Welcome to Snapshot! In a nutshell – Snapshot is a little feature that provides a snapshot of information on a game that we have checked out or have been playing recently. The article will feature screenshots, and a general overview of our opinion of the game without a review score.
There are thousands upon thousands of indie games on the market across various platforms. Often it is hard to figure out which of them are worth your hard-earned cash and time. What if I told you that right now there is a title that quite clearly takes inspiration from titles such as Zelda. Ever imagined Zelda with guns? Well, Trigger Witch, developed by Rainbite and published by Eastasiasoft Limited is available right now on the Xbox family of consoles.
From the creators of Reverie, Trigger Witch is a stylized 2D twin-stick action game set in an odd open world where magic is outdated, and firearms are the new way of life. Players assume the role of Colette, a prospective graduate from the Stock, an academy for Witchcraft and Triggery. After a mysterious man invades her realm, events are set in motion that turn Colette’s life upside-down, casting her as the sole heroine with enough firepower to restore peace.
Reliving the Mechanics Of Games Gone By!
The concept of Trigger Witch is an exciting and compelling one. Thrusting high-powered guns into the hands of a witch in cute pixelated vibrant 16-bit visuals. The experience gives a firm salute to some of the greatest Sega and Nintendo games of the ’80s and ’90s. You start as Collette and visit a portal where you are gifted with a hand cannon. Once you have a trusty weapon in your hand you must endure and pass a test. Think of this as more of a tutorial where you learn the basics of movement and how to fire your weaponry. Pass this test and you then become a member of “The Clip”, you are now a member of an elite establishment of gun-wielding witches.
Twin Stick Shooter In All Its Glory!
Fans of twin-stick shooters will be right at home here. Following basic aim and movement mechanics echoing games such as Enter The Gungeon and Geometry Wars. The gunplay is both super satisfying and enthralling, generating moments of chaos, confusion, and best of all, a bloodbath. Casual gamers may find this a challenge but the hardcore players amongst us will be comfortable right away. There is an element of timing your movement and being precise with quick reactions depending on the abundance of scenarios on offer. With a plethora of weapons ready to be plucked from various areas, what will be your favourite?
Trigger Witch isn’t just about running and gunning your way through the game alongside a decent story. Yes, some enemies stand in your way that need disposing of and obstacles on the way. But there are also puzzles to be solved, head-scratching moments, and people to stop and talk to. Use your mind power and logic to negotiate several dungeons, judge which switches unlock certain doorways and observe enemy behaviours.
Beating Bosses & Grabbing Some Assistance
I was pleasantly surprised to see local multiplayer on offer. So, if you want to grab your family or friends to become witch number two then you can absolutely do this. This worked on a drop-in and drop-out basis, so the game isn’t disrupted if you want to return to solo play.
A game of this calibre wouldn’t be complete without a boss fight, and they feature here. They are fairly simple encounters in comparison to other retro titles I have played. But this didn’t make the interactions with these massive behemoths any less exciting. There is still the expectation to dodge and weave and choose your attacks wisely and focus on health.
Graphics & Sound
Trigger Witch is beautifully illustrated and presented in vivid and vibrant pleasing aesthetics. The colourful layout and the character design are at the maximum potential for a 16-bit title. This is the pinnacle in terms of visuals for a game of this genre, a bit high five to the art team needs to be given. Blood splatter from enemies is by far the most satisfying for me, it goes from appearing like a calm picturesque world to savage and mature in a matter of seconds.
The soundtrack along with its effects is on-point with a nod to ’90s games, it has similar vibes to well-known titles of that era. Music becomes intense at the right moments and the guns firing almost add to the feeling of weight behind the trigger, it is spectacularly done.
In Conclusion
Trigger Witch is a fun twin-stick shooter which will keep you busy for some hours. It is accessible to all abilities of gamers and offers a simple control system with challenging elements throughout. For a game that I found to be quite linear, I was compelled to explore and tackle everything the game had to throw at me. At a fairly low price point, I wouldn’t think twice about purchasing. There is little replay value beyond clocking your first run-through, but the added draw of co-op and being a fan of retro twin-stick shooters made me glad I jumped in. Purposefully I decided not to delve too deep into the story and narrative as this is best discovered as part of the engaging continuation of your run-through. If you get the chance, I urge you to give it your time.