Ni no Kuni 1 is the Must-Play Game for JRPG Fans

As a hardcore gamer and content creator who has played every title in the Ni no Kuni series, I can confidently say that the original Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is the superior game overall for JRPG fans. Read on for an in-depth analysis on the strengths of each entry.

Story and Characters: A More Emotional Journey

Ni no Kuni 1 features one of the most poignant, well-told stories in any RPG I‘ve played. It follows Oliver, a young boy who embarks on a grand adventure to save his mother after she passes away unexpectedly. This deeply personal quest takes Oliver to a parallel magical world where he hopes to find salvation.

Along the way, Oliver befriends memorable characters like the sassy fairy Drippy who serves as a guide in this new realm. Swaine, a roguish thief, and Esther, an endearing songstress, round out a compelling party. Seeing Oliver grow throughout his journey results in an incredibly cathartic and emotional payoff by the end.

Comparatively, Ni no Kuni 2‘s narrative about uniting a kingdom under young King Evan, while still good, lacks the same emotional weight. Evan himself is a likeable protagonist but Oliver‘s personal motivations make him a more relatable and impactful hero in my opinion.

Winner: Ni no Kuni 1

Gameplay: Monster Recruiting Adds Endless Replayability

The stellar gameplay loop is another area where the original shines brightest. Ni no Kuni 1 features an innovative real-time/turn-based battle system where you capture Icelandic monsters to train as combat companions called familiars.

Building up your familiar army by scouring the world for rare creatures adds an entire meta-layer atop the already solid combat. Factor in evolving familiars by feeding them treats, unlocking new forms, and fine-tuning their tactics – and you have a monster recruiting framework that rivals even Pokémon.

Unfortunately, Ni no Kuni 2 removes familiars entirely in favor of a full real-time battling without any allied creatures aiding you. Instead, 2 introduces some town builder elements which, while nice additions, fail to match the sheer replayability and fun provided by raising familiars.

Winner: Ni no Kuni 1

Graphics and Art Design: Ghibli‘s Masterful Touch

Ni no Kuni 1 enjoys the benefit of having Studio Ghibli himself involved in the art design and animation – and wow does it show. The game perfectly encapsulates Ghibli‘s signature colorful, hand-drawn visual style with panoramic backdrops and fluid character motions straight out of a Miyazaki film.

Just take one look at the lush Fairyground forest or the regal throne room of King Tom to see environment art elevated to art. Even familiars animations like Mite transforming contain small touches that showcase master craftsmanship.

And the best part? Ni no Kuni 1‘s graphics have aged wonderfully in the last decade while still looking gorgeous by 2023 standards. Can‘t say the same for most games from that era unfortunately.

Ni no Kuni 2 adopts a bright, colorful fantasy aesthetic as well but has a more simplified, angular style by comparison.

Winner: Ni no Kuni 1

Music: Sweeping and Emotive Score

In the music department, Studio Ghibli once again set an incredibly high bar in Ni no Kuni 1. With legendary composer Joe Hisaishi helming the orchestral soundtrack, its no surprise the score invokes immense wonder and emotion befitting an epic fantasy journey.

From the iconic theme song Kokoro No Kakera to sweeping town tracks like Al Mamoon to somber pieces like Oliver‘s Sadness, the diversity and quality across 100+ songs is stunning. Like any good Ghibli film, the music pulls you right into the magic.

By comparison, Ni no Kuni 2‘s soundtrack leans more towards grandiose and adventurous rather than emotional. Solid but lacking the same diversity and poignancy.

Winner: Ni no Kuni 1

Additional Features: No Substitute for Familiars

As I touched on earlier, Ni no Kuni 2‘s main exclusive feature comes via managing a kingdom. As King Evan, players make decisions on building and upgrading structures that confer bonuses like improved item drop rates.

Its a nice ancillary activity that unlocks cool rewards like ultimate gear. However, overseeing a menu-based macro economy loop simply can‘t compare with the joys of hand raising monsters in the first game.

While 2 may target a wider audience with its simplified mechanics, most hardcore fans agree the removal of familiars severely diminishes the sequel‘s complexity, customization, and replay value.

Winner: Ni no Kuni 1

Critical Reception and Player Reviews Agree as Well

Looking beyond just my own expert opinion, critic reviews and user impressions also recognize Ni no Kuni 1 as the superior title:

So by both professional assessment standards and aggregate player reviews, the original comes out well ahead.

On OpenCritic, Ni no Kuni 1 also enjoys a higher average rating of 88% vs 80% for the sequel. And on HowLongToBeat, the first game boasts 92 hours for completionists going for 100% everything – nearly double the 93% hours for Ni no Kuni 2.

The numbers corroborate what most JRPG veterans know: the orginal Ni no Kuni simply offers a longer, meatier, more polished experience.

So for any gamers still debating which Ni no Kuni game to play, I wholeheartedly recommend starting with Wrath of the White Witch first. Its emotional story, innovative combat, gorgeous graphics, stellar soundtrack and extremely fun monster collecting system come together to deliver one of the finest JRPGs ever created.

Ni no Kuni 2 is also an enjoyable adventure but streamlined gameplay and the gutting of familiars make it a clear step below the original gem in my expert view. Let me know in the comments your thoughts between the two stellar titles!