Mobile games getting ports to consoles can be a hit-or-miss situation. Sometimes the game can be greatly expanded in innovative ways, and while other times feeling barebones and unworthy of full price. It is something that is tricky to get right and very easy to get wrong.
Witch Spring3 Re:Fine- The Story of Eirudy is a port of a mobile game from Korea, remastered for the Switch and with new graphics. The game has some nice additions that help it stand out from its mobile origins but also falls short in many ways. The game has remade 3D graphics and extra content, but that might not be enough here.
The game features turn-based battles, but there is a neat gimmick where NPCs may join and aid the player. However, the player has no control over these characters, and they will vary based on encounter. Some enemies can be ignored completely, but some are necessary to fight in order to understand how the game works.
Combat in the game is surprisingly intuitive and teaches the player what is needed to be done. This includes giving statistics on enemy strengths and stats and giving insight as to what the playstyle should be. For instance, the use of physical attacks or magic is an option, but there is also the option of summoning aid as well
Battles and exploration are only part of the game, however, as a lot is actually done in the main character’s home. Here players will select from fiver exercises such as sword skills and magic and set her to train for a few days to increase her stats. The player will receive more options as the game goes on, as to what can be done. It is a nice alternative to the traditional levelling system and offers something unique.
The house is also where players will craft spells and potions, and experiment with recipes gained from increasing their stats. Crafting is explained in detail, so there is no worry about being overwhelmed. After spending a little bit of time experimenting, players will soon find how useful the spell crafting can be, as well as how players can upgrade stats by crafting potions.
Witch Spring3 Re:Fine- The Story of Eirudy is a game that wants players to experiment with what they find. It wants you to build the character the way you want and craft their build to your liking. It is a nice touch for sure, to have a game that does not punish players for trying new things.
To go back to the previous mention of summoning in battle, there is a section of the house with various dolls that the witch can infuse with the vitality that is gained from her battles. These dolls can then be summoned into battle and will take on a variety of forms. Some of the dolls will increase your abilities, such as attacks, while others can be used on the field as well.
For all this seems like a great experience though, there are some issues as well. The game feels repetitive after a little while and is not good for long play sessions. This could be due to the game’s mobile roots and is part of the problem with porting mobile games. Combat is also not challenging here, once players figure out a style that works for them and the result is a game that starts to feel boring and too easy very early on.
Perhaps if the game did not rely on backtracking and figuring out where to go, things would flow better, but as it stands, Witch Spring3 Re:Fine- The Story of Eirudy feels like a game that is directionless leading to the previous issues. There is definitely some good to be had here, but it feels like the game did not handle the transition from mobile to console in the best way. This is a game that feels like Atelier lite, but there are several Atelier games on the Switch already and so this feels redundant.
To sum up: This is a decent beginner entry to the RPG genre, especially when it comes to games with crafting and more creativity, but long-time veterans will not be entertained for long.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
Images were taken from Nintendo.com