To make waves in today’s gaming landscape, a new video game release not only needs to be good at what it does, but great. Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree hooks from the first moment with its instilled sense of darkness encroaching in a tragic world where there is no chosen one, but an abandoned people just trying to survive. In that sense, this Soulsvania achieves, with flying colors, what it is trying to do.
Genres are put in place to easily recognize what a game is, so people can decide if it is in their wheelhouse or not. Yet, more often than not, some of these games, especially from the indie current, defy such conventions. While Metroidvanias are not commonly known for their narrative, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree shines in that regard. What starts as a deceptively simple task reveals a much deeper conspiracy that informs the world and your place in it.
Choose Your Fighter
Stepping into the role of an Inquisitor, you are the right-hand man of a “High Priest” who, as a first impression, does not look like the heroic type. Drunk in power, he commands you to bring him a witch. Witches in this world do not only have magical powers, but they are said to be the most evil beings. Blessed with the ability to channel the energies of nature around you and armed with military training, there is simply nothing that will stop you from complying with your master’s orders. Or so it seems.
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree offers six different classes to create your character. From the rogue, druid, paladin, and warrior, these well-known archetypes fit well within the dark fantasy setting, and anyone who has dabbled in these sorts of stories will feel right at home with any one of them. With a rich skill tree unlocking new talents to gain an edge in battle in each of the available classes, the possibilities to have several playthroughs and have completely different interactions are there.
Genre Mashup
Independent developer Primal Game Studio’s inspirations are clear as day. Castlevania is a revered series because of its dark world and ingenious level design, making backtracking in several of its games a clever staple instead of a chore. This influence is evident in Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree’s first couple of hours as its 2.5D universe is struck by a corruption that is spreading through the land, but conveniently placed shortcuts entice you to explore everywhere around you and, perhaps, save it in the process.
Its most influential pillar, undoubtedly, is Dark Souls, for better or worse. From the three bars of life, magic, and stamina, to combat based on learning the enemy’s movesets by precisely dodging at the right time, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree wears its influences on its sleeve proudly. Anyone who has played FromSoftware’s games will recognize that many of the decisions in this game come straight from them. Whether that is a good thing or not is entirely up for debate.
Feeling defeated at some point by a Souls game is a rite of passage, but eventually overcoming these challenges is what keeps players coming back to them. Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is exactly like that in many ways. Traps that instantly kill you, poison damage that slowly chips away at your health, and punishing enemy positioning are all here, as well as an abundance of recycled minibosses that you have defeated before. At the very least, the grounded dialogue can provide much-needed respite after such trials and tribulations.
A Worthy Challenge
An always engaging proposition in these kinds of games is the boss fights, and Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree does not disappoint. All designs are unique, and each is hyped up with a little cutscene and conversation before starting the fight. Each boss has a certain gimmick that, while annoying for some, could definitely strike veterans of the genre as inventive and entertaining.
Mileage may vary, but what is true is that this game’s mechanics work well. Each Area of Effect attack takes just the right amount of time for you to react, and pesky enemies that appear on the sidelines are just the right amount of annoying. The bosses’ telegraphing of attacks are fair, and let’s not forget the phases that introduce new attacks at a certain point in their life bars. Any fan of the Dark Souls formula craving a challenge should absolutely give this a try.
Hauntingly Beautiful Dark Fantasy
A controversial decision for the most fervent fans of the genre is that Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree does offer difficulty settings. While none of them make the game a cakewalk by any means, the easier settings do make it more manageable, reducing enemy damage and the cost of stamina for using your skills. Also, extensive graphical features, like a “Quality Pro” setting for PlayStation 5 Pro users, allow the dark fantasy aesthetic to shine through, flaunting what a technical marvel the game is.
Art direction shines through, with each painstakingly recreated high-quality hand-painted cutscene being breathtaking to look at. As the latest in a line of excellent Soulsvanias, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a gritty challenge that rises to the occasion. If you are craving one such dark fantasy, look no further. For everyone else, enter at your own risk.
You can find Seasoned Gaming’s review policy here
