A recent hands-on session at the BiliBili Game First Look in Shanghai gave China a glimpse into Sword Panda’s upcoming soulslike action RPG, Sword Sage: Awakening. During the event, game and art director Sam Wu was interviewed, shedding light on the game’s unique mechanics. While the title shares similarities with other games in the genre, such as spells and weapons with ultimate abilities, its approach to dodging sets it apart.
The combat system in Sword Sage: Awakening features an “Evade Cyan, Strike Red” counter system, inspired by a technique from traditional Chinese Emei Swordsmanship. Players must evade attacks color-coded in cyan—whether high, middle, or low—while simultaneously striking red-colored areas on their opponents. Successfully pressing the evade button at the right moment allows for a dodge, but a counterattack is only possible if the correct height of the incoming attack is chosen. Against powerful boss attacks, inputting the wrong height will result in a failed evade and damage.
Wu explained that the development team opted against a traditional dodge input to encourage players to embrace the stand-and-fight nature of the system. Although initial feedback was positive, testers often found themselves overwhelmed by enemies with no clear escape route.
Instead of adding an easy dodge option, Sword Sage’s progression system, items, and abilities are designed to help players adapt to the gameplay.
The early stages of the full game will rarely place players in situations where they are surrounded, a challenge that gradually increases as the game progresses. By the mid to late game, players will frequently face multiple enemies at once.
Sword Sage offers powerful items and abilities that can help players escape difficult situations. These abilities activate instantly without lengthy animations or recovery times, though they are subject to cooldowns to prevent overuse.
For those who still struggle, the game provides two pieces of equipment after three deaths. The first allows players to ignore directional inputs and focus solely on evading and attacking. The second piece automates evades and attacks by pressing the guard input. While Sword Sage aims to be challenging, the developers ensure that all players can complete the game.
The story of Sword Sage: Awakening is rooted in Xianxia, a Chinese fantasy genre blending Taoism, mythology, and martial arts. Players take on the role of novice disciple Pei Sanniang, who must confront supernatural threats unleashed by the drunken Supreme White Gibbon Sage. Armed with weapons, artifacts, and Taoist spells, Pei Sanniang fights to restore peace to the land of Guannandao.
Sword Sage: Awakening is currently in development for Windows (Steam). Additional details about the game can be found on its official webpage.