WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] is a JRPG adventure recently released for the Nintendo Switch. Developed and published by ININ Games, WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] originally was released as an app game for mobile devices in 2017. While the controls for the port have been translated well, the overall gameplay, graphics, and storyline are lacking in depth and polish, making it hard to play for long periods of time.

The narrative of WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] is simple. As an outcast witch, Eirudy lives in a small cabin in the woods. There she practices her magic, makes dolls that can be summoned in battle, and eventually stumbles upon a young man adventuring in the forest. Together, they become entangled in a battle between the deities of the world and the humans living under their power, with her actions determining her overall outcome as good or evil. Like most adventure-style JRPG's, story progression happens in quests and follows a linear progression, with little to do between objective points besides leveling up. This makes the story the main focus point of gameplay.

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Unlike exciting JRPG titles like Monster Hunter Stories 2, where leveling and exploration can extend well outside the base storyline, WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] offers a handful of simple mechanics used to level up between plot points, like a 5-day exercise program that players don't engage with beyond the selection of tasks to be done during the training. A basic crafting system allows players to make items that boost stats, recover health, or act as weapons. Resources don't spawn as items in the world; instead, players can interact with glowing balls throughout maps that then respawn on a timer gauge, likely as a left-over mechanic from the game's mobile-app origins. Because of this, collecting needed items is a grind and quickly becomes repetitive and boring.

WitchSpring3 Cover Review

Combat in WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] is turn-based, but the battles take place in the overworld instead of using an encounter screen like Pokémon or Final Fantasy games. The player can select physical attacks, magic, or summon a doll using a combat rotation wheel that acts as the encounter menu. While this makes combat quick, it also prevents players from getting to see a more fleshed-out model of the witch Eirudy or the monsters she is fighting. The overhead angle on the small sprites creates a lackluster battle experience that is repetitive and bland. While this likely worked well for the mobile version of the game, requiring a less powerful device and not needing as much engagement from players, it doesn't work well for the Switch port. Because players spend so much time battling enemies, an expansion with overhauled graphics and a more engaging encounter system using animations would greatly improve WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine]'s combat playability.

One of the reasons to play a JRPG is for the characters and storyline. In titles like Monster Hunter Stories 2 and Persona players are given an endearing cast to fight alongside, as well as having major involvement in the story as an interesting hero or heroine. In WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine], however, the heroine Eirudy is boring. Despite the prosecution she faces as a witch, and the struggles that make up her daily life, she is apathetic and almost cruel, making her easy to dislike. This is equally true for Adrian, the male character she becomes entangled with. Part of this apathy comes from the poor English localization, which suffer from blunt delivery of dialogue and frequent spelling errors or misused words. Because the player must go through the story as Eirudy, those who don't care for her lacking personality may find it hard to truly become immersed in her storyline and challenges.

WitchSpring3 Gameplay Combat Turn Based

Despite being widely empty of content outside the main storyline, WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] costs 39.99 USD on the Nintendo Store at time of writing. With gameplay more in line with mobile-app game expectations, those who enjoy in-depth JRPG titles may be frustrated with the lack of exploration, storyline, and graphic quality. However, for those wanting a simple experience that is easy to set down, WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] might be a good fit. With a drop in price and a patch to improve translations and add content that takes advantage of the Nintendo Switch's capabilities, WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] would be a more enjoyable experience for those interested in trying it out.

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WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] is available now on the PC and Nintendo Switch. A Nintendo Switch code was provided to Screen Rant for the purposes of this review.