Ashina: The Red Witch
- June 4, 2022
- Stranga
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Ashina: The Red Witch," players navigate a dark fantasy world as a powerful sorceress seeking revenge against those who wronged her. With a variety of spells and abilities, players battle through enemies and bosses in tactical combat. The game features a deep, intricate story exploring themes of power, betrayal, and redemption.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a captivating story with well-developed characters and a rich atmosphere, drawing inspiration from Japanese mythology and evoking feelings similar to Studio Ghibli's 'Spirited Away'.
- The pixel-art graphics and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's whimsical yet dark world.
- Players appreciate the game's charm and humor, along with its engaging puzzles that are straightforward and not overly frustrating.
- Some players found the gameplay to be simplistic and lacking in depth, with limited interaction and straightforward mechanics that may not appeal to those seeking more complex gameplay.
- The game has been criticized for its abrupt ending and lack of resolution, leaving some players feeling confused and unsatisfied with the narrative conclusion.
- Technical issues such as grammatical errors, mistranslations, and save file problems have been reported, which detracted from the overall polished experience.
- story47 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Ashina: The Red Witch" is praised for its well-developed characters, particularly the contrasting perspectives of Ashina and her sister Tena, which significantly influence the narrative. While the plot incorporates familiar tropes, it evolves into a unique tale that explores themes of pain, grief, and generational trauma, culminating in a bittersweet ending that may leave some players wanting more resolution. Overall, the game is recognized for its engaging storytelling, beautiful pixel art, and atmospheric music, making it a compelling experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
“The characters are well developed, and I especially liked how Ashina and her sister Tena are very different from the very start, with both having fundamentally different views on life, and that of course plays a big role in how the story unfolds later on.”
“The game's story surprises you with the end, and the backstory of some of the secondary characters is truly delightful.”
“It is a bittersweet story about the pain people have inflicted on them and how they can become resigned, resentful, and in turn inflict pain on others in displaced vengeance.”
“But it's still a bit disappointing to have the story just abruptly end when in what should be the climax.”
“On the other hand, I would have liked to see an alternative ending to the story as it seems it only has one; also, the backstory of the main villain wasn't the best, it sort of just happened for the sake of the story and the plot.”
“I find the plot weak, kind of forced, and a little hollow.”
- music15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the visuals. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is memorable and enjoyable, contributing significantly to the overall charm of the game. While there was one mention of the music being average, the consensus is that the composer did an impressive job, especially considering it was a solo effort.
“Overall, the story and the characters are great, the pixel-art graphics are lovely and have a nice atmosphere to it, and the real cherry on top is the awesome music.”
“Seriously, the music in this game slaps!!!”
“The soundtrack fits the overall atmosphere of the locations and the areas aren't too big so you won't get lost often.”
“After learning that it was only one person that made this game and the music, I retify my rating to 6/10.”
“Doing music is hard enough, and doing it only by yourself is even harder!”
“And the music!”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as simplistic and reminiscent of older RPG Maker titles, primarily involving dialogue trees and fetch quests. Players seeking deep mechanics or innovative gameplay may be disappointed, as the experience is more focused on storytelling than on complex interactions. Overall, it caters to those looking for a straightforward, narrative-driven experience rather than intricate gameplay.
“Little Witch in the Woods uses a very good mechanic where you just need to talk to a person, and in the menu dialogue, you can deliver items to them.”
“The gameplay loop is simple, mostly consisting of talking to one NPC to get an item, then backtracking to another NPC to exchange that item or find items scattered around the locations.”
“Sure, it's in the form of a bunch of dialogue trees and fetch quests, but I don't think a good game needs novel gameplay, or 'gameplay' at all.”
“The gameplay is unfortunately rather simplistic.”
“The gameplay loop is simple, mostly consisting of talking to one NPC to get an item, then backtracking to another NPC to exchange that item or find the items scattered around the locations.”
“If you're looking for a game with some unique mechanics or twists, I don't think it's a game for you.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their lovely pixel-art style, which creates a charming and atmospheric experience reminiscent of classic JRPGs and films like "Spirited Away." Reviewers appreciate the combination of beautiful visuals with engaging storytelling and music, making it a standout in the pixel graphic genre. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's eerie yet inviting tone, enhancing the horror narrative.
“Overall, the story and the characters are great, the pixel-art graphics are lovely and have a nice atmosphere to them, and the real cherry on top is the awesome music.”
“Awesome music, interesting characters and plot, good humor, and wonderful pixel aesthetics.”
“The story is great, the characters are fantastic, and the graphics are beautiful.”
“The tone often recalls 'Spirited Away' (sometimes to a fault), and the bright, cheery art style looks like it belongs in a casual JRPG.”
“Much like 'Red Bow', it's very light on anything that is actually frightening, opting for an eerie aesthetic that calls to mind a slightly bloodier 'Spirited Away'.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its charming pixel-art graphics and an engaging soundtrack that complements the storytelling. Many reviewers note its resemblance to Studio Ghibli's "Spirited Away," creating a captivating and immersive experience. Overall, the combination of visuals, music, and narrative contributes to a cohesive and enchanting atmosphere.
“Overall, the story and the characters are great, the pixel-art graphics are lovely and create a nice atmosphere, and the real cherry on top is the awesome music.”
“Ashina the red witch was quite likely inspired by the well-known Studio Ghibli anime Spirited Away and delivers a similar atmospheric experience.”
“The soundtrack fits the overall atmosphere of the locations, and the areas aren't too big, so you won't get lost often.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is initially light-hearted and entertaining, featuring quirky characters like Tanto, the lovable troublemaker. However, as players explore deeper, they encounter darker themes rooted in Japanese mythology, which can evoke strong emotional responses, blending comedy with poignant storytelling. Overall, the game balances its charm and humor with a compelling narrative that resonates on multiple levels.
“And then there is Tanto, the lovable troublemaker and a funny guy, until you get to the part where you discover more about his story, and that part has quite literally left me in tears.”
“Awesome music, interesting characters and plot, good humor, nice puzzles, and wonderful pixel aesthetics.”
“Although I have had a negative experience with the game, I still am leaving a positive review, as the game itself is charming, interesting, well-written, funny, and the soundtrack is ace.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Ashina: The Red Witch" is described as beautifully heartbreaking, showcasing Stranga's best work in design and narrative. It stands out as a pixel game that evokes deep feelings, exploring themes of pain and grief rather than traditional notions of healing or wholesomeness, leaving a lasting impact on players.
“Beautiful, but heartbreaking; by far Stranga's best work in both design and narrative. Unless the remaster of 'My Big Sister' somehow improves on the format even more, I can't imagine 'Ashina: The Red Witch' easily being topped.”
“The first and only pixel-type game to make me shed a tear (or two).”
“Ashina is not a story about 'healing' or 'wholesome characters'; rather, it's a story about what pain and grief can drive otherwise sympathetic people to do.”
