BLACK WITCHCRAFT

Some games feel like they were made to present a specific visual theme. BLACK WITCHCRAFT is one of those titles, desperately bringing an intricate gothic visual aesthetic to a genre that seems to lack those visuals. The game is a side-scrolling action RPG that transcends us into a beautifully drawn world full of obscure and marvelously grim. Trust that the game is rife with blacks and reds!

But as beautiful as the game looks, there's still the matter of what BLACK WITCHCRAFT will offer. We don't forget that arcade shooters never break ground, but they often provide that fun factor. So with little knowledge about this title, let's find out what kind of action it will bring to the table.

Back in Black

So what do we know from BLACK WITCHCRAFT upon getting immersed into the first stage? We have a side-scrolling shooter based on a story of a witch being revived in this turbulent gothic estate. It's the player's job to gear up and try and stop this madness, even though you'd believe the characters controlled are witches themselves.

BLACK WITCHCRAFT is pretty simple in structure. You'll dash through each gothic-infused level, firing obscure weaponry, charging up a skill tree, and learning secrets in this bizarre storyline. It all feels pretty standard for an action RPG and reiterates the point that it feels a game was created to bring the whole gothic theme time to life.

BLACK WITCHCRAFT is pretty enjoyable, though. The combat is fluid, the skill tree is easy to navigate, and there's enough palatable story to keep you interested. Characters are neatly drawn, and the aesthetic sets the tone for the overall gameplay. The critical quarrel I have with the gameplay is the animations - they look as stiff as one of those old flash games.

As obnoxious as those animations get, they can be forgiven as combat is fluid enough to make the game consistently enjoyable. The game's flexible approach and fluctuating narrative provide core points of interest, making BLACK WITCHCRAFT dull. Still, you won't have your mind blown. It's a standard side-scrolling shooter with a gothic touch, and many will be OK with that.

Eyes Set to Kill

By no means does BLACK WITCHCRAFT meet the gothic integrity of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. However, there's a polished game here that's more impressive than you would give credit for. The narrative changes depending on how you play the game leaving multiple endings, and there's enough diversity in gameplay to at least keep the player's attention focused.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Beautifully drawn gothic world
• Combat is fluid, diverse, and enjoyable
• Multiple endings to offer replayability

Cons:

• Stiff animations are bothersome
• The user interface is a bit clunky and disruptive
• The game gets lost in translation sometimes