Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree Review

Mandragora: Whipsers of the Witch Tree is a 2.5D Metroidvania developed by Knight’s Peak and Primal Game Studio, set in a dark fantasy world. The game follows the perilous journey of a marked Inquisitor, tasked by the King Priest to hunt down a witch. However, during a public execution, the Inquisitor unexpectedly inherits the condemned witch’s powers, gaining control over Entropy—the dark energy that binds the world together.

As they pursue their mission, eerie whispers from the executed witch begin to haunt them, revealing deeper truths about the world and the forces governing Crimson City. Battling through hordes of bandits and sinister entities, the Inquisitor must decide: Will they use this knowledge to strengthen the Inquisition, or will they defy tyranny and liberate the world?

Take up your sword, Inquisitor, and uncover the truth in Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree!

Nobody Expects The Crimson City’s Inquisition!

From the outset, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree gets all the story and lore out of the way to focus on what this game really is about: delivering a damn good 2D Metroidvania experience. If you’re familiar with the genre, whether through Blasphemous or the recent Ender Magnolia, Mandragora offers a textbook Metroidvania adventure that fans will enjoy.

Like many of its contemporaries in the genre, Mandragora integrates Soulslike mechanics into its gameplay. Instead of collecting “souls,” players gather “essence”, which is used to enhance stats and unlock passive abilities upon leveling up. The game follows familiar conventions: enemies respawn upon healing at checkpoints, stamina dictates actions, and bosses present formidable challenges with exploitable patterns.

With new Metroidvania titles emerging almost monthly, what sets Mandragora apart? The answer lies in its respect for genre conventions, its challenging yet rewarding combat, and its well-designed character progression. It doesn’t attempt to reinvent the wheel but instead refines the formula, proving that fans would look for familiar mechanics with a fresh aesthetic.

Mandragora excels in gameplay, but its presentation may not appeal to everyone, including myself. The story, while serviceable, follows a predictable structure and lacks the depth found in other standout titles. Additionally, the voice acting feels generic and standard fare for games of this type.

However, once the game sheds its narrative facade and fully embraces its combat mechanics, loot system, and character progression, it reveals its true strength: a solid Metroidvania with an edge. While its initial premise may not be as immediately compelling, Mandragora sticks to its fundamentals, delivering addictive gameplay that keeps players wanting more.

Players get to choose their character from a slate of conventional archetypes—the Hardy Warrior, the Stealthy Assassin, or one of several powerful battlemages, each with their own unique school of magic. After selecting an Inquisitor, players must endure a long-winded standard tutorial filled with exposition. However, once the first boss is defeated, the real action begins.

Combat in Mandragora follows traditional Metroidvania titles. Players can equip primary weapons, activate secondary abilities, and traverse trap-filled environments using jumps and rolls. Healing is done through flasks, and various items can be used in surviving the threats that are scattered throughout the world.

One of Mandragora’s standout features is its rich level design. Each location is crafted with detail, with locked doors and inaccessible terrain gradually becoming reachable as players progress. Exploration feels organic, allowing players to venture into advanced areas until further items and skills, such as the grappling hook and ground pound, are acquired.

The RPG elements are equally impressive. The Talent Tree can be initially overwhelming but it gradually reveals many useful abilities that connect well with each other. Similar to Final Fantasy X’s Sphere Grid combined with Diablo’s skill tree, it offers a refreshing take that sets itself apart from often uninspired skill trees seen in similar titles.

The Path of Entropy

As you progress deeper, Mandragora really starts to shine. The early areas serve as an introduction, allowing players to familiarize themselves with combat mechanics and the world system. While some mid-boss battles and level designs feel formulaic, the game undergoes a significant difficulty spike past its midpoint, revealing itself as a challenging title with bite.

The boss encounters set themselves apart, presenting eldritch horrors with multiple forms that will require skill and strategy. Players can enhance their gear and stats, but the gear grind does not entirely compensate for the skill gap, meaning that success will rely heavily on player skill and mastery of the game’s mechanics.

By this stage, players gain access to additional job types, enabling multi-classing beyond its basic classes. Experimenting with skill combinations will open up various builds, maximizing effectiveness in combat. For instance, while I initially played as a Warrior, I later incorporated fire magic, finding it more suited to my playstyle than relying on shield parries.

Players can also upgrade their caravan by recruiting artisans and merchants, unlocking the ability to craft better gear, consumables, and enchantments. This system streamlines gear progression, reducing the grind by allowing players to upgrade shops to lower crafting costs and increase loot.

The loot system itself is well-designed, avoiding cumbersome inventory management. There is no weight limit for carrying loot, while equipped gear is restricted by the strength stat, ensuring that crafting is done in accordance to your character builds. This approach streamlines both gear progression and the skill tree, allowing players to efficiently develop their ultimate Inquisitor.

Further into the game, players gain access to the eponymous Witch Tree, which serves as a hub for respecing stats, improving skills, and unlocking a secondary skill tree. This secondary tree opens up Entropy Leylines, expanding the world beyond and introducing new layers of exploration.

The storytelling also improves as players become more immersed in Mandragora’s rich world. The narrative unfolds organically, with lore revealed through exploration, interactions with NPCs, and quests. Unlike typical fetch quests, side missions feel like they are part of the story, adding depth to the the world’s mysteries.

Players can complete Mandragora within 16-20 hours, with 30+ hours required for full exploration and crafting optimization. The ability to experiment with different character builds enhances replayability, encouraging players to refine their approach and discover new strategies.

Verdict: Buy It!

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a well-crafted Metroidvania that, while not groundbreaking, delivers exactly what fans of the genre seek—a challenging, action-packed adventure with a streamlined skill and loot system that encourages exploration and replayability.

Though its world-building starts off slowly, players will gradually uncover the its many systems and features, from its physical world to the Entropy Leylines, which reveal hidden layers of lore beneath its seemingly generic facade. With more time, the game unfolds into a rich and immersive experience, offering hours of engaging gameplay for those willing to give the game a chance.

*Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree was reviewed on the PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.