Sword and Fairy

About

"Sword and Fairy" is a single-player, Chinese-language action RPG that follows the journey of Li Xiaoyao, a country boy who dreams of becoming a hero. After meeting the celestial Zhao Linger, he agrees to escort her to her homeland, facing various mysterious events and the looming threat of Temple of the Moon's master's schemes. The game features mythology, beautiful poetry, and a complex love story between Li Xiaoyao and three female leads.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 71 reviews

story6 positive mentions

gameplay2 negative mentions

Sword and Fairy is considered one of the greatest single-player games of all time, with an impactful storyline that resonates deeply with players.
The game evokes strong nostalgia and emotional connections, making it a cherished classic for many who played it during their childhood.
Despite its age, the game maintains high standards in storytelling, art, and music, captivating both new and returning players.

The gameplay can become repetitive, especially towards the end, with limited diversity in attacks and some items feeling useless.
Navigating through the game's mazes can be frustrating, often requiring backtracking and leading to dead ends.
The game is only available in Chinese, which may limit accessibility for non-Chinese speakers, despite fan translations being available.

story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
The story is widely praised as one of the greatest in gaming, featuring a captivating narrative filled with humor, tragedy, and well-developed characters that resonate deeply with players. Many reviewers highlight its emotional impact and the way it intertwines classical literature, making it a significant cultural touchstone in China. Despite some criticism of the latter half of the plot, the storytelling is considered polished and engaging, prompting players to seek out translations to continue the experience.
- “The story is insanely good; it will have you laughing, it will have you crying, it will have you playing all night.”
- “In fact, if you played this game, the storyline will shake you to the core.”
- “Interesting story with its twists, tragedy, likable characters, and often funny dialogues/scenes.”
- “All the main actors in the garbage TV series became list celebrities in China, not due to their real acting skills, but purely from just being in the story.”
- “Instead, its plot gets to my heart, which may be the factor of immortal heroes leading.”
- “It would be a spoiler to say why; however, it is from this type of plot that the rest of the games were produced (and kind of mimicked, to be honest).”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the artistic quality and variety, noting that it still looks great in 2024, others feel the visuals are somewhat dated and not on par with contemporary standards. Despite this, many acknowledge the effort put into the game's art and animations.
- “The game, the art, the spells, the visuals, the animations, the music are all top notch.”
- “Graphics: 5/5, it is still quite varied, and looks great even in 2024.”
- “Now I see the story from a new perspective in a different stage of life and can appreciate the graphics back then better.”
- “The sound and visuals are a bit dated, but they put in a lot of effort to make them sound and look good.”
- “These graphics shouldn't be highly praised compared to other games.”
- “It's important that you need to ignore graphics.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The music in the game is highly praised, with users noting its captivating quality and timeless appeal, even in 2024. Many appreciate the integration of music with gameplay and visuals, highlighting it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Additionally, the availability of mods for upgraded remixes further enriches the musical aspect.
- “I was instantly drawn to the gameplay, art, dialog, music, and story.”
- “The game, the art, the spells, the visuals, the animations, the music are all top notch.”
- “Music: 5/5, even in 2024 it still sounds great; the workshop also has mods to use upgraded remixes of the old OST.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The gameplay is initially engaging and diverse, featuring a mix of physical and magical attacks, but it tends to become repetitive over time, leading to a mixed overall impression with a rating of 3/5.
- “I was instantly drawn to the gameplay, art, dialogue, music, and story.”
- “Lives up to the hype, though gameplay gets stale.”
- “Gameplay: 3/5, the early game was very diverse, where you use a mix of physical and magical attacks.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a key element, blending well with an engaging story that features twists, tragedy, and likable characters. Players appreciate the funny dialogues and scenes, which contribute to an overall experience that elicits both laughter and emotional depth.
- “The story is insanely good; it will have you laughing, it will have you crying, and it will keep you playing all night.”
- “Interesting story with its twists, tragedy, likable characters, and often funny dialogues and scenes.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players universally express that the game elicits profound emotional responses, with many feeling deeply devastated or intensely engaged, suggesting that such reactions are a testament to the game's impactful storytelling and character development.
- “If you weren't either devastated or extremely emotionally involved with this game, then I would question whether or not you're a real human, because that would be impossible.”
- “The emotional depth of this game left me in tears; it truly resonated with my own experiences.”
- “Every character's journey tugged at my heartstrings, making me feel a profound connection to their struggles and triumphs.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that battle shouts enhance the grinding experience by adding excitement and personality to otherwise monotonous battles, making the repetitive nature of grinding feel more engaging.