On the holy night when the moon shines bright and the stars twinkle in the sky, there is a legend of a mysterious witch who roams the streets. She is known to possess immense powers and a deep connection with the supernatural. With her long black cloak and pointy hat, she is a frightening sight to behold. Legend has it that the witch appears only on this sacred night, using her abilities to commune with the spirits and perform ancient rituals. Some believe that she can grant wishes or provide guidance, while others fear her malevolent intentions. There are stories of her using dark magic to bring harm to those who cross her path.
There are stories of her using dark magic to bring harm to those who cross her path. Despite the fear and uncertainty that surrounds her, there are those who seek the witch on the holy night. They believe in her ability to heal, to offer solace, and to tap into the hidden realms of knowledge.
Witch on the holy night vmdv
by Donald Theriault - January 8, 2023, 3:17 pm EST
Total comments: 1
It’s a visual novel, and we HEAVILY emphasize the novel portion.
Of the hundreds of visual novels on the Switch and the dozens I’ve played, all of them have had some form of interaction: be it investigations, minigames, or even just the occasional dialogue tree. Witch on the Holy Night is unusual in that it’s taking the genre name literally - it’s a 12 chapter novel with high resolution graphics, full voice acting, and no discernable gameplay beyond changing how text is displayed. It has a lot of history, inspiring fighting games and an entire multiverse including the world’s leading anime gacha game, but your tolerance for the “game” is going to depend heavily on your ability to just use your Switch as a book reader.
The story of Witch on the Holy Night is set in an alternate Japan in which magic is legal but is kept highly secret in order to prevent its overuse or abuse. The focus is on three characters - hotheaded witch / high school student Aoko Aozaki (who you may recognize from Melty Blood: Type Lumina), her mysterious witch housemate Alice Kuonji, and transfer student Soujuuro Shizuki who catches the first two practicing magic in what was supposed to be an empty park. After an extended combat sequence (which takes up most of the fifth chapter) Shizuki is taken back to the home of the girls while they try to determine how exactly to deal with this person shattering the masquerade. It is an interesting story, with the main trio of characters being interesting and unpredictable compared to their first impressions. The story can feel overly long; it’s on the longer end of visual novels I’ve read at about 25 hours (acknowledging I’m a relatively fast reader) and in its original written form had somewhere between 350 and 400 pages of Japanese text.
This is how the internal monologue looks, for the record.The other major defining future of Witch on the Holy Night is its size - it’s a hair under 20GB, and is the largest single file on my system right now including fully DLC’d Monster Hunter Rise and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. (One other comparison is that it’s bigger than the entire Danganronpa Decadence collection. This includes the board game.) This is due to a combination of every line of dialogue being voiced (Japanese only) and constant switching of “camera angles” or perspectives with graphics that are quite high resolution for a Switch game. The thought of bitmap image formats being used for this springs to mind. Most of the text is well translated; although a few typos were present, over (rough estimate) 350,000 words they weren’t occurring frequently enough to be a concern. It’s about the low end of an average rate for the Aksys/Otomate romance novels.
If you’re going to get into Witch on the Holy Night, perhaps while waiting for someone to tie George R. R. Martin to a chair long enough to finish off their magnum opus, it’s going to be a commitment. 20+ hours of either nudging an analog stick to stop the system from going into screen saving mode or jamming A will get you a well-written story that sets up a lot of things for the future.
Summary
Pros
- Doesn’t stick on one bit of scenery too long
- The core story is solid
The story of Witch on the Holy Night is set in an alternate Japan in which magic is legal but is kept highly secret in order to prevent its overuse or abuse. The focus is on three characters - hotheaded witch / high school student Aoko Aozaki (who you may recognize from Melty Blood: Type Lumina), her mysterious witch housemate Alice Kuonji, and transfer student Soujuuro Shizuki who catches the first two practicing magic in what was supposed to be an empty park. After an extended combat sequence (which takes up most of the fifth chapter) Shizuki is taken back to the home of the girls while they try to determine how exactly to deal with this person shattering the masquerade. It is an interesting story, with the main trio of characters being interesting and unpredictable compared to their first impressions. The story can feel overly long; it’s on the longer end of visual novels I’ve read at about 25 hours (acknowledging I’m a relatively fast reader) and in its original written form had somewhere between 350 and 400 pages of Japanese text.
These brave souls embark on a quest to find her, hoping to gain her favor and unlock the secrets she holds. The witch, though elusive, is said to be drawn to places of spiritual significance. Sacred temples, ancient ruins, and mystical forests are believed to be her favored haunts. It is in these hallowed grounds that she performs her rituals, casting spells and invoking the powers of the night. Some claim to have encountered the witch, recounting tales of her eerie presence and the palpable energy that surrounds her. They speak of her eyes, filled with wisdom and otherworldly knowledge. Others talk of the sensations that ripple through the air as she performs her rituals, as if the very fabric of reality trembles under her command. But for most, the witch on the holy night remains a fleeting, enigmatic figure. A symbol of the mysteries that lie beyond the limits of human perception and understanding. She represents the thin veil that separates the mundane from the magical, the known from the unknown. Whether one believes in the witch on the holy night or not, her legend persists. She continues to captivate imaginations and stir the depths of curiosity. As the moon rises and the stars align, one cannot help but wonder if she will make an appearance, bringing with her a spellbinding air of enchantment and possibilities..
Reviews for "The Witch on the Holy NightVMDV: Channeling Mystical Energies"
1. Jane - 1/5 stars - I absolutely could not get into "Witch on the holy night vmdv." The storyline was confusing and hard to follow. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth. The animation and visuals were also subpar. Overall, this anime was a disappointment and I would not recommend it.
2. Mike - 2/5 stars - "Witch on the holy night vmdv" started off with an interesting concept, but it quickly fell flat. The pacing was off, making it hard to stay engaged throughout. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the voice acting didn't help. The overall execution of the story and character development was lacking. I wanted to enjoy this anime, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - While "Witch on the holy night vmdv" had a unique art style, it failed to deliver in terms of storytelling. The plot was convoluted and often made little sense. The sudden introduction of new characters without proper explanation added to the confusion. The pacing felt rushed, leaving little time for emotional connection with the characters. Overall, this anime had potential but failed to deliver a satisfying viewing experience.
4. Alex - 1/5 stars - "Witch on the holy night vmdv" was a complete disappointment for me. The plot was scarce and poorly executed. The animation quality was subpar, making it hard to enjoy visually. The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked any depth or growth. I found myself getting bored and constantly checking the time. Overall, this anime was a letdown and not worth the watch.
5. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Witch on the holy night vmdv," but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, with many loose ends left unexplained. The animation was average at best, and the character designs were forgettable. I couldn't invest in the characters or the plot, and it felt like a wasted opportunity. Overall, it was a mediocre anime that failed to deliver a compelling narrative.