Recent reviews by Mew

One of the most innovative and immersive experiences of today.

Amazing writing. Hope to see the complete content filled out, and more beyond.

Placeholder review for the badge.

Writing this for the badge.

To me, the best video game that has ever existed.

So far, so great! Placing a placeholder here for an in-depth review later.

Episode 2 takes the framework from the previous episode and improves on almost all aspects, based on player feedback, to deliver a stellar experience with just the 7 chapters released so far. Whether it's the controls, level design, character skillsets, or story pacing, this title has polished up these previous points of criticism so that the game is smooth, impactful, and a delight to play.

Shama, the main character for this installment, is agile and dexterous, with the ability to perform ranged attacks and nimble maneuvers, and challenges the player to master all of her moves that comprise a high sidescroller skill ceiling. Along with newly added gameplay systems including the companion (with multiple selectable moves), cooking (with ingredients gathered from exploration or shops to create consumables with various effects), and crafting system (creating or improving equipment), the music and art for the game are exceptional-there's no shortage of cut-in CG or music unique to each scenario.

The game is in Early Access, and the developers are working to complete the release of chapters 8 through 12, though the content already available is considerable and well worth the purchase. Please support this game so the treasure that is the Heroine Anthem series may see the light of another day to bring forth more beautiful stories.

(Placeholder before I finish the game)
Brief impression so far: This is one of the best games I have ever played! Wowzers!

"I do not believe in destiny, only the blade in my hand and the friends by my side."

Love that exists in the mortal realm can transcend the powers of the heavens. When was the first time you were moved to the core by a fictional work? I still remember encountering the Xianjian Qixia Zhuan series through its first game in my early days, and being shaken and stirred by the tale of Li Xiaoyao, Zhao Ling'er, Lin Yueru, and A'Nu, and their struggles for good in a world threatened by darkness yet filled with hope in every corner. Perhaps Xianjian 6 does not reach the heights achieved by some of its predecessors, but it provides a lovingly crafted narrative comprised of a memorable cast of characters and an intricately written world that evokes a sense of nostalgia of youthful dreams of heroism in longtime fans as well as appeals to new players looking for a fresh gaming experience with traditional storytelling.
While it resembles previous games of the series in most respects, Xianjian 6 also diverges greatly in some aspects.
The combat system of this game is drastically different from all other titles in the series, in that it is real-time rather than turn-based (the format the Chinese RPGs, including the Xianjian series, have followed for decades), and the transition is rough. The combat pacing feels off somehow and execution of actions seem disjointed and hectic, with a camera that is prone to display suboptimal angles (though the "camera" for story cutscenes is always expertly operated). I still prefer the individual speed-based combat system that has one character take action at a time that clearly displays move order on a bar and features casting times and knockback effects, which also involve strategic planning instead of a scramble to input commands before it's too late.
The absence of 2D character portraits during dialogues and cutscenes is also glaring, and follows the precedent set by Xuan-Yuan Sword 6 and the transition to the Unity Engine. I feel that the 3D facial expressions and character model animations are adequate, but not satisfactory replacements for the highly expressive and stylish character portrait art players of the series have gotten used to. Hopefully this will improve by the next game.
Speaking of 3D, the overall graphical quality of the game isn't ideal, and the aesthetics of the environments in-game often do not meet the potentials of their original designs. Certain textures can get gnarly up close, and the game looks slightly more dim than necessary. While the addition of the jumping function (this can use some better animations) expands the vertical exploration elements of the game, it also brings about funky physics and collision-related issues occasionally. Personally, I think that Softstar's strong suit is 2D art, and graphic styles such as those of games like Xianjian 2 and Xuan-Yuan Sword 3: The Scar of the Sky would still find popularity nowadays. The 2D animated cutscenes in place of prerendered 3D animations are also a dramatic departure from series norms, and have their positives and negatives that I won't comment on here. Hopefully, the developers can realize their artistic visions with more experience and skill with future releases.
Plot is where this game truly shines and delivers, with complex webs of relations and events all connecting to lead to a touching and fulfilling conclusion. From the cunning and devoted Yue Jinzhao, the repressed and innocent Yue Qi, the honorable and naive Luo Zhaoyan, the shrewd and laid-back Xianqing, and the conflicted and emotional Ming Xiu, to the meek and aspiring Ju Shifang, all of the main characters will connect with the player in one way or another by the end of the story, and the plethora of supporting characters and places to visit breathe life into the game's fictional setting. The voice acting is top notch for every voiced character, further enhancing the immersive nature of the game.
On the music front, the game does not disappoint, featuring a huge collection of original compositions for cutscenes, battles, explorations segments, etc, as well as four vocal pieces by four different artists. As is always the case with Xianjian games, the soundtrack is used well in the game to support its melancholic scenes and joyous occasions alike, and is superb even on its own. The music playback menu is a neat touch.
The English translation of this release is decent (barring the opening cinematic), but I have noticed that many lines were translated out of context and give off the wrong impressions to the player, which should be addressed.
For its current price, the game provides about 60 hours of content, plus free postgame story DLCs. I highly recommend this game to everyone, despite its flaws. This is not your typical instant gratification kind of game, but a piece of art to be savored at a leisurely pace. It is rare to see a Chinese game of this caliber getting a worldwide release in English, and the success of this game can lead to more to come.

Ah, the good ol' Game 4. Back when I first started playing it all those years ago, I was awestruck by the transcendent music and eye-popping graphics (for the time), and had thoughts like "is this real life?" "how can characters be so beautiful?" All while very impressed with the innovative user interface and gameplay elements such as maze-only skills, customizable elemental spell mastery, and crafting. The game overall is a breath of fresh air with its light blue colors and otherworldly flair, and just feels crisp and polished compared to its two immediate predecessors (games 3 and 3A/3.5, which had highly stylized and deformed art styles that just didn't appeal to me. Don't get me wrong, the stories and characters were amazing, but the uninspiring 3D graphics and horrendous maze sections were huge turnoffs [in this regard {transition to 3D graphics}, Xuan-Yuan Sword 4 was an amazing and groundbreaking achievement for its time, and remains a masterpiece to this day along with Billows of the Bleak/Millennial Destiny/Cang Zhi Tao), with vibrant and varied environments, good character models, and a dynamic semi-turn-based battle system.
Regarding each of the game's main characters: Yun Tianhe is a lovable buffoon that is a slight deviation from the standard RPG protagonist, and is so earnestly pure and simpleminded that he is truly adorable and heroic. His transformation from a boar hunter with few worries to a destiny-defying savior who is willing to sacrifice all for friends and innocents is especially poignant. Han Lingsha is willful, sly, yet kind, and resembles a modern girl with her mannerisms. Her street smarts and prideful demeanor conceal a self-less and self-deprecating side that is human to the core. Fate is what drove her on her mission, and is also what led her to her bittersweet ending. Sigh...as the ancients say: "beautiful girls are often ill-fated." Liu Mengli fits the traditional role of the ideal woman well, but subverts the trope somewhat with her mental fortitude and her constant consideration for others. Her association with fragrance and the konghou is like putting the finishing touches on the eyes in a painting of a dragon-completing her exotic and elegant image. With her, we also explore the concepts of the duty and burdens of rulers and scions. If only all my Drowzee and Hypno looked like her. lol. Murong Ziying is a person who saw many of his fundamental values challenged and contradicted through the game, and came to accept the reality that good and evil in the world do not often exist with obvious appearances, and justice and righteousness is not always simple to determine. When he joined the party, I was surprised, since he was built up to be such a powerful character, and was also pleased to see his softening up (mostly due to Lingsha's antics) and opening up to his companions. As a perfect candidate for Daoist cultivation, he was able to see through the vapid draws of power, resources, and fame to achieve enlightenment, despite his upbringing by honing his humanity and humility, and that is commendable.
Heaven's capricious and austere will is not always fair. Unbreakable bonds can be formed by chance, as can heart-wrenching partings. People should be judged by their choices and actions rather than their status or circumstances of birth. What is easy and direct is not always the right option. There are always things worth fighting for to protect and cherish. These are some of the lessons players can take away from the game. The Xianjian Qixia Zhuan and Xuan-Yuan Sword game series helped to shape me into who I am today, and I am grateful for their creation and promise of future iterations. The Steam releases for some of the games in the series is a welcome move that is a first step to the series transitioning to the modern global stage, and my sincerest wish is for it to flourish so that others in our wondrous world can experience and appreciate these life-changing productions.