4/12/13
Good Animation Painfully Slow & Boring
I've had plenty of fun with RPG's and ARPG's such as Final Fantasy, The Witcher, and Diablo 3 most recently. So I knew what to expect with this game to a degree.
The coupling of traditional animation cut scenes intermingled with game action and plot development is a novel idea. However, I found the game to be extremely repetitive, and the story development to be painfully slow and tedious. Not to mention the inability to save the game at any point ... started a dungeon and don't have the time to finish? oh well, you're screwed. Also, reading thousands of lines of text is a giant bore ... I get more fun reading a novel, it felt like the dialogue windows were dragging down the pace of the game. Overall, this game requires a lot of time, patience, and is for younger audiences.
I played the game for a few hours and was simply bored. I'm returning this game tomorrow.
3/28/13
A great looking game that gets tedious
I'll start by saying this is a great looking game. The cell-shading animation fits the world perfectly. Also, the story & writing easily trump anything I've seen in recent years. However there are some flow issues. I mean that while the story is compelling the tedious menu system really detract from the experience. a good 1/4 of your time, at least, will be spent in the menu & wizard companion. Navigating the menus is not difficult, but takes a long time. Mix & match Alchemy takes forever if you want to do multiple items. & I think it takes a little too long to get a 3rd member in your party, but that might be my play style =? My gripes are nit-picky though. at the end of the day I would definitely recommend this new take on pokemon =D
3/21/13
A fantastic adventure!
This is one of those uncommon gems in gaming where everything in a huge game comes together to create an amazing experience. I just completed the game today(not the post-game content) and I felt compelled to write a little something regarding it.
The main character, Oliver, is a seemingly typical young boy who lives in a small USA town called Motorville. The game spends a little bit of time introducing you to Oliver, his mother, the town, etc. at the beginning of the game. My expectations of the visuals were met as the game opened and I got to spend a little time wandering around town. It really captures the feel of an anime film.
After a tragic event happens that involves his mother, Oliver is introduced to a beautifully realized fantasy world that is parallel to his own. He meets a fairy named Mr. Drippy and he asks Oliver's aid to save the fantasy world from an evil power. Oliver also learns that he has the chance to save his mother in the process.
What transpires afterwards is one of the most heartwarming tales I have experienced in a video game in a long time, if not ever. Along the way, Oliver meets many interesting characters, a few of which accompany him throughout his travels. He also travels to many parts of the land via the overworld in the game that has its own distinct look and feel. Parts of the land are covered in snow while others are covered in desert sands. Each part of the land is beautifully realized and exploring the towns and other areas within them in a treat.
Oliver eventually learns that he has the potential to be a great wizard. Along the way he learns dozens of spells to aid him in his adventures and also gains the ability to use familiars. Familiars are magical creatures quite similar to pokemon that are created from someone's soul. Oliver can attack on his own but a familiar may have a strength where Oliver may have a weakness. Some have stronger physical attacks while others have stronger magical attacks. Others may have great defense but may lack offensive capabilities and so on. Adding to this is the affinity of each one regarding the different elements. Oliver and those that accompany him can have up to three familiars with them at one time while the rest are sent to a familiar retreat until they are selected by you to be put in your party from one of many points throughout the world. Capturing and finding the familiars that compliment your style of play best and leveling them up is extremely satisfying and addictive. Constantly swapping between Oliver and his familiars to best handle the situation at hand during a battle is very exciting and rewarding.
While the game certainly has a cartoony aesthetic to it it does not mean this game is only for a younger audience. There is a lot here for people of all ages to enjoy. While the game isn't one of the most difficult JRPGs I've played it definitely does require some thinking and strategy especially during the later parts of the game. The story does have a lighter tone. Even the most sensitive people won't be able to find anything remotely offensive here. That doesn't mean the story is any less powerful. There are many touching moments throughout the game along with some narrative twists and turns that cause suffering for the characters and their world that they must overcome. I don't want to go much deeper than that for fear of spoiling anything but I will say that I loved the story and how it was presented. While the dialogue can get a bit sappy and cheesy at times, i easily overlooked it since this kind of dialogue was usually coming from the younger and innocent characters in the game.
I can't recommend this game enough if you're a JRPG fan. It's truly an amazing game. The combat and exploration draw inspiration from the fantastic Tales series and the Pokemon games. The game also reminded of some elements from the Zelda series as well, mainly the fantastic music and the variety of the different dungeon-like areas you explore during the game. I hope these games continue to do well here so I can continue to have great gaming experiences like this.
If I have any complaints about the game they are: There could be more spoken dialogue in the game. These segments of the characters being fully-voiced were too few and far between in my opinion. Mainly because I loved them so much when they occurred. It brought that much more personality to the characters.
Also, Oliver's AI companions could be a little bit smarter.
3/17/13
Great game that is all that is needed
This is a wonderful anime game you get a lot of bang for your buck here. For me it was like living a anime movie or series. You get to control oliver and go on his adventure and it is great!!!! The big thing I liked the most it is not a normal rpg you get movement of your characters in battle unlike a lot of other rpg's. I would reccomend this for any anime fan and jrpg fan.
3/8/13
An Absolutely Amazing JRPG!
Out of all the RPGs, both Japanese and Western, that I have played in recent years, Ni No Kuni is one of the best. I have to say, I was very impressed playing this game. The story is very good, and the gameplay is absolutely incredible. Although certain aspects of the story can seem a bit childish at times, it is a very well put together storyline. But where the game really shines is in terms of gameplay. I originally picked up this game at the beginning of February, and for every time I turned on my PS3 that month, the only game I would play was Ni No Kuni. It is an absolutely amazing game. I am so glad that I decided to give this masterpiece a try. It is very fun and enjoyable to play, and I would highly recommend that anyone who may be considering giving it a try should just buy it and prepare to be amazed.
3/2/13