Ashina: The Red Witch: Prologue

[h1] Nice little game with minimal gameplay. Main character is stuck in the spirit world and must retrieve her pendant before sunrise. Game consist mostly of walking around and talking to different yokai. Soundtrack is good. Minimalistic gameplay done in RPG style with interesting story. [/h1]

[quote][b]S U M M A R Y[/b][/quote] [u][b]Ashina: The Red Witch: Prologue[/b][/u] is a 2D hidden object fetch quest adventure game which is a demo version of [u][url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1259140/Ashina_The_Red_Witch/]Ashina: The Red Witch[/url][/u]. Overall, I don't recommend the demo because the gameplay only consists of fetch quests which are not captivating whatsoever, the UI is poorly designed and the save system has been inexplicably disabled, the sprites aren't very detailed and don't look that great, the story is not engrossing at all and its main plot point is tidily resolved (which also does a poor job of enticing you to purchase the full game since you aren't left with a cliffhanger that persuades you to keep going), and the game is missing a number of basic quality of life features that should be present in modern-day games. [hr][/hr] [quote][b]R E V I E W[/b][/quote] [h3]Gameplay[/h3] The gameplay consists purely of fetch quests and nothing else. If the full game has other gameplay aspects then they aren't showcased in the demo which is not great design. If there are no other gameplay aspects then I don't have any hopes for the full version of the game unless you are interested in the developer's entire catalogue of games which are related to one another. The fetch quests aren't even engaging and are instead tedious and cumbersome, especially if you miss something and have to backtrack. Speaking of tedium, a prompt in the form of an exclamation mark appears in a box beside your character's portrait whenever you can interact with an object; however, it has a major drawback in which you must directly face the object in order for the prompt to appear and for you to interact with it. This means that running by something will not reveal the hidden object and you can very easily miss something which is extremely frustrating and not user-friendly whatsoever. Otherwise, the game has some other minor flaws: - If you interact with objects that can't be used, the default text is "I can't do anything with it." which may not make sense for the given object and may disrupt your immersion; and - The UI used for talking to NPCs is clunky, doesn't wrap, and you can't cancel out of it so you have to select the "goodbye" option each time. Lastly, the game has one major flaw: the save system doesn't work and saves are auto-deleted if you do save. If you attempt to select "Continue" on the title screen after having saved then you will be informed that progress is not saved in the demo despite there being a save point in the demo which can be used. Although the game is short and only takes around 45 minutes to complete, this is still a major grievance. [h3]Graphics[/h3] The graphics use a specific set of pixel art which appears to be the standard for this developer. It is used very well to paint a colorful and vibrant world but the sprites looks bland and the main character's sprite makes her look like she's wearing a Bomberman or Megaman helmet, or has a blue beard. The character portraits are also drawn in a chibi style. [h3]Sound[/h3] The music is composed of folk music which fits the supernatural theme of the game but isn't anything special on its own. If anything, it gets repetitive. [h3]Story[/h3] The story is slow and not very engrossing, and some of the characters speak in annoying mannerisms. Furthermore, nothing compelled me to purchase the full game because the demo neatly resolves the main plot point that it presents and doesn't offer you a reason to purchase the full game in order to see where the story goes from there. It would have been better if the demo either ended prior to the resolution of the plot point or further in the first chapter after another plot point had been presented. I also found it difficult to suspend my disbelief after seeing that the main character did not seem surprised by, or bothered to question, the fact that she was suddenly whisked away to a completely foreign land away from their home which was inhabited by unusual beings. [h3]Miscellaneous[/h3] The game is missing basic quality of life features such as having a language option in the settings menu (instead you have to choose it every time you launch the game), the ability to re-bind controls, and forcing you to "use" a key item from your inventory instead of allowing you to interact with a key point and automatically use the item that's related to it. [h3]Conclusion[/h3] Overall, this demo has very little going for it and I do not recommend it whatsoever. The demo also gives me no hope for the full game, especially at its regular price point of 10.00 USD. That being said, it does fit into the developer's entire catalogue of games which are related and gives backstory to [u][url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/733300/My_Big_Sister/]My Big Sister[/url][/u] so if you enjoyed that, or are a fan of the developer in general, then you will probably enjoy this game as well. Otherwise, stay away from this demo and play anything else instead.

Перед вами пролог игры, которая должна была выйти в этом году. Но год подходит к концу, а игра до сих пор не вышла. Посмотрим, может завернут под ёлку) Ну а конкретно о Демке, а это ничто иное как она и есть... Да ничего особо и не скажешь. Это ещё один RPG-проект, сделанный на RPG Marker, коих на просторах стима, в данный момент, великое множество. И все они, за исключением некоторых единиц, безлики, и похожи друг на друга, как близнецы. И эта ничем от них не отличается. Данный продукт специфичен и на любителя. Если вам не нравятся подобные проекты, то вам и нечего связываться с ним. Это небольшой пролог, с приятной картинкой и большим количеством диалогов, поиграв в который вы сможете понять чего ожидать в полноценной версии игры (не думаю, что что-то сильно изменится). Не знаю, баг это в демке или нет, но я так и не смог выбраться с квартиры, а всего-то, надо было найти нож) Точнее, я его вроде как нашёл, но тут же у меня его и нет. Парадокс!!! Игру нельзя развернуть, запускается только в оконном режиме. Нет достижений, карточек и т.п. Наверное будут в полной версии игры, хотя и не факт. В общем, исключительно на любителя подобного контента. Не думаю, что рядового игрока это заинтересует. Да и им (любителям) не советую, ибо данная демка ощущается какой-то сырой. Лучше уж дождитесь самой игры, возможно там уже будет получше ситуация. Ну а, в целом, мне не нравятся эти однояйцевые близнецы, взращенные на RPG Marker. Копируют друг друга, и ничего нового не превозносят. Однообразность убивает весь интерес. ИМХО!

Of the 10 minutes I played of the Prologue it was very enjoyable. The dialog is very snarky and sarcastic at times but its funny! You will find yourself at the beginning figuring out what to do next before advancing to other parts of the demo. FYI a plus is that you can use an XBOX 360 Controller or XBOX One controller to play the game if you want to play it like a console game. Took me a bit to figure out what did what but it's not a deal breaker. Had saw this game my friends activity feed and decided to give the demo ago. Glad I did. May pick it up later this week.

Ashina: The Red Witch: Prologue begins with a relatively simple premise but gradually reveals a world filled with charm, mystery, and emotional storytelling. Players take control of Ash, a young girl who suddenly becomes trapped within a strange spirit realm and begins searching for a way back home. What initially appears to be a straightforward journey quickly develops into something more interesting as the game introduces unusual characters, supernatural environments, and a world that constantly feels both inviting and mysterious. As a prologue, the game serves as an introduction to the larger story while establishing the atmosphere and themes that define the complete experience. One of the strongest aspects of the game is its world design. The spirit realm immediately creates curiosity because it balances wonder and uneasiness in an effective way. Every location feels as though it contains something unexpected, whether it involves strange creatures, unusual personalities, or small details hidden within the environment. The game avoids making its world feel empty or designed purely as a path toward objectives. Instead, the environments themselves contribute to the adventure and create a stronger feeling that players are exploring a place with its own identity and history. Exploration and puzzle-solving form the foundation of the gameplay experience. Players move through different areas while interacting with objects, collecting items, and solving environmental puzzles that allow progress through the story. The mechanics remain simple and accessible, making it easy for players to understand how the game works without feeling overwhelmed by complicated systems. The focus remains on interaction and discovery rather than difficult gameplay mechanics. The puzzle design generally works well because it supports the flow of exploration instead of interrupting it. Solutions usually rely on paying attention to the environment and understanding how objects and characters connect to one another. The game does not attempt to create overly complex challenges, allowing players to continue progressing through the narrative without becoming stuck for long periods. Dialogue also plays a major role in making the experience memorable. Conversations are not limited to delivering objectives or explaining where players should go next. Instead, they help reveal personalities, expand the world, and create stronger emotional connections between the player and the characters. Many interactions include humor and moments of warmth that give the adventure a more personal feeling. The character writing becomes one of the game's most appealing strengths. Ash feels like a believable protagonist whose reactions help make situations feel natural, while the supporting cast adds personality and energy to the world around her. Even characters encountered briefly often leave lasting impressions because of the way they speak and interact with the player. The game succeeds in making its cast feel more memorable than many larger experiences with significantly longer runtimes. Visually, the game embraces a pixel-art style that complements its atmosphere very effectively. The retro presentation may appear simple at first, but the environments and character designs contain enough detail and personality to give the world a unique identity. Different locations throughout the adventure maintain visual variety and help preserve the feeling of moving through an expanding world. Music and sound design also contribute strongly to the overall experience. The soundtrack supports emotional scenes and lighter moments while helping individual environments feel distinct from one another. Audio becomes an important part of creating atmosphere and strengthens the feeling of being inside a supernatural world filled with mystery. As a prologue experience, however, some limitations naturally become noticeable. The shorter length means that certain ideas and story elements only receive introductory development. Players may become attached to the world and characters just as the available content begins reaching its conclusion. Some players may also prefer deeper puzzle systems or more complex gameplay mechanics than what is currently presented. Despite these limitations, Ashina: The Red Witch: Prologue succeeds because of its personality and storytelling. It does not rely on large-scale mechanics or complicated systems to create interest. Instead, it focuses on building a world filled with memorable characters and enjoyable interactions. For players who enjoy story-driven adventures, supernatural themes, and exploration-focused gameplay, Ashina: The Red Witch: Prologue delivers a charming experience that leaves a stronger impression than its shorter format might suggest and creates curiosity about the larger journey still waiting ahead. Rating: 8/10

Hikaye Ash hakkındadır. Garip yaratıklarla dolu gizemli bir ruh dünyasında yolculuğa çıkan sıradan bir kız. Ash, başka bir şey onu bulmadan önce eve dönüş yolunu bulmalıdır.

Yani Stardew Valley kafasında güzel bir oyun ben beğendim ve güzel görünüyor yani keşfe dayalı güzel bir oyun.

"Saving has been disabled for the prologue". Well, thanks for telling me AFTER I tried to continue the story.