Xuan-Yuan Sword VII

It's a really good game. Honestly, I didn't expect this title to be so much fun, but it turned out that I really liked the game and had a really good time with it. That's why I rate it very positively 9/10.

I'm... Recommending this only because it is a functional piece of software. I did not have a good time with it overall, but that's just my experience with the game. It might be your jam, especially if you're a fan of the series (honestly it does feel like it plays off the past entries of the game a loooot), but for a first timer... The combat is somewhat flashy, but so simple it kinda hurts. It does have dodge and parry mechanics, but I never really understood when the frames kicked in. Just when I press the button? A little bit after? Sometimes I would get a perfect guard, other times I wouldn't. Some enemies it works super well, other times it didn't and it felt like there was a lot of clashing information throughout the chaos of the fights. Especially when there's a lot of things around and you keep getting attacked off screen. It wasn't a very fun time, and the bosses were almost no different. Visually, the game is fine and there's a little to explore/find throughout the areas, but I feel like it's not enough. They got a lot of good areas here but they could be used a lot more often. Shame really. The lore is what really got me irked. The story... Again, I feel like I can't really say too much about its content due to not knowing the series (it does feel like one of those games) but it's fine. But there's something that just really grinds my gears as an actual writer about the story here, and that is attempting to follow it. The game is Chinese with English subtitles, I normally don't have a problem with that. But trying to follow what the fish is going on...? Okay, a little bit of a writing lesson here in the middle of a random Steam review: if you are going to write a story involving many names, places, etc- MAKE. THEM. SIGNIFICANTLY. DIFFERENT. Do not have your opposing factions both start with the letter L and have very very similar spellings like Linjin and Linlin or something (I don't remember the exact names). If you want to get information across clearly, try to use different letters in front of names- Without repeating them too much. Have a main character start with T, sure, and then another with Z, H, etc. That's fine. But don't make a Kung with their rival Kong, they're just too similar and you're going to cause your audience to confuse them at a glance. Considering how fast the subtitles in this game goes, you're basically speed-reading through this thing. Okay, lesson over. You can try the demo if you like, it gives you kiiiiinda an idea of what to expect but very very little in terms of the actual combat. The demo is 80% story. But it did make me curious enough to get it on sale, and I honestly believe (if interested even after the demo) maybe you should too. Otherwise, a 5/10 game- being generous.