Mika and the Witch’s Mountain review: Delivering a cute witchy adventure

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Title Game: Mika and the Witch’s Mountain

Description: This is the newest charming game from independent developer Chibig, where players transport packages around a picturesque island using a broom. The straightforward and user-friendly flight mechanics offer an enjoyable platforming experience, though the pressure may rise during time trial sections. Unfortunately, my playthrough was affected by frequent crashes and repetitive fetch missions, but it still proved to be a rewarding, if brief, journey that evokes feelings similar to Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Get swept up in your tasks

In “Mika and the Witch’s Mountain,” you’ll don Mika’s conical hat, a novice witch setting out on a magical journey to learn under the enigmatic Oligari, who resides atop a towering peak in an idyllic island. However, unlike Professor McGonagall from Harry Potter, Oligari exhibits more Professor Snape-like tendencies as she challenges Mika by making her fly off the mountain’s edge to assess her broom-flying skills.

After underestimating her own flying abilities, Mika makes an emergency landing on the outskirts of town and realizes she must improve her broom to ascend the mountain again for more lessons. Luckily, the locals are struggling to deliver their packages, and this presents a great opportunity for Mika to hone her flying skills while earning some money to cover the costs of the upgrades.

A bunch of hocus pocus

From my perspective as an avid fan, it’s clear that this charming island is teeming with eccentric personalities who desperately require their parcels. I find myself in the shoes of Mika, tasked with handling these deliveries carefully due to some being fragile, others water-sensitive, and many needing timely delivery.

In my role as the primary courier for the island, I didn’t find the connections to be particularly profound, despite frequently interacting with the same individuals. Nevertheless, there were a handful of friendships that I found delightful, such as the miner who aspired to leave her job and work at a windmill instead. It seemed to me that this island was home to a vibrant community, and I was more like Mary Poppins, merely floating by on the wind, momentarily touching their lives before moving on.

As I navigated through this virtual world, it wasn’t just about handing over a package from one character to another. Scattered across the map were some missing items that needed to be delivered to their rightful owners. The twist here was intriguing – there were no tags on these items, and I had to decipher, using hints, who they belonged to. It added an engaging layer of mystery to the delivery missions.

Bippity boppity zoom

To assist Mika with her island-crossing package deliveries, there are wind bursts and tubes to provide extra momentum. The jumping sequences and time constraints weren’t particularly tough, and if I messed up, there were no severe consequences. If a parcel got too ruined, I could simply revert it back to its initial position for another attempt. Regrettably, I encountered several game crashes that seemed to occur right as I was approaching the completion of more complex or time-consuming missions.

In Mika and the Witch’s Mountain, there are some items hidden to gather. My goal, being a keen collector like always, was to grab as many adorable, miniature clay Napopo figurines as I could spot. Of course, that’s just what this dedicated goblin collector does! These figurines were tradeable for fresh outfits and trinkets. However, what I enjoyed most was hunting for the fish.

Teach a witch to fish

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that many comfortable games these days include fishing, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is no exception. However, what sets this game apart, developed by Chibig, is their unique and heartwarming approach to fishing. Instead of the usual method, in this game, you play as Mika who collects an empty fish bowl hidden around the map. After finding a suitable body of water, you fly into it to fill the bowl, then navigate through the water to scoop up a swimming fish. The captured fish is then delivered to a charming retired sailor who has a set-up aquarium to appreciate your collection. Despite being such a simple task, the adorable aspect of it made me wish there were more than just a handful of fish to catch.

Don’t let the muggles get you down

In another game by the same developer, titled Summer in Mara, I noticed the intricate world-building consistently present across all of their titles, as characters from other Chibig games made brief appearances. Although some players might find the repetitive nature of Mika and the Witch’s Mountain’s fetch quests a bit tedious, I felt that the map size was well-balanced to offset this. While it may require a bit more refinement, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain was an enjoyable journey, demonstrating that Chibig is a developer definitely worth monitoring.

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2025-01-22 19:57