Little Witch Nobeta is a video game that has gained attention among gamers and critics. The game's reception on Metacritic has been positive, with a **score of 78/100**. Little Witch Nobeta is an action-adventure game developed by a small indie studio called "Pupuya Games". It follows the story of Nobeta, a young witch who is on a journey to uncover her past and the secrets of a mysterious world. The game has received praise for its beautiful visuals, charming characters, and engaging gameplay mechanics. Players have enjoyed exploring the vibrant and detailed environments, as well as the challenging combat encounters.
Little Witch Nobeta Review
Last month, I wrote a preview for Little Witch Nobeta and stated that I was looking forward to carrying on with the game. Now, after finishing the game and seeing everything it has to offer, have my thoughts on developer Pupuya Game’s debut title changed? Don’t let the cutesy aesthetic fool you, as Little Witch Nobeta is a shooter combined with a Souls-like that gives gamers a challenging — and surprisingly unique — take on the genre.
You play as Nobeta, a witch with no recollection of who she is, apart from her name. Not knowing much about herself or her past, Nobeta is drawn to a strange castle where she feels the answers to her forgotten identity lie. Shortly after venturing into the castle, Nobeta comes across a black cat who appears to know more than it’s letting on. This cat tells our little witch that seeking out “the throne”, that is hidden deep within the castle ruins, will lead her to discovering her true identity.
The story as a whole never gets too involved, with cutscenes placed few and far between, although the constant mystery surrounding Nobeta and her past is always intriguing enough that I rather enjoyed the threadbare plot. Those of you that want to fill in as many blanks as possible will find collectibles scattered throughout each level that add some extra lore and world building to the game.
Little Witch Nobeta is a decent-looking game, with a particular nod towards some great character and enemy designs that range from uniquely charming to downright unsettlingly creepy (I’m looking at you, marionette enemies!). Even though the environments themselves aren’t anything incredible, the lighting — especially light coming from player attacks — definitely made them pop, becoming more than just the drab areas that they first appear to be.
Perhaps the best looking aspects of the game are the animations; Nobeta in particular has a wide variety of over-the-top manoeuvres and spells that all look great. Enemies are also well animated, which certainly helps in predicting their attack patterns.
Whilst the music was always thematically appropriate for the environments, they tended to drag on as they looped endlessly, and were particularly noticeable when exploring every nook and cranny of a level. Although Little Witch Nobeta features no English dub, the Japanese voices are well-delivered, and the subtitles were translated well enough that they got across any emotional narrative points.
In the initial preview, I only reached the second boss battle, and I found that the rest of Little Witch Nobeta is largely more of the same. But with a steady stream of new abilities and magical spells to unlock, it staves off the tedium. Mostly. Whilst it was always fun to try out a new attack and swap them out depending on which spell served me best for each area, there was the occasional time when I found the game growing slightly stale. Maybe because this is a much more streamlined take on the genre, with very few instances to truly explore an area before you’re placed back onto the set path to your goal, or the fact that the majority of the enemies can be bested by simply blasting them from afar. There is a melee attack, which is useful in a pinch, but the primary gameplay certainly favours Nobeta’s ranged spells and abilities.
Attacking whilst being constantly on the move was something I found myself doing more and more as the game went on, mainly due to the more aggressive enemies in later levels. The stamina meter is used solely for movement, and your ranged attacks will use up Nobeta’s magic meter, although this recharges quickly enough that I never found myself defenceless too often. A charged magic attack can do a lot of damage, but will also quickly deplete your magic, so it was a fun balancing act that was rewarding when it went in my favour.
There are four elements Nobeta will gain control of throughout the game and use to attack enemies, with the initial Arcane spell being the most basic. The ice spell is more of a low-damage, high rate-of-fire spell good for chipping away at a far away enemy, whilst the opposite is true of the fire spell, which is comparable to something like a shotgun; it’s hard-hitting, yet not so good from a distance. Finally, thunder is the real powerhouse of the four, and can dish out some serious punishment to anything that isn’t a boss enemy.
These elements (and Nobeta’s stats and passive abilities) are upgradable by finding hidden items as well as “Goddess Statues” throughout the world, which also act as checkpoints. There isn’t much in the way of customising Nobeta to fit your play style, but since you’re playing a particular character, rather than a custom creation, it’s more understandable.
I’d also like to mention the quality of Little Witch Nobeta’s boss fights. With the first boss being a hulking suit of armour that does little more than shamble around and take swipes at you, the rest of the game’s bosses are far beyond this rather mundane first fight. These are where the true challenge of the game lies, and there were occasions where I attempted to rush through an area in order to get to the next big bad (not a recommended tactic if you want to have levelled up sufficiently!).
Little Witch Nobeta is a fun, if occasionally repetitive, Souls-like shooter and a great starting point for those new to these types of games. It’s not overly long, with my final playtime being just under 12 hours, but with some fantastic boss designs and an interesting spin on an otherwise melee-focused genre, there is certainly fun to be had here.
Little Witch Nobeta Review
Little Witch Nobeta is, to the surprise of no one, a game about a Little Witch called Nobeta. Developed by Taiwanese studio Pupuya Games, Little Witch Nobeta is an old-school third person action game. Spells are blasted, spooky dolls smashed, and abandoned castles explored. Some have tried to liken it to Dark Souls, but in reality, Little Witch Nobeta is an unashamedly simple arcade shooter.
The setup is remarkably straightforward. Nobeta needs to find a throne hidden within an ancient castle, and she sets off on this quest with a surly Little Black Cat to assist her, and a wand to cast one of four elemental spells. She’ll need all the magic she can get, as the castle is inhabited by evil dolls seeking to steal her soul. It is also inhabited by weird phallus-like ghost creatures, but the less said about them the better.
There are some cutscenes that expand upon the basic story but they are fairly dull and rendered tedious thanks to lethargic pacing. Characters speak very slowly, and say a lot, but explain little. You’ll soon find yourself skipping through the cutscenes, ignoring the story entirely, and getting to the action instead.
And, for the most part, the action is decent. You’ll have to reconfigure the controls to discover that, as the initial calibration is an absolute mess, but if you do that then the combat proves immensely fun. Nobeta can combat roll, dodge, and double jump with the best of them. She’s also delightfully overpowered, zapping out spells with machine-gun-like intensity. Thanks to a generous auto-aim, Nobeta plays like an absolute badass and, once impressive bazooka and shotgun imitating spells have been added to your arsenal, you’ll be casting your way through your enemies with glee. Combat then is fast and frenetic, in complete contrast to the tedious exploration.
Wondering around the castle is a chore, quite frankly. A series of samey corridors and identical halls do not make for interesting environments. This issue is exacerbated by the limited art assets and ancient 2000’s era visuals. The same brick walls and doorways are repeated ad nauseum, just with slightly different lighting. This wouldn’t be an issue if the levels were strictly linear, but there’s quite a lot of going back and forth required, resulting in the player becoming completely disorientated. This is exacerbated by the fact that there are no unique landmarks or visual features to navigate by.
The fairly abysmal signposting results in lots and lots of insipid wandering until you happen upon the correct path. One particularly awful section requires the player to get through a pitch black maze with lethal falls – it’s horrible. In short, all this boring walking only serves to undermine the enjoyment to be had from blasting creepy dolls.
Which is a whole lot of fun, as the dolls are a delightfully eccentric bunch. You’ll find they like to attack you with a range of utensils – such as knives and enormous scissors – or simply blast you with spells from afar. They are surprisingly dynamic opponents, weaving and flanking to create many memorable encounters. Though the highlight of the game is without a doubt the bosses.
Each encounter with these fiends is suitably epic. Bosses will attempt to wail on you with giant robotic fists, stomp you with giant cuddly teddy bear paws, or run you through with swords so massive they would make Cloud jealous. There’s also an engaging risk-and-reward mechanic to be had which enlivens boss fights immensely. Nobeta can slowly charge up her spells, but is exceedingly vulnerable as she does so. It results in frantic moments as the player desperately avoids attacks in order to unleash a pumped-up rocket spell at just the right moment.
My one complaint? Some bosses have decidedly unfair instakill attacks. Not a problem in and of itself, but the game then demands a lengthy re-tread through its tedious environments to get back to the boss and that really grates.
The rest of Little Witch of Nobeta is entirely disposable. Levelling up individual stats is a waste of time, as levelling up equally proves the most effective strategy. Using items that might curse Nobeta is an under utilised addition as well. In fact, I’ve no idea how the curse mechanic even works, as it never came up in my playthrough. Other than the instakill attacks, the game is so easy you’ll rarely die, so you won’t need to use health gems. Whilst the amount of mana available to Nobeta is so generous that you won’t even need to check the plethora of items that are intended to replenish it. There’s copious relics to find but when the level design is so uninspired, who wants to waste time doing that?
SummaryLittle Witch Nobeta makes for a fun old-school action shooter. It’s just a shame that this particular witches’ brew is filled with so much unnecessary and bland garnish that serves only to dilute the taste.
Little Witch Nobeta (Nintendo Switch) Review
Souls-like games are still coming thick and fast as the Dark Souls craze dances ever forward. Here is the latest 'like' to hit Nintendo Switch, Little Witch Nobeta. Coming all the way from Japanese developer Pupuya Games, it's promising a challenging game with magical combat. Originally released on PC in June 2020, it has now made it to EU and US consoles in 2023! So how does this conversion stack up?
Little Witch Nobeta, aside from being a somewhat bizarre title, is a great little Souls-like game, following Nobeta as she explores a mysterious castle trying to find out who she is. Was she always alone? What she finds is a myriad of enemies, a mysterious cat and a lot of different monsters / doll girls who want her dead. It's a bit anime as expected but, a few slightly iffy localisations aside, a solid little adventure story befitting of the genre. There are loads of characters in the dialogue and the characters are all voiced in a purr-ticularly decent fashion. As the game progresses, it manages to make the breadcrumbs add up to a decent conclusion, but how does the game actually play?
Gameplay is surprisingly unique; there are elements of a third person shooter with the magical combat. Each spell has a defined effect: for example, ice is the machine gun. All the spells can be powered up by chanting which usually has some devastatingly high damage or cool homing effect, and it's fun to experiment and mix things up, especially in a boss fight. Boss fights are at the end of each segment of the game and are usually bookended with cutscenes. Difficulty-wise the boss fights seem fair, and the normal enemies are quite easy to beat with a little planning. Each boss also has a unique look and attack pattern which is expected but not always a given. Beating a boss nets players new abilities, such as double jumping, which increase power and mobility, making progression fun and rewarding. Surprisingly, this controls well on Switch which isn't a given in some indie conversions, but the movement is pitched at the correct speed and aiming isn't too twitchy. Jumping and fighting feels great and it even allows for some platforming challenges.
The levels themselves are quite varied and colourful, much more so than the first area would suggest. They are punctuated with occasional details and little crannies to hide collectables. Enemy placement is usually obvious and not designed for cheap surprise hits. Saving is done with statues à la fireplaces from ye-olde Souls' series. At the statues it's possible to upgrade stats using experience farmed from enemies, and it's advisable to keep on top of this light RPG element as it can mean the difference when facing down some of the harder challenges in the game.
Atmospherically the game has some great music, it is quite refreshing to have this somewhat magical soundtrack giving life to such darkly themed spaces. This is accentuated by some great voice work and sound design, meaning things pop surprisingly well. Visually the game is a treat, too. Obviously, there can be a bit of slowdown or overbearing bloom (which can be turned off) but in general levels are cleanly presented and have agreeable colour palettes. Character and enemy design are excellent with Nobeta getting the brunt of the polygons. Her design is deliberately cute, and the animation work accentuates platforming and attacks in a pleasing way. It's possible to unlock new costumes for her too by hitting milestones. Enemies tend to have doll-esque designs that are just verging on creepy, which seems to be the intended effect.
Cubed3 Rating
8/10Great - Silver Award
Little Witch Nobeta is a surprisingly fun little indie Souls-like title. It has charm and challenge in equal bags, and it even pulls off a competent, if slightly oddly translated, story. It isn't Dark Souls but fans of the genre would be remiss to pass on this game, especially if they like cutesy anime witches. Thoroughly recommended.
Players have enjoyed exploring the vibrant and detailed environments, as well as the challenging combat encounters. Critics have particularly praised the game's unique magic system, which allows players to use different spells and abilities to defeat enemies and solve puzzles. The controls have also been lauded for being precise and responsive, making the gameplay enjoyable and satisfying.
Some reviewers have mentioned that the game's difficulty level can be quite challenging, which might not appeal to all players. However, others have praised this aspect, stating that it adds to the sense of achievement and satisfaction when progressing through the game. Little Witch Nobeta's narrative has been described as intriguing and well-crafted, with a good balance between storytelling and gameplay. The game's soundtrack has also been highly praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, further enhancing the overall experience. Overall, Little Witch Nobeta has been positively received by both gamers and critics. Its unique gameplay mechanics, charming visuals, and engaging story have made it a standout indie title in the action-adventure genre..
Reviews for "The Role of Metacritic in Shaping Little Witch Nobeta's Reputation"
- John Smith - 1/10
I found "Little Witch Nobeta" to be extremely disappointing. The gameplay felt repetitive and lackluster, with no real sense of challenge or excitement. The graphics were also quite underwhelming, lacking in detail and looking outdated. Additionally, the story was poorly developed, leaving me with no real motivation to continue playing. Overall, I would not recommend this game to anyone looking for a captivating and immersive gaming experience.
- Emily Johnson - 2/10
"Little Witch Nobeta" fell short of my expectations in almost every aspect. The controls were clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to navigate through the game. The combat system also felt shallow, lacking any depth or strategy. The visuals were mediocre at best, with dull and uninspiring environments. Furthermore, the story was predictable and unengaging, failing to keep me invested in the game. Overall, I was highly disappointed with my experience and would not play this game again.
- David Thompson - 3/10
I have to say, I was not impressed with "Little Witch Nobeta". The combat mechanics felt repetitive and lacked any real challenge. The level design was also quite generic, with no memorable or unique elements. The story, while promising at first, quickly became cliche and uninteresting. The RPG elements of the game were also poorly executed, with little customization or progression options. Overall, I found this game to be forgettable and I would not recommend it to others.
- Sarah Adams - 2/10
"Little Witch Nobeta" was a huge disappointment for me. The gameplay felt clunky and unpolished, with frequent glitches and bugs. The graphics, while colorful, lacked detail and looked amateurish. The story was also poorly executed, with little character development or engaging plot points. The game also lacked replayability, with no real incentive to continue playing after completing the main story. Overall, I regretted spending my money on this game and would not recommend it.