Shuyan Saga's first hour establishes the atmosphere, the story & the gameplay in an amazing way.
This post is part of my "First Impression" series. Here's what I do in these:
I decided to play as many games from my backlog and for each think whether I'd try finishing them or not. Since many of them are from Indiegala you can guess the chances.
Shuyan Saga
Shuyan Saga is an "Action Graphic Novel." It's an original story set in a world inspired by Chinese Myths. The story follows Shuyan a princess of one of the five kingdoms. She's also a Kung-fu fighter.
What will happen to her as the peaceful age over the five kingdoms have ended.
"The Guer attack from the west. Led by the power-hungry tyrant, Ganbataar."
The Art is unique and beautifully done.
It feels like a comic book with Chinese touch to it.
Story Sections
Most of the game is told as a story like a graphic novel where you have to make choices sometimes. When Shuyan fights the game changes to a battle screen with 3D visuals. Shuyan Saga changes seamlessly between the story and battle parts.
Story & Choices
While the game is in story mode, sometimes you have to make choices, the way they implemented this makes this part of the game feel like a Telltale game.
I love how the story emphasis on Shuyan's love for fighting.
Shhh... Don't tell her mother.
Battle Sections
When in a fight, the gameplay screen changes to a 3D battle screen. One-on-one fights are different than group fights. The controls are easy: Left click attacks either high or low depending on where you click. Right click is used to guard.
The Battle Screen.
The game feels optimized for touchscreen (using, tap term instead of click.) Still, Shuyan Saga is a PC game and doesn't seem out of place on windows.
Final Thoughts
The art of Kung-fu
In the less than an hour I played, the game managed to make me love it. Everything felt polished and the scenes felt fast-paced (I finished 4 chapters already.) The art and the voice acting is on the mark too.
As a first impression, I believe that this game won't take long to complete. I think at some point Shuyan will get involved in the war and will have to make some hard choices.
And this is my first impression on the game,
Now it's higher up in my backlog as I feel completing it won't take a long time from me as some games did.
