Another super successful Kickstarter campaign of a super relaxing and funny indie game, with a super cute little witch
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain seems to be the very comfort pastime we sometimes need, when we have to relax our brain and flesh.
This delightful new title has already received 1800% funding through a Kickstarter campaign that is still active. I want to say that it looks great, and the campaign itself is well done and captivating. But we’ll get into that more later.
FLY WITH MIKA
To begin, what is it about?
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a fantasy adventure in which Mika, a young, aspiring witch, has got to deliver packages to the residents of a small island.
Of course, she’ll be riding on her broom!
That means we’ll be exploring a small but well-kept open world.
The gameplay is straightforward: our little witch’s goal is to reach the summit of the Gaun mountain.
The residents to whom Mika must deliver the packages will rate the service. Mika will earn money as a result of this, which she will use to purchase new brooms, each of which will have unique flight capabilities.
On her way to the summit, our heroine will be able to use the magical air currents that flow from the mountain’s heart to fly and reach every corner of the island.
There will be new characters, missions, special items, collectibles, and secrets in these new locations.
Mika can easily take breaks and let the wind carry him to enjoy the scenery, which I find quite interesting and which certainly determines the fact that it is truly a relaxing game.
Mika will become an apprentice of the powerful witch Olagari, who lives on the island where Mount Gaun is located.
The young witch, on the other hand, will have to climb the mountain without the aid of potions or spells, relying solely on her own strength.
Fortunately, the island’s inhabitants are very kind and generous, and they frequently assist our protagonist.
This adventure will take her to meet a variety of interesting people, and with each delivery, she will learn more about herself and her life.
There appear to be philosophical implications…
A SMALL WORLD FOR BIG CHARACTERS
Let’s take a closer look at the environment in which we’ll be moving as Mika.
Mont Gaun, as previously stated, is a small mountain island surrounded by strange winds and full of secrets and magic.
The Stellar Lighthouse, which illuminates the pilgrim witches’ path in the dark nights, is one of the key locations where the witch Olagari lives.
Moreover, we will see spectacular views from the Orilla Town, which is located on the mountain’s banks. It’s a magical place where the murmur of the sea meets the whisper of magic.
Soot & Fog Inc. is a Smoke Factory that generates electricity for homes. After the city’s windmill stopped working, this new company appears, and we suspect that they may be the villains of the situation.
Another significant location is the Ancient Wind Ruins, where ancient ring-shaped artifacts and other structures will assist us in mastering the winds and becoming skilled at flying.
Finally, it appears that we will discover the origin of this magical place and, more importantly, why the witches go there in the Heart of the Mountain.
The characters we will meet will be important for our journey, as previously stated, and each of them has a well-studied characterization, making them fascinating and unforgettable, thanks also to the very accurate and refined aesthetics.
Let’s take a look at some of them:
Mika is the protagonist, as we have already discussed. She is a tiny and enthusiastic apprentice with a large rickety hat and a contagious smile.
Olagari, the old witch who lives in the Stellar Lighthouse, is a strict and uncompromising teacher, but she will have a lot to teach.
Allegra is a young artisan whose assistance will be essential in both repairing objects and caring for people. She is adorable.
Greff is the head of the delivery service, and we can tell from his appearance that he is not like Allegra or Mika. In fact, he seems to be venal and unscrupulous but I’m sure we’ll come to like him in the end.
Vanny is a small nonconformist with a sly face who decides to study away from the rigid academic rules, camping outside and studying natural phenomena with his own eyes, trying to understand if science could explain magic.
WHAT AND WHO IS BEHIND
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is the result of a collaboration between several developers and artists who decided to combine their talents and experiences for the first time.
In 2020, Abraham created a first prototype in which he implemented a flight mechanic to move around in a small open world.
Following that, he added to the game mechanics the dynamic of picking up and dropping off packages, that takes inspiration from the Ghibli movie “Kiki’s Delivery Service“.
Then, the conceptualization of the aesthetic began with the arrival of Ernest, a Barcelona-based artist whose personal style was very much in line with the project. He was tasked with artistic direction and coordination of the 2D films, in collaboration with the Alkimia Studio.
The Nukefist, a two-person developer team, completed an important part of the production, working on the project for a year.
Some Chibig (the editor) team members collaborated, making significant artistic, narrative, and marketing contributions.
The stylistic influences are obvious. One in particular, as previously mentioned, is that of the Ghibli studio, not only for the concept inspired by the film “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” but also for the atmospheres. Furthermore, the characters are clear references to many already seen in the Japanese studio’s stories. Young protagonists in search of themselves, great and charismatic masters, magic, witches, and fairytale settings that transport the viewer back to childhood while also prompting important questions.
Another obvious reference is The Legend of Zelda, specifically the 2002 title “Wind Waker,” which inspired the graphic style, particularly the use of bright and vibrant colors.
YOUR REWARDS
The Kickstarter campaign rewards appear to be very appealing. Aside from the game itself, there are several things that pique my interest.
To begin, there are three different types of special outfits for Mika that can be unlocked throughout the campaign. The traditional witch costume is the Kickstarter exclusive reward.
Another reward, this time physical, is represented by the Exclusive Tarot: four cards featuring Mika and the witch’s mountain. Ernest Sala created the artwork for these cards, and the winner of the FAMOUS WITCH level will receive the handcrafted originals.
Also, other physical rewards, in addition to the tarot cards, include the 4″/10cm 3D printed figure of Mika in PVC/Vinyl, which is included in the MIKA COLOR FIGURE EDITION, FIGURE + NINTENDO SWITCH PHYSICAL GAME, and NINTENDO SWITCH COLLECTOR’S EDITION rewards. You can integrate it with any other reward.
Furthermore, stamp Washi Tape features a variety of unique designs based on characters and scenarios from this world.
The “Digital Goodies” section will include a digital content pack containing the original soundtrack (by Adrian Berenguer, an Alicante-based independent musician), the guide, backgrounds, avatars, and a slew of promotional art from artists such as Ernest Sala, Caro Waro, Danalyn Reyes, Carles Dalmau, Pixel Mima, and others.
Without going into detail, I strongly advise you to look into the Kickstarter campaign that is about to end.
Hurry up to make your contribution and claim one of the magnificent rewards on offer, because the game will undoubtedly take place!
