The long-running Chinese RPG series Swords of Legends is being reimagined as a soulslike action game by developer Aurogon Shanghai. The upcoming title aims to blend the genre's demanding combat with the spectacle of wuxia-inspired martial arts, a combination that showed promise during a recent hands-on preview event.
For Western players, this reboot represents a new entry point into the Gujian cross-media franchise, which includes other RPGs and a live-action TV show. Swords of Legends itself is being reframed as a fast-paced, high-fantasy action-RPG that emphasizes stylish combat and graceful execution befitting a mythical hero. Players will assume the role of Sipan, a fallen swordsman tasked with venturing into the mortal realm to battle demons and rivals while collecting souls to enhance his abilities and arsenal.
The preview focused on a demo featuring tutorials and isolated missions across varied environments, from dreamlike mythical landscapes to demon-infested mountain communities. These segments culminated in boss battles that highlighted the game's slick martial arts combat. One memorable encounter was against the Tri-Tail boss, a creature that transforms from a cat into a powerful feline form.
Swords of Legends adheres to the core soulslike structure of careful timing for attacks, evasions, and parries. However, its wuxia influence imbues the combat with a distinctive flair, offering a more dynamic and exciting dance of offense and defense compared to the often more subdued tone of other games in the genre. This blend of deliberate action and visually impressive martial arts sequences aims to provide a fun and engaging experience, though the preview also noted technical hiccups that occasionally hindered gameplay, particularly with parry timings.
The game differentiates itself further through Sipan's expanding arsenal of weapons and skills. Alongside traditional melee weapons, players can equip artifacts that grant new combat abilities. The Cosmic Mirror artifact, for example, allows for summoning glyphs for area damage or defensive maneuvers like blocking and parrying. The Thunder Banner artifact adds lightning damage to attacks and a swift lightning dodge.
A unique feature is the ability to call upon defeated foes as assists. The Ox-Head boss, once defeated, can be summoned for quick strikes or to aid in key battles against larger stage bosses. These allies can even execute cinematic Link Attacks with Sipan, dealing critical damage to staggered enemies and enhancing the game's stylized spectacle. The preview concluded with a challenging fight against a powered-up Ox-Head, requiring careful execution of Sipan's evolved abilities and gear, including a shrine guardian armor set.
Swords of Legends' focus on the steady progression of a mythical hero offers an intriguing hook for the action-RPG. While the soulslike genre presents inherent challenges in design, the game so far appears to be shaping up as a stylish and invigorating experience that emphasizes its character moments.