Dreams of Witchtown

Dreams of Witchtown is a fantasy action role-playing game for Xbox Live Indie Games developed by Dip Slit. Dreams of Witchtown is a 2D side scrolling action RPG. Players control the elderly witch Aurora, as she embarks on a quest to save her world from the sinister forces trying to destroy it. Players can defeat enemies to increase their level, and save progress. The game is a prequel to Nightmare in Witchtown, which is another initial project thought up by the developers.

The game was submitted for peer playtest and then peer review in December 2009. Although playtest is not required it is recommended to help catch hardware and software problems within the game, as well as to receive feedback from other Microsoft Creators Club members. The game officially released to the Xbox Live Marketplace on January 13, 2010 along with a trial-game, allowing players to try the game. The game has been released for 80 points which is approximately $1 on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Gameplay
The gameplay in Dream of Witchtown has action, adventure and RPG elements. The combat is real-time and fast paced. Aurora gains additional spells and abilities as the player progresses through the game defeating bosses. When an enemy is defeated they will drop experience bubbles which can be collected to level up. Leveling up gives Aurora additional health and magic. Progress can be saved at many different save locations throughout the game. There are also shops throughout the game where a player can replenish their health and magic potions which are almost essential during the boss fights.

Like most platform games, Dreams of Witchtown is also littered with coins and health items. The coins you collect either floating around on each stage or in barrels can be used in a shop to buy items like health and magic potions. Health items, shown as apples, are used to help regain health and are really useful if you run out of health potions. The game also has multiple save locations that are extremely helpful so that you'll never have to start over if you die.

The most important aspect of Dreams of Witchtown is leveling up. The game can be classed as a "grinder" which will have the player repeatedly attacking enemies and collecting items for the all important reason of levelling up to take on tougher enemies.

Plot
In the game players take control of the elderly witch, Aurora. The game is set in Witchtown which is a peaceful and magical place that is populated with both witches and wizards. Unfortunately a great evil has made its way to the town cursing those who reside in it. Players must control Aurora on her quest when she learns of this great evil. Armed with her magic broom and her spell scrolls, Aurora plans to destroy the evil of Witchtown. Then all of a sudden she is struck by a rogue soccer ball and plummets to the ground. Once she awakens she realizes the bad news that her magic broom is broken, her spell scrolls are gone, and she's a long way from Witchtown. The good news is that she does possess a ton of soccer balls, and decides to continue her quest to find her spell scrolls, and rid the world of evil.

Reception
Dreams of Witchtown has generally been received positively by critics. Often commenting on the graphics and the visuals of the game. A review in SFX360 stated that 'the visuals in Dreams of Witchtown are very well done. Each of the worlds are filled with life and full of color. Mountains and trees are found throughout the static background. ' while it scored a fairly enthusiastic 7.4 out of a total 10.