Ashina: The Red Witch

Developed by Nathan Pullen,and his game studio, Stranga, Ashina: The Red Witch is the new title that serves as a prequel to one of their games. They launched a kickstarter campaign to help finance this game that will certainly put a smile on the faces of retro game fans. Its visual style is pixelart with an aerial camera in an engaging story and has several puzzles and mini-games that you must solve to access the rewards and trophies that will be inside the game.

It has been said that this game was made with love and care; therefore, it shows in its design and gameplay. But what is this game all about? Well let's talk about it.

About the game

Initially set in an everyday Japan, you will take the role of "Ash", an average girl who, after a long day of work as a receptionist in a steam bath, retires to cook dinner because she will soon receive a visit from her sister. The family tension is strong, as they both feel frustrated in their work and long for a better life, but Ash also aspires to travel and see different places.

After the evening Ash returns to the solitude of his room, but the sound of the TV interrupts his sleep, and he wakes up to discover that there is a Yokai on the couch, watching TV and preparing a late-night snack. After the scare, the discussion begins and the unexpected guest decides to flee the scene, taking with him a precious souvenir of Ash's deceased mother. Immediately, she runs out to look for him, but after crossing the threshold of the door she realizes that she is in an unknown world for her, the world of the Yokai.

The game experience

The game has an RPG-like control, and we remind you that it is a title quite loaded with dialogues, which serve in a great way to establish a scenario and expand the game world.

A simple control but that is not a compliment, because it lacks many functions that would make the game more enjoyable, especially because it is only compatible with the keyboard. With pixel graphics and music will exploit the nostalgia of retro gaming lovers, but also complicate the development of the game, as the design of scenarios becomes confusing. Following the classic dynamic of talking to any character that appears on screen, to collect objects that allow you to continue the story, it fulfills its mission of making you walk around the same place until you figure out what the next step will be.

With all that in mind, no wonder one of the first games we think about when we talk about Ashina: The Red Witch is the Final Fantasy series. Well, those and obviously My Big Sister, the game that's comes chronologically after Ashina.

Review: 7/10

Borrowing clear inspirations and elements from Studio Ghibli, Ashina: The Red Witch is a game that tries to create the same atmosphere and mood as some of Miyazaki's best films. As such, the characters of the game have a very distinct look that you might recognize if you've seen Spirited Away or Totoro.

Pros:

• It's a short game
• Great music
• Easy to learn

Cons:

• You can't skip dialogue
• The interface could use an update