Little Witch Nobeta

Calling a game the Dark Souls of their own franchise is becoming a bit redundant now - yet everybody still applies it in their branding. Whether they perpetuated it or not, Pupuya Games have delivered another game that has been represented in that fashion with Little Witch Nobeta. This time around, it's the Dark Souls of adorable anime characters with a trusty cat sidekick.

Little Witch Nobeta is an action game that synchronizes its difficulty with unbridled cuteness. Why on earth has this been given the title of another Dark Souls? The aesthetics, characters, and environments have little in common with its grandfather game. We most certainly can dive in.

Little Witch, Big Trouble

The game is centered around the instantaneously cutesy notion of solving Nobeta's personal crises. Why is she here, what is her meaning, why is this cat here? The premise of the game is basic - though pretty apparent there's work to be done. Straightway, you are expected to enter a deadly dungeon with erratic enemies and unsuspecting traps. There's nothing to excite in terms of story - but Little Witch Nobeta really drags players into executing the well-polished combat.

Complex varieties of magic are presented for you on a staff-shaped platter. The intention being to battle your way through enemies that are surprisingly well-adjusted and challenging. They share the same passion for Nobeta's demise, however. They will use all sorts of trickery to ensure that your progression finds more hindrance than expected. The art style would suggest a wholesome anime experience. If that's what you are looking for - you will be in for a bit of a shock.

The environmental resonance of Gothic architecture and style is pretty consistent throughout - there isn't much variation in levels and really nothing impactful on the story. The combat is quite enjoyable as enemies do get more challenging to neutralize. Under a theme that is as ditsy as Little Witch Nobeta, you wouldn't think one would have to use their brains too much to finish the playthrough.

Inspired, But Just As Uninspired

Little Witch Nobeta's difficulty and combat mechanics do make the game reminiscent of Dark Souls. However, the gameplay continues to remind me of Code Vein. Outside of the interactions between enemies, there's not much left on the plate to enjoy.

While some would argue differently, the environments seem uninspired without any stark variation to keep things interesting. The dialogue and storylines follow the same suit, falling flat and often irritating with silly sounds that accompany them - the cat is the real interloper here.

That being said, the combat alone is worth playing the game. You will find hours of entertainment using little Nobeta to stave off enemies that bring more challenges than not. The visuals firing different magic are quite appealing, and the animations behind all the actions are very satisfying.

Pros

• Excellent combat mechanics
• Smart enemies that are challenging to beat - but not overly frustrating
• Animations are very smooth and hold a few surprises

Cons

• Lack of story
• Sounds in the game can be irritating
• Tried and tested environment styles