31Jul 21

Review: Trigger Witch

Nick de Reiger Home, (p)Reviews, Indie Corner, Nintendo, PC, PlayStation, Xbox , , , , July 31, 2021

What do you get if you combine both the Legend of Zelda (Link to the Past) and Bayonette? Well, something like Trigger Witch, probably. If you add in some twin-stick shooting action, of course. But if you are looking for Zelda with guns, you walked into the right review.

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the creators of Reverie, Trigger Witch is a stylized 2D twin-stick action game set in an odd open world where magic is outdated, and firearms are the new way of life.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. Recalling the visual style and intuitive gameplay of 16-bit action-adventure classics, Trigger Witch puts an ultra-violent spin on cute and colorful pixel art. And ultra-violent is not … something I exaggerate. It’s really bloody. I think it’s even more bloody than the Binding of Isaac, which sometimes turned into an ultra-gross fest.

 

Trigger Witch Happy

Trigger Witch is probably one of the weirder games I played this year, and its silliness helps in popping back into my mind. Luckily Trigger Witch doesn’t take itself very seriously but still somehow manages to set up its world and conflict earnestly. It felt a bit like the humor in Bayonetta – the world is going to end, but I can still joke about kicking in someone’s skull with no apparent reason. The world of Trigger Witch feels like the witch wood version of The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past – all cute, lovely, and cuddly. But then the firearms arrive, and it’s all about murder, death, and mushrooms – yeh, most of the enemies are fungal based in the beginning.

 

Luckily the game gives you a simple solution to your problems. Guns! And lots of them! Even the puzzles require shooting, sometimes using certain crystals to deflect bullets or have them bounce along convoluted paths. Some puzzles require precise timing or fast movement to get through. There’s a dash that helps you move around quickly, and it’s also used in combat as a dodge move, giving you invincibility for the short duration it’s active. This requires some figuring out since the game is not that strong on pointing out some of the more obvious points and choices. On the other hand, games about guns aren’t meant for kids that need handholding – I wouldn’t let my 2-year-old play – no matter how many chocolate sprinkles and unicorns they add.

Cramps

My main problem with games like this is that it doesn’t work well on a Nintendo Switch hybrid console in handheld mode; the twin-stick genre needs a proper controller or a split pad if you insist on playing in handheld mode. So, keep that in mind – especially if you have larger than average hands (like me) since it gave me some hand cramps when I ran into more crowded rooms or during boss fights – which made me lose the fight, of course. Luckily you regenerate, I guess?

Conclusion

But to conclude, if you are into guns, twin-stick shooters, Zelda-esque games, and a good challenge. Trigger Witch is right up your alley – keep in mind that you don’t play this one with the little ones around. It runs smooth, feels good, and does what twin-stick shooters do best – destroy stuff!

8/10

Tested on the Nintendo Switch.

Author : Nick de Reiger