Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch Remastered

A game from my childhood, I watched Stampy's Let's play, now experiencing it, It's one fun ride!

Amazing game, great story, great characters, I got into this game just cause I saw stampylonghead play it a long time ago.

I am a simple gal who appreciates Studio Ghibli, so that was my initial attraction to this game. Visually, it reflects the typical standards of Ghibli animation.
But this is first and foremost a game: a JRPG with a really awkward battle system. By awkward, I mean that it felt physically awkward on my hands and wrists with the way to navigate through various battle menus. Minor things just disrupt the flow and momentum of the action in battles, but they are also basic things: buff/debuff moves and attack animations. Camera zooms in for the attack animation, does the animation thing where you can do nothing (unless you Guarded right in time) and can't move, and then zooms out to normal camera angle; it just feels a little disorienting because of the length of the animation (short enough, but also too long for action-based combat). Some of the buffing spells also bring your character to a complete halt even if you're moving to a spot where you won't get hit.
Battle menus are clunky. They are annoying to sift through, especially Oliver's list of spells as you obtain more spells going through the game. I also hate the AI settings for the party NPCs. They're just not good at all. No customization beyond three basic settings that mostly fail to do anything, one of which makes the party more likely to cast buffs on you which halts you while you're trying to move out of the way of an attack, two of which can totally exhaust MP in under a minute, and the fourth setting of literally doing nothing; more times than not, I had them set to do nothing unless I was controlling them.
Honestly, I feel like this was supposed to be a turn-based battle system originally with the whole Pokémon-esque Familiars. But at the last minute, someone was like, "Yo, what if we make it more actiony?" Then, they made it into an action RPG battle system without completely removing all the turn-based aspects like the lengthy animations during battles and the lengthy menus.
I think the major storyline boss battles would have been better if, after the first two or three bosses, MR. DRIPPY WOULD STOP INTERUPTING THE BATTLE TO SAY SOMETHING.
Ironically, despite my gripes with the battle system, my favorite side quests all required fighting a monster. Many of the side quests are repetitive and no more than slightly different iterations of the same side quest. They're fun, though, and I believe you are meant to do as many as possible when they become available because I feel like I would have been under-leveled at a few points in the story if I hadn't fought these optional battles. At any rate, anything involving pieces of the soul was grating and an utter chore (especially when it starts to require backtracking to other towns).
I don't know if I can truly recommend this, honestly. I am inclined to because I did actually enjoy the story and characters, so I shall give this a thumbs-up, However, you'd need to either really love RPG's in general to stomach the battles, be a completionist, and/or be someone like me who needs to feel she has played enough to get her money's worth. There is certainly enough to do, even post game, although it often requires grinding rare enemies with very low chances of appearing. If you're going for achievements, you can probably earn many without a guide just by being curious and exploring/using spells on everything (ya know, typical RPG stuff). There is definitely an irresistible charm to the visuals and Ghibli art style. Music is a definitely composed for a grand adventure, and the story and characters are up to Ghibli par. Tone and atmosphere are phenomenal.
It's just I don't blame anyone for putting this down simply because of the battles.
Now that I've started the second game, this brought up a memory I had repressed during my healing process from this game: I do not enjoy how you start casting a spell, consume MP, get interrupted by the enemy's attack animations, not cast your spell after, and you're still out MP and waiting on a cooldown.
Honestly, this whole game would have been better as a visual novel instead of an RPG. The more I think about this since my initial review, the more I say I'd recommend this game only if it's on sale for more than 50%; that way, you didn't lose too much if you give up on this game.

I learned about this game by watching Stampylongnose play it, a decade later i find it on steam and ive had so much reliving my childhood by playing the game myself.

I'm a huge fan of Studio Ghibli, so back in 2013 when I first heard about their contribution to this game, I bought the physical wizards companion (a guide with artwork) and borrowed a friends play station. But, after my first albeit wonderful playthrough, I realized the ultimate playthrough of this game "had" to be to sharing it with my own child; and.. well.. I didn't have one. ..ok.. no problem... "Time breach," now it's 2025, my daughter is 10 and enjoying the post game. Hahaha.. yeah.. GREAT GAME!

I might just be lathered in nostalgia playing this game. But the story of this game has always stuck in me, this is one of those games I come back to when ♥♥♥♥ gets tough, and as many times as I beat it, ♥♥♥♥ around in the casino, play with the cauldron genie it never gets old for me. Is the fighting a little clunky... I do have to agree, but I kind of enjoy the constant multitasking it takes. It gives the game, the fights a sense of urgency. The pacing is slow, you have to take your time. You have to be strategic with your familiars, your items, your armor, your levels, your timing. Its a game you take your time with. you might find this boring or frustrating and that's chill. However for me this is a game that transports you a lot of grinding is involved but its in some of the prettiest settings ever! with a cool ass story waiting for you.

I played this on the PS3 when I was a little kid, I remember it being good to me but forgot the game entirely.
Wanted to experience the game again and see if i’d like it after all these years so I bought it, and this is easily one of the best
games i’ve played. I forgot they used to make good games like this that feels ‘handmade’ with care if you know what i mean, missed playing games like this.