Sabbat of the Witch
- October 26, 2018
- YUZUSOFT
- 50h median play time
Get on Steam"Sabbat of the Witch" is a visual novel game that follows the story of a young man who becomes entangled in the world of witches. The game features a dark, supernatural setting and a branching narrative with multiple endings. Players will make choices that affect the story's outcome and uncover secrets about the witch clan and their powers.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Incredibly charming writing that balances comedic, heartwarming, and romantic aspects, creating a fun experience.
- All routes are well-developed, with Nene's route being particularly emotional and impactful.
- High production quality with beautiful art, engaging music, and excellent voice acting.
- Some routes feel rushed or less developed compared to Nene's, leading to a lack of depth in certain character arcs.
- The main character can come off as overly passive and dense, which may frustrate some players.
- The pacing can be slow at times, especially in the common route, which may deter some players from fully engaging with the story.
- story341 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of the visual novel is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging character arcs and emotional depth, particularly in routes like Nene's and Ayachi's, which are highlighted as the most impactful. However, others criticize it for being bloated, predictable, or lacking coherence, with some routes feeling rushed or disconnected from the main narrative. Overall, while the game offers a heartwarming and comedic slice-of-life experience, opinions vary widely on its storytelling quality and execution.
“With its gorgeous artwork, well-developed characters, and engaging storyline, it casts a spell on players from start to finish.”
“The story is unique for each girl's route, which makes them all worth doing.”
“The game's BGM is extremely good, flowing great with the story; the comedy timing is very natural, and I find myself often giggling at the antics.”
“The story is boring and insufferably long, the characters are unappealing and cliched, and though the game does have choices, you'd be lucky to get a chance to choose something more than once an hour.”
“Overall, the actual story is pretty bad and I could only stand to read Nene and Touko's routes.”
“On paper, the story itself felt like an afterthought by the developers, due to the sheer randomness it has in its premise.”
- music81 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its emotional resonance and fitting integration into the story, while others find it somewhat bland or repetitive. Several reviewers highlighted the memorable character themes and catchy soundtracks, particularly noting the quality of the opening and ending songs. Overall, while the music is generally considered a strong point, some feel it lacks the standout quality seen in other visual novels.
“I think the music goes really well with the environment of the story; you can feel the emotion of the characters through the sound!”
“The waifus are all cute, the dialogue is engaging, the main character isn't a total wimp and is actually likable, the routes were all rewarding, and the music was delightful.”
“The opening video and music are very well done.”
“The only complaint is that the music is rather bland and repetitive.”
“It just lacks the 'wow' factor compared to other visual novel soundtracks.”
“Music was ehh, not great, nothing really stood out, though it wasn't bad.”
- emotional66 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the visual novel is widely praised for its charming blend of humor, heartwarming moments, and genuine emotional depth. Players report experiencing a rollercoaster of feelings, with standout routes that evoke laughter, tears, and a strong connection to the characters. Overall, the game is described as wholesome and touching, making it a highly recommended choice for those seeking a heartfelt narrative.
“One hell of an emotional roller coaster.”
“I cried, I laughed, my heart hurt from all the waves of emotions. Nene's route made me not sleep for 2 days because I kept crying reminiscing some of the conversations and scenes.”
“Every emotional moment lands very well; there is not really anything to dislike about the story for me.”
“The story is dull, the characters are uninteresting, and the art feels heavily censored.”
“The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the narrative.”
“I felt no attachment to the characters, and the overall experience was emotionally flat.”
- humor66 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and well-timed jokes, providing a mix of hilarity and heartwarming moments that enhance the overall experience. While some gags may feel familiar, the unique character interactions and unexpected comedic situations keep the humor fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the balance of funny and emotional scenes, making it a standout visual novel that successfully blends comedy with romance and drama.
“A completely insane concept but great characters, funny moments, and emotional highs and lows in all the routes.”
“It's not forced and funny and makes things more lively.”
“The whole 'magical girl' gimmick was well thought out and led to a lot of genuinely heartwarming and hilarious moments.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the visual novel are widely praised for their high quality and detailed artwork, featuring a unique blend of full-fledged anime-style CG and chibi designs. While the game lacks animation, the vibrant use of visuals and the impressive variety of CG wallpapers and soundtracks enhance the overall experience. Despite some criticism regarding the reuse of graphics and environments, the art style remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“With its gorgeous artwork, well-developed characters, and engaging storyline, it casts a spell on players from start to finish.”
“To top it all off, the artwork in this visual novel is some of the best I've ever seen, with scenes being so beautifully drawn that any one of them could be used as a desktop wallpaper.”
“As the content summary on the shop page already states, this visual novel strikes with a unique, high-quality art style with a high focus on detail and a good mix between full-fledged anime style CG wallpapers and chibi style SD artwork.”
“Initially I wasn't very impressed, as the reuse of graphics and environments is a bit extreme, and 10-20 hours in I was definitely feeling let down.”
“What this visual novel lacks in terms of animation - there is none, not even blinking eyes - is completely countered with their vivid use of all the artwork they have.”
“While it does have a decent art style and voice acting, it lacks any substance.”
- character development20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Character development in this visual novel is highly praised, particularly for the two main characters, Hoshina Shuuji and Ayachi Nene, who undergo significant emotional growth throughout the story. Reviewers note that while the narrative includes a mix of romcom elements and adult scenes, the character arcs are compelling and well-crafted, providing depth to both main and supporting characters. Overall, the game is recognized for its strong storytelling and character progression, making it a standout in the genre.
“Characters were well-written and had complete character development, particularly the two main characters in this route: Hoshina Shuuji and Ayachi Nene.”
“No spoilers, but the emotional climb, character development, and build-up to the climax and aftermath are extremely moving and can bring a tear to your eye.”
“Though the majority of the story is a normal comfy romcom, there is major character development for both the main girl and protagonist, as well as minor development for other characters.”
“Now that I think about it, the teacher was introduced at the start and then falls flat in terms of any mentionable character development, while Nanao and Shuuji's father are spread over the whole novel.”
“Sanoba Witch is an eroge by Yuzusoft, who are known for their extremely good artwork and deep character storylines within each route, which is rare for most eroge to have considering most of them devolve into nukige fests and not much more character development.”
“Though the majority of the story is a normal comfy romcom, there is major character development for both the main girl and protagonist, and also minor development for other characters.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this visual novel (VN) is primarily focused on reading and making occasional choices, with no traditional gameplay mechanics or mini-games involved. Players can expect a lengthy experience, ranging from 30 to 80 hours depending on their engagement with the routes, which are not interconnected. While there are minor translation issues, they do not significantly impact the overall immersive reading experience.
“This game is a visual novel (VN) with no gameplay or minigames.”
“Gameplay time-wise, this VN can take you 30-50 hours depending on whether you skip or not.”
“This is my first long-term VN experience ever; my actual gameplay is about 80 hours for 3 routes. This VN really captured my heart and showed how reading can immerse you in another world.”
“In a visual novel, there is no gameplay to speak of other than clicking.”
“This game is a visual novel; there are no gameplay elements or minigames.”
“Don't come expecting any gameplay other than reading and making a few choices here and there.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by high production quality, a lighthearted and warm aesthetic, and strong interpersonal relationships among the cast, creating a chill and friendly environment. The well-drawn art and engaging story enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable without forced drama.
“The cast is amazing in this game and they all play very well together, creating an atmosphere of good interpersonal relationships without any forced or useless drama.”
“The art is well drawn, lighthearted, and warming, perfectly suiting the game's atmosphere as a whole. I also really like that the characters' expressions can change in one line, providing a good mix of ecchi and jokes.”
“For my part, the school and romance atmosphere makes the game really chill.”
“The atmosphere feels bland and uninspired, lacking any real depth or engagement.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is overshadowed by repetitive environments and dull sound design.”
“The overall atmosphere is inconsistent, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The stability of the game appears to be inconsistent, with some users reporting bugs while others experience smooth performance without any issues.
“No bugs at all; it runs great!”
“The game is incredibly stable, providing a smooth experience throughout.”
“I've experienced zero crashes or glitches; the stability is impressive.”
“The game is quite buggy.”
“I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay.”
“There are numerous glitches that make the experience frustrating.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, with some users feeling that the game is merely a quick cash grab rather than a genuine effort to provide value to players.
“Imagine publishing the same game for a quick cash grab.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative and prioritizes profit over player experience.”
“It's frustrating to see essential features locked behind paywalls.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews do not provide any information regarding the optimization of the game, focusing instead on the quality of Kiritani Hana-san's voice acting performance.
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally find the replayability of the game to be high, citing multiple paths, varied character choices, and dynamic environments that encourage exploration and experimentation. Many players appreciate the inclusion of different difficulty levels and unlockable content, which adds to the incentive to replay. Overall, the game offers a fresh experience with each playthrough, keeping players engaged over time.
