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Shuyan Saga

There’s some potential missed here, but Shuyan Saga does a fantastic job at scratching its niche’s itches and delivers an enjoyable, if occasionally disappointing, experience.
Shuyan Saga Game Cover
74%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, character development
80% User Score Based on 127 reviews
Critic Score 62%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCMac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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Shuyan Saga Game Cover

About

Shuyan Saga is a single player casual action adventure game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Lofty Sky Entertainment Inc. and was released on August 8, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Shuyan Saga is a motion comic adventure game that tells the story of a young princess on a mission to save her kingdom. Featuring a unique blend of martial arts combat and interactive narrative, players will engage in intuitive gameplay and stunning visuals to guide Shuyan through her journey. With a strong emphasis on storytelling and character development, Shuyan Saga offers an immersive and unforgettable experience for players.

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Shuyan Saga screenshot
Shuyan Saga screenshot
Shuyan Saga screenshot
Shuyan Saga screenshot
Shuyan Saga screenshot
Shuyan Saga screenshot
Shuyan Saga screenshot
Shuyan Saga screenshot
Shuyan Saga screenshot
Shuyan Saga screenshot
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80%
Audience ScoreBased on 127 reviews
story58 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning hand-drawn artwork and vibrant visuals that enhance the storytelling experience.
  • The voice acting is well-executed, with a full cast that adds depth to the characters and the narrative.
  • The blend of visual novel elements with action combat provides a unique gameplay experience, making it engaging for fans of both genres.
  • The combat system is clunky and often unresponsive, leading to frustration during battles, especially against multiple enemies.
  • The story is predictable and lacks depth, with some choices feeling inconsequential to the overall narrative.
  • The game feels more like a mobile port, with controls that do not translate well to PC, making gameplay less enjoyable.
  • story
    163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Shuyan Saga" is a straightforward yet engaging kung fu tale centered around a princess on a quest to protect her kingdom, featuring a blend of Chinese mythology and comic book-style storytelling. While the narrative is often described as predictable and somewhat cliched, it is complemented by beautiful artwork, strong voice acting, and an immersive presentation that appeals to fans of visual novels and action-adventure games. However, many reviewers noted that the combat mechanics detract from the overall experience, making the story feel more like a backdrop to gameplay rather than a fully integrated narrative.

    • “The game features a unique blend of Chinese martial arts and comic book-style storytelling, creating an immersive and engaging experience.”
    • “The Shuyan saga tells a wonderful story that allows you to accompany Shuyan on her journey.”
    • “As we've come to love, some visual novels are truly amazing; they deliver a story in such a deep, beautiful way that it truly is an inspiration or pure bliss to play and enjoy the game.”
    • “Honestly, what I thought was a choose-your-own-adventure visual novel turned out to have only one choice that changed a scene before merging back into the plot, and I almost gave up just so I didn't have to listen to the immature and shallow dialogue anymore.”
    • “However, even if you are into that sort of thing, the story is dreadfully generic... I really wanted to like it because it seems like the devs spent a lot of time on it, but beautiful art and music cannot hold a game with a lackluster story and mediocre gameplay.”
    • “The story is fairly simple.”
  • gameplay
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is a blend of simple fighting mechanics and visual novel elements, featuring mouse-based controls for combat that some players found enjoyable, while others criticized it for being shallow and repetitive. The combat system allows for basic combos and defensive maneuvers, but the overall experience is marred by a lack of depth and a short playtime, making it feel more like an interactive comic than a fully-fledged game. Despite its beautiful visuals and engaging story, many reviewers felt that the gameplay did not live up to expectations, particularly for those seeking a more robust action experience.

    • “Its stunning visuals, fun and satisfying gameplay, and immersive story make it a standout game that's sure to please fans of action-adventure and martial arts games.”
    • “The gameplay switches between static drawings with dialogues and the occasional choice (that should affect the outcome of the story, but I'm not sure how much as I didn't replay to see multiple endings), and short fighting sequences that use a simple mouse-based system for combat.”
    • “With a plethora of combos to discover, skills to unlock, and perks to upgrade character stats, Shuyan Saga shows a fine balance between gameplay and storytelling.”
    • “The gameplay has fairly simple mechanics that don’t offer much depth, and the controls can be erratic at times.”
    • “As a game, it's hard to recommend for its short content and clumsy gameplay, but as an art, I do recommend it.”
    • “However, even if you are into that sort of thing, the story is dreadfully generic... I really wanted to like it because it seems like the devs spent a lot of time on it, but beautiful art and music cannot hold a game with a lackluster story and mediocre gameplay.”
  • music
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its orchestral quality and fitting ambiance, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersiveness of the experience. Reviewers praised the soundtrack for its beautiful composition, which aligns well with the game's Chinese mythical fantasy setting, alongside strong voice acting that complements the visuals. While some noted minor repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's appeal, making it a standout feature.

    • “The game's sound design is also impressive, with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that perfectly captures the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack to Shuyan Saga is quite lovely; it is fully orchestral and has a definite Chinese ambience with the different tonal structure that is characteristic of Asian music.”
    • “This all comes together marvelously with a beautiful soundtrack that really enhances the gameplay.”
    • “Drawing is nice, music is somewhat repetitive, but still beautiful and adds to the atmosphere.”
    • “However, even if you are into that sort of thing, the story is dreadfully generic... I really wanted to like it because it seems like the devs spent a lot of time on it, but beautiful art and music cannot hold a game with a lackluster story and mediocre gameplay.”
    • “Overall I felt the game was worthwhile if not for the voice acting and music alone and would recommend giving it a try.”
  • graphics
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Shuyan Saga are widely praised for their stunning artwork and vibrant colors, effectively capturing the essence of Chinese culture and martial arts. While the 3D combat graphics are considered somewhat dated and less impressive, the overall visual presentation, including the comic-style art and detailed character designs, is described as beautiful and immersive. However, some reviews note inconsistencies in character detail and a lack of polish in certain areas, suggesting that while the visuals are a highlight, they are not without flaws.

    • “The game's visuals are stunning, with vibrant colors and detailed character models that capture the essence of Chinese culture and martial arts.”
    • “Shuyan saga shows true love for Chinese culture and uses thousands, if not more, original artworks to make the game feel authentic and absolutely gorgeous to look at.”
    • “First impression of this game so far during book 1 is that the comic style artwork in this game is gorgeous, the soundtrack is also wonderful and really captures the theme of the game.”
    • “These sequences have graphics that look straight out of an old PlayStation game, but this is more than compensated for by the absolutely gorgeous art of the drawn sections.”
    • “The 3D graphics used during combat are a little chunky and while they fit the cartoonish theme, they seem a little dated compared to the rest of the game and will likely not age well.”
    • “The storytelling and artwork are what massively carry the points I've scored for this title because in my opinion, far more effort needed to be put into making compellingly fleshed-out beat-em-up sections as this game should have been absolutely incredible.”
  • optimization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally solid, resembling that of a mobile game, with technical performance meeting expectations. While the voice acting is fully realized and features convincing performances, some critiques point to inconsistencies in direction affecting the emotional delivery of certain characters, including the lead. Overall, the voice acting is deemed solid but not exceptional.

    • “It's optimized like a mobile game anyway.”
    • “Technical performance is solid, though I expect that was not much of a challenge for the devs.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted as a strong point, particularly through the growth of key characters like Shuyan, who evolves from a playful princess to a mature young lady. Reviewers appreciate the depth and heart put into the character arcs, despite the simplicity of the overall story. The combination of engaging writing and well-crafted character design enhances the emotional impact of the narrative.

    • “The writing/story may be simple, but so much emphasis has been put into the character development, mainly Shuyan, Jade, Dongmei, Jian, and Ganbaatar.”
    • “The character development and progression are good as we see Shuyan develop from a playful princess to a mature and responsible young lady throughout the course of the game.”
    • “Nice story, beautiful and inspiring visuals, interesting game design, great music, amazing character design, made with a lot of heart.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “Despite the potential for rich storytelling, the characters remain one-dimensional and predictable.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be underwhelming, with little growth or change throughout the game.”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers three difficulty levels, but most players feel that replayability is limited primarily to achievement hunting, as the story remains largely unchanged. Given its short length of 2-3 hours, many reviewers suggest considering the value of replaying the game before purchasing.

    • “The game offers three difficulty levels, which adds to its replayability, although the story remains consistent across playthroughs.”
    • “Replayability is enhanced by the variety of choices you can make, leading to different outcomes and experiences each time.”
    • “With multiple character builds and strategies to explore, the game invites players to return for new adventures and challenges.”
    • “Remember that this is a really short game/novel, so make up your mind on how much you want to pay for a visual novel of 2-3 hours length with very little replayability.”
    • “After finishing the game once, I found no real incentive to play it again. The choices felt superficial and didn't lead to significantly different outcomes.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices and branching paths makes replaying the game feel pointless; I was hoping for more depth.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its unique approach and comedic elements woven into the story and combat, despite the latter not being particularly strong. The straightforward gameplay and absence of frustrating mechanics contribute to a lighthearted experience, making it accessible and enjoyable for players.

    • “The humor in this game is refreshing and adds a unique twist to the overall experience.”
    • “The story is okay, but the combat is not great; however, the humor makes it all worthwhile.”
    • “The gameplay is direct and easy to pick up, with no annoying grinding or crazy puzzles, allowing the humor to shine through.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the game avoids traditional grinding mechanics, offering a direct and straightforward gameplay experience without tedious quests or puzzles. However, some players find the gameplay can become monotonous, feeling more like a hurdle to progress the story rather than an engaging part of the experience. Overall, while the game minimizes grinding, it may still lead to a sense of tedium for some players.

    • “It ends up being a very monotonous and tedious task, more the sort of thing that feels like an obstacle you have to clear to see the next story scene rather than something that actively adds to the experience.”
    • “The scope of the product was small (and this is the right decision for your first product), direct gameplay, easy to pick up and there's a save function by chapters, no bugs, no funny business of grinding/crappy quests/crazy puzzles, sudden difficulty spike in boss fights/late game - none of those nonsense.”
    • “It has some nuances so as not to be tedious, yet is simple enough to not become distracting.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report stability issues, including game freezes during specific episodes and buggy commands, particularly during tournament swiping actions, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Game freezes on the second episode, chapter 29.”
    • “The only downside is that the commands are sometimes buggy - especially during the tournament, when you have to 'swipe' with the mouse, which was pretty upsetting.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and charming visuals, creating an immersive experience. Players appreciate the protagonist, Shuyan, and express a desire for similar games, highlighting the overall enchanting ambiance.

    • “The game's sound design is impressive, with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that perfectly captures the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game feels really charming, and Shuyan is a nice protagonist who makes me wish for a Korra game made in this style.”
  • emotional
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express that while emotional elements in games can sometimes feel superficial or forced, they often resonate personally, prompting a stronger engagement with those aspects.

    • “Where this often feels tacked on and/or inconsequential, I often find my personal emotional reaction reflected there, so I naturally click on that one.”
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62%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Shuyan Saga is a casual action adventure game with fantasy theme.

Shuyan Saga is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac OS and others.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Shuyan Saga.

Shuyan Saga was released on August 8, 2017.

Shuyan Saga was developed by Lofty Sky Entertainment Inc..

Shuyan Saga has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Shuyan Saga is a single player game.

Similar games include Omensight, Stories: The Path of Destinies, Masquerada: Songs and Shadows, Remember Me, Transistor and others.