Of course I’m talking about Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, a game that pays tribute to the traditional Japanese RPG genre.
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| Image Source: digitaltrends.com |
Oozing with magic and imagination
From Japan-based game developer Level-5, Ni no Kuni, which roughly means “another world,” is a JRPG jewel rare in this gaming generation. While it didn’t necessarily break new grounds in its niche, the way it respected the genre and its fans is truly remarkable.
It centers on 13-year-old Oliver, a young citizen of Motorville whose mother died due to his childish recklessness. It is with this tragedy that Ni no Kuni tries to capture its audience; and I must say, it worked for me.
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| Image Source: gamerhorizon.com |
But beyond the heartbreaking opening lies the adventure that Oliver must take. After his mother’s death, he spent his days sulking and crying. When his tears landed on a toy his mom made for him, it came to life.
Mr. Drippy, the toy and self-proclaimed lord of the fairies, told Oliver that there may be a way to bring his mother back. He only needs to save Drippy’s home, an enchanted land parallel to his.
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| Image Source: washingtontimes.com |
In this parallel world, Oliver must learn and master magic to defeat its evil ruler. It is also in this land that Ni no Kuni’s game mechanics shine. These are the things that I loved about its gameplay:
• Familiars – Just like Pokémons, familiars are creatures that Oliver and his friends can tame and train. These creatures are what you may call your “weapons” throughout the game. With different species and element types, there’s so much to choose from. I fell in love with one particular familiar, a Purrloiner that I, of course, named Paray.
• Battle system – An interesting mix of real-time action and turn-based strategy, Ni no Kuni’s battle system can be unforgiving for those who do not pay attention.
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| Image Source: dev.leviathyn.com |
• Free-roaming – After the lengthy tutorial, gamers are given the freedom to explore the game’s vast environments on their own pace. The choice is yours whether you want to do side-quests or hunt more familiars.
Finally, what makes this game infinitely special is the fact that renowned animation film studio Studio Ghibli provided its animated cutscenes. The way Oliver cried onto his toy, the way he looked upon the vast new world in front of him, the way he stared at his first familiar—with Studio Ghibli’s help, Ni no Kuni has certainly become a game that gamers can enjoy with childlike wonder.
Take a look at what Ni no Kuni’s story has to offer by watching the game’s latest trailer:
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