Product Info

Platform

Switch, PlayStation 4, PC

Publisher

ININ Games

Developer

Rocket-Engine Co., Ltd.

Series

Trouble Witches

Genre

Shoot-'em-up

Players

1

File Size (Minimum)

3.1 GB

Release Date (NA)

Dec 15, 2025

Purchase From

eShop

PSN Store

Steam

Official Store

Trouble Witches Final! Episode 01: Daughters of Amalgam is a remastered version of the original Trouble Witches series. It is a visually appealing and enjoyable shoot ’em up game suitable for players of all skill levels. You don’t need to be a pro to have fun with this game.

Short Storytelling

Originally released in 2007, the game is set in a magical place called Eihemland. In this world, a powerful demon is sealed within a ring that was stolen by a witch named Amalgam. The ring was then broken into pieces, with each piece given to one of the witch’s daughters, who caused chaos in the magical realm. It is now your task to stop them and restore peace to Eihemland.

 Each character you choose to play as in the game has a unique story that unfolds after the incident. For instance, Aqua, a former idol, has a different opening, closing scene, and in-game dialogue compared to the other characters. There are a total of twelve characters to choose from, each with their own distinct design. While they all have a similar shooting style, they differ in the types of projectiles and partners that accompany them on their journey. Upon completing the game, you will unlock an alternate version of the character you played, providing added replay value for those looking to unlock all characters. The remastered game offers a paid DLC of characters such as Cotton from the Cotton series that comes with her sidekick fairy named Silk and her own background music from her games. Additionally you can play the bonus level of collecting tea cups after each stage.

The game does not feature animated story scenes; instead, it includes illustrations with voiced dialogue in Japanese, accompanied by subtitles for players to follow along. The illustrations are charming and visually appealing, but the story may feel a bit short and lacking in depth. Perhaps including additional content about the incident in Eihemland could have made the overall experience more fulfilling or additional visual scenes of each character.

Witch Power

The team that developed the Cotton series also worked on the Trouble Witches games, and many of the visual styles and mechanics will feel familiar. Like the Cotton games, Trouble Witches Final is played from left to right with an autoscroll background, giving the sensation of riding through the level. Players must also stay alert for incoming enemy projectiles, which vary in style and path depending on the type of enemy and difficulty setting. The higher the difficulty, the more projectiles on screen and the less help from your partner’s sidekick to initiate force fields that slow down projectiles. For those new to shoot ‘em up games, the remastered version offers an easier setting to make gameplay more accessible, allowing players to gradually progress to more challenging modes.

The game features six stages, making the adventure feel relatively short as players can complete a run within an hour. Each stage culminates in a boss battle that requires depleting the boss’s health gauge to zero. Some stages include mid-boss battles with lower health gauges and fewer attacks. Added additional stages or even some bonus stages could add additional gameplay length. 

Throughout the game, players can collect magic cards to increase their mana gauge for longer-lasting spells and hearts to replenish their lives. Each hit deducts a heart, and when all hearts are gone, players have the option to continue by selecting a magic card from three choices. Magic cards provide a temporary boost in power to defeat enemies, and coins dropped by defeated enemies are automatically collected. Additionally, players can glide into a floating hot air balloon shaped like a pumpkin to access a shop where they can purchase power cards, mana increases, and hearts, each at a cost that increases as the game progresses. Collecting coins manually poses a challenge as players must avoid enemy attacks while doing so. It would be beneficial to have other power-ups to assist in collecting coins without risking the player’s life.

The power-ups are visually appealing and deal significant damage for a limited time. However, it is unfortunate that players must spend a considerable amount and risk their character’s life to acquire these powers.

Various Ways to Fly

Trouble Witches Final has a variety of options to play. Story Mode offers a more story-depth dialogue of each character and adventure through six stages. Arcade Mode is the same way but no story and acts more like the original arcade version. There’s also the original arcade version that uses less stylish visuals in a 4:3 ratio but also only six stages to conquer. The Endless Mode lets players play the game through all six stages countless times. Arcade Attack offers various time limits to score the most points. Your total is then recorded on an online leaderboard. Then there’s the Practice Mode where players can practice any stage and alter the level such as items at shops. For a shoot ‘em up title, there’s quite a bit to chew on if you don’t mind having to repeatedly play the six stages.

The Final Witch

Trouble Witches Final! Episode 01: Daughters of Amalgam is a charming, remastered shoot ‘em up that blends cute witchy chaos with accessible, satisfying action. With colorful visuals, a cast of distinct characters, and multiple modes built around its short adventure of six stages, it’s a magical ride that is easy to pick up and fly for both newcomers and veterans of the genre.

A PlayStation 4 review code provided for this review. Trouble Witches Final! Episode 01: Daughters of Amalgam is available now for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC (Steam).