Witch on the Holy Night

 PlayStation 4
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6

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  1. Indianadan101
    Dec 12, 2022
    10
    I have written this same review on the Switch port but since I have bought both editions, I thought I might as well bring my review over to the PS4 port as well. The only extra note I will say regarding this port as opposed to the Switch port is that it will be the easiest platinum trophy ever. You literally just need to finish the visual novel and that is it. Furthermore, I believe if youI have written this same review on the Switch port but since I have bought both editions, I thought I might as well bring my review over to the PS4 port as well. The only extra note I will say regarding this port as opposed to the Switch port is that it will be the easiest platinum trophy ever. You literally just need to finish the visual novel and that is it. Furthermore, I believe if you have a PS4 Pro or PS5 (like me), the novel is actually upscaled for 4K resolutions which makes the art and animations even more vibrant. The only detriment I will say is that you are limited to a monitor or TV which can be hard to read for an extended period of time, whereas the switch can be read anywhere when it is undocked, making for a more comfortable reading experience. Both ports are still amazing in their own ways. Below is my review of the actual game itself:

    Possibly one of the most anticipated visual novel localizations ever. Despite their immense popularity, Type-Moon seemed to be allergic to localize any of their works that was not a spin-off or anime. Many fans such as I had to settle for fan translations for visual novels as iconic as Fate/Stay Night and Tsukihime. However, we finally have a localization for one of their visual novels, and it delivers.

    Despite being a decade old, the animations and art of Mahoutsukai no Yoru definitely hold up and are only enhanced by modern resolutions and incredible voice acting. The soundtrack is arguably one of the best visual novel OSTs of all time, ranging from high octane battle songs, to bittersweet melancholic piano ballads, to relaxing slice-of-life tracks such as the main theme. Most of which is composed by the talented Hideyuki Fukasawa, best known for his work on Street Fighter IV and V.

    The story and characters are incredibly complex and well-written in true Type-Moon fashion. The dynamics between the characters are both infectiously funny and also incredibly tense when needed. The story involves a lot of slice-of-life elements which really makes you grow attached to all the characters while introducing elements of mystery and world-building to build intrigue and suspense. I cannot get too much into the specifics because this story is best experienced with less information going in.

    While some may be upset or put off that the first localization of a Type-Moon visual novel is of a title they have little to no knowledge of, it is important to note that the story of Mahoutsukai takes place before all other major Type-Moon stories, such as Kara no Kyoukai, Tsukihime, and Fate/Stay Night. This was technically the first story Kinoko Nasu has ever written, so it actually makes sense for it to be localized first.

    I highly recommend this story to anyone since it requires no prior knowledge of any other Type-Moon stories. Others might be hesitant as most visual novels have multiple branching paths and routes such as Fate/Stay Night and Tsukihime, but Mahoutsukai is far more accessible since it has a linear storyline and is far shorter than other Type-Moon visual novels.

    This is not only a great introduction to the Nasuverse but also to the visual novel medium as a whole. Even if you are not into anime, I consider this as one of those stories that even those who dislike anime can enjoy as the story is pretty grounded and does not feature excessive amount of fanservice. Please support this game so we can have more localizations of the Nasuverse in the future!    … Expand
  2. AndrewQ
    Dec 25, 2022
    9
    it takes me 24 hours to complete the game. it is like a fairy tale, in which the people who play it will fall.
  3. hazukimio
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    WITCH ON THE HOLY NIGHT is the foundation of type-moon worldview. This visual novel has achieved the pinnacle of visual fiction from music to character design to plot, and the full voice in remastered version had provided new vitality to the game.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
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No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. PLAY
    Mar 8, 2023
    70
    An encouraging glimpse of a luxurious future for visual novels, though one that struggles to decide what it really wants to be. Here’s hoping for more. [Issue#25, p.92]
  2. PlayStation Universe
    Jan 10, 2023
    90
    As far as visual novels go, Witch On The Holy Night stands among the best in the genre. Strong writing, great characters, and stellar world-building make this a memorable experience. While chapter length is all over the place and some plot points feel a bit forced, Witch on The Holy Night keeps you well-invested and rewards you with a strong body of work from beginning to end.
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  3. PSX Brasil
    Dec 24, 2022
    90
    Overall, Witch on the Holy Night is an excellent visual novel that shows why the studio behind it is so famous and responsible for some of the biggest franchises of the genre. Apart from some minor criticisms, such as the localization and the balance of the scenes, this might be the genre’s best release this year.
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