China recently had the opportunity to experience Sword Panda’s upcoming soulslike action RPG Sword Sage: Awakening during the BiliBili Game First Look event in Shanghai, where they also conducted an interview with game and art director Sam Wu. Although this game shares some similarities with other titles in the genre, including spells and weapons with ultimate abilities, its approach to dodging sets it apart.
The combat system in Sword Sage: Awakening utilizes an “Evade Cyan, Strike Red” counter mechanism, which draws inspiration from a technique within the authentic Chinese Emei Swordsmanship style. This system requires players to evade high, middle, or low attacks (color-coded cyan) while simultaneously striking the enemy’s body (color-coded red). Pressing the evade button at the correct moment allows for a dodge, but a counterattack can only be executed if the proper height of the incoming attack is selected. When facing powerful attacks, such as those from a boss, inputting the correct height is essential; otherwise, the evade will fail, and the player will sustain damage.
Wu explained that his team decided against implementing a traditional dodge input, as they felt it would distract players from mastering the stand-and-fight nature of the system. Despite positive initial gameplay feedback, testers frequently mentioned feeling overwhelmed by enemies with no escape route.
Instead of adding a dodge input as a quick solution, Sword Sage’s progression through levels, items, and abilities is designed to help players adapt to the gameplay.
Unlike the demo played, the early stages of the full game will seldom place players in situations where they are surrounded. This gradually changes as the game progresses, and by the mid to late game, players will frequently find themselves battling multiple enemies simultaneously.
Sword Sage also features powerful items and abilities that can help players escape difficult situations. These benefits activate instantly without lengthy animations or recovery times, though they are subject to cooldowns to prevent overuse.
For those who still struggle, the game introduces two pieces of equipment after three deaths. The first piece allows players to ignore the high/mid/low directional inputs and focus solely on evading and attacking. The second piece is even more lenient, automating evades and attacks by pressing the guard input. While Sword Sage is intended to be a challenging experience, the developers aim to ensure that all players can complete it.
The narrative of Sword Sage: Awakening is grounded in Xianxia, a Chinese fantasy genre inspired by Taoism, Chinese mythology, and martial arts. As novice disciple Pei Sanniang, players confront supernatural threats unleashed by the inebriated Supreme White Gibbon Sage. Armed with various weapons, artifacts, and Taoist spells, the goal is to restore tranquility 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.