The Legend of Tianding

The Legend of Tianding is a short game, but it provides such a memorable experience that makes it difficult to wait for the next title from the team behind it.

93%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

stability, character development

94% User Score Based on 534 reviews

Critic Score 88%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

The Legend of Tianding is a single player arcade hack and slash game with fantasy, drama and historical themes. It was developed by Neon Doctrine and was released on November 1, 2021. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

The Legend of Tianding is a 2D sidescrolling action-adventure game set in 1920s Taiwan. You play as Liao Tianding, a legendary hero fighting against colonial rule and corruption. Utilize Tianding's acrobatic abilities, martial arts prowess, and stealth skills to outwit your foes in this thrilling historical journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 534 reviews

story102 positive mentions

stability10 negative mentions

The game features a unique setting and story based on Taiwanese history during the Japanese occupation, which is both engaging and educational.
The combat system is fluid and satisfying, with a variety of moves and the ability to steal weapons from enemies, making for dynamic gameplay.
The art style is beautifully rendered in a comic book aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's vibrant world.

The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 4-10 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some side quests can feel repetitive and lack depth, often requiring players to backtrack without clear guidance.
The difficulty spikes in boss battles can be frustrating, especially for players who may find the regular enemies too easy in comparison.

story
316 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The story of the game is a straightforward yet engaging tale centered around a Taiwanese folk hero, Liao Tian Ding, presented through vibrant comic-book-style cutscenes. While some players appreciate its cultural depth and twists, others find it predictable and lacking in character development, with side quests that can disrupt the pacing. Overall, the narrative is well-received for its artistic presentation and historical context, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “The developers crafted this game with care by telling a legend story of a Taiwanese Robin Hood, Liao Tian Ding, in a comic-styled graphical presentation on top of a good set of characters that speak both Japanese and Chinese, portraying some historical accuracy and in consequence giving a more immersive experience.”
- “The story is well-written for a small game like this and it may surprise you with its twist.”
- “Overall, it's a short but sweet story about Taiwan and Japanese colonizers there with big Robin Hood theming.”
- “The story is mediocre, with no depth to any of its characters and multiple plot points that are brought up and never get resolved.”
- “Only thing I would preach against is that the story sometimes drags the pace of the game; I still appreciate what they were trying to do, with all the culture, comics, and acting.”
- “The plot may seem cheesy and Tianding may lack character development, but I invite new players to recognize that the legend of Tianding is not a story about how Tianding becomes a hero.”
gameplay
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The gameplay is a blend of engaging combat and platforming mechanics, highlighted by a unique weapon-stealing feature that adds depth to the experience. While some players appreciate the fluidity and challenge, others find the mechanics derivative and repetitive, lacking in complexity and variety. Overall, the game is praised for its art style and immersive setting, though it may not break new ground in game design.
- “While this game didn’t break new grounds in game design, the well-balanced, tried and true gameplay elements worked well to deliver a pleasant, exciting action platformer experience.”
- “Amazing art, fluid gameplay that never seems to get old, beautifully drawn environments, a setting I rarely see that isn't exploitative or gross, but showcases the beauty of the art and culture the game is based on.”
- “The combat system is responsive and flows very well, with a weapon-stealing mechanic that allows you to steal the weapon of virtually every normal enemy unit as you progress through the stage, you also learn special kung fu moves that complement your arsenal of skills.”
- “The gameplay is fine, but it's so derivative of other games (the Guacamelee games in particular) that it just feels like a worse version of them.”
- “That said though, once you get through 3-4 hours of the game you've seen everything it has to offer in terms of gameplay.”
- “A very charming and lovingly made game that's outstanding in every aspect except the repetitive gameplay.”
graphics
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
33%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning comic book aesthetic, vibrant colors, and smooth animations, reminiscent of classic manga and manhua styles. Reviewers highlight the unique cultural presentation and immersive visuals that enhance the storytelling, making the game visually appealing and engaging. Despite minor glitches, the overall artistic design and character animations contribute to a captivating gaming experience that stands out in the genre.
- “With its stunning, vibrant backgrounds and colorful graphics reminiscent of manga art, the game seamlessly intertwines fast-paced action with elements of some light metroidvania-style exploration and side-questing around the city.”
- “The game’s manhua-style action and cutscenes, and the beautifully rendered 2.5D graphics bring this comic book tale of Liao Tianding to life.”
- “Where this shines is the truly gorgeous visuals, with a 3D/2D blend and a color palette like rough paper; the Legend of Tian-Ding really nails a look that some other games only attempt to capture.”
- “Graphics cons:”
- “Even then, the comic-style visuals are remarkable and really help convey the story which, by the way, can sometimes get politically spicy and feel like propaganda, even if it doesn't really make the game less enjoyable.”
- “The visuals are stylized to look like comics from the beginning of the 20th century.”
music
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
46%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its vibrant blend of modern and traditional Taiwanese elements that enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some tracks, particularly boss themes, stand out as memorable, others are considered forgettable. Overall, the soundtrack is described as enjoyable and well-suited to the game's art style and narrative, contributing positively to the immersive experience.
- “The music, story, and gameplay all complement one another!”
- “The game also has a nice soundtrack which, together with the graphics, creates a good atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is crazy good and has many creative metal and math rock influences.”
- “The music is fairly forgettable and not a single track comes to mind when I think back on the game, aside from two of the boss themes.”
- “Oh, and you can also get an achievement for listening through the most tedious song in all of gaming.”
- “It's like the video game version of Christian rock songs where they take a classic pop song and just replace every other word with 'Lord' or 'Jesus.'”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a blend of modern political memes and Taiwanese folklore, offering a mix of clever dialogue and lighthearted moments that resonate well with those familiar with the references. While some humor may come off as childlike, the overall tone effectively balances heavy themes with charm, particularly through the character of Liao, whose trickster persona adds levity to serious topics. Boss fights are noted for their over-the-top hilarity, contributing to a memorable and engaging experience.
- “The game is based on Taiwanese folklore and there are lots of very modern political memes inserted in between, humorous if you get it; otherwise, still excellent in dialogue and voice acting.”
- “The enemies are all distinctive, and the bosses are particularly memorable and hilariously over-the-top.”
- “The boss fights are funny, challenging, and over the top in a great way.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players report a mixed experience regarding stability, with some encountering persistent bugs, particularly in specific quests and the train map. While many appreciate the game's graphics and aesthetics, they note the presence of glitches that can detract from the experience, though most agree that these issues are not game-breaking.
- “There was one quest in particular which seemed buggy; in the end, I still finished it somehow, but this problem seemed to persist for many players.”
- “This game has overwhelmingly positive reviews right now, but I've kind of had an average and buggy experience overall.”
- “The train map was kind of buggy.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and vibrant graphics. Reviewers note its nostalgic ties to 90s Hong Kong cinema and a passionate setting reminiscent of the Yakuza series, making it a standout experience that resonates with players. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both fresh and educational, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The game also has a nice soundtrack which, together with the graphics, creates a good atmosphere.”
- “Gorgeous pulp-comic brawler with a really fresh, clearly passionate setting and atmosphere.”
- “Much like the Yakuza series, the developers are dedicated to bringing the sights and atmosphere directly to the audience in a way that is engaging and immersive.”
- “The only reason I bought this game was that it gave me mad nostalgia because of its atmosphere straight from the 90s Hong Kong movies I grew up watching.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
Character development in "The Legend of Tianding" is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of character arcs and depth, particularly among supporting characters who serve minimal functions. While the game features appealing art and music, it fails to deliver a compelling narrative that fosters character growth. Overall, players are encouraged to appreciate the game for its aesthetic qualities rather than its storytelling.
- “There's no character development, no arc and most of the supporting characters serve only 1 or 2 functions.”
- “The plot may seem cheesy and Tianding may lack character development, but I invite new players to recognize that The Legend of Tianding is not a story about how Tianding becomes a hero.”
- “I really liked the backdrops and scenery, not so much the character designs and some of the animations.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, primarily due to a lack of diverse side activities beyond upgrading and redoing levels for side quests and currency. However, once players reach a certain strength, grinding for yen/sen becomes easier, even in hardcore mode. Additionally, there is a humorous achievement tied to enduring a particularly tedious song.
- “Not too bad, but a little tedious, because there are not many side activities besides buying upgrades.”
- “Just requires re-doing some levels for side quests and money grinding.”
- “Oh, and you can also get an achievement for listening through the most tedious song in all of gaming.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game demonstrates excellent optimization, consistently achieving a solid 60fps at 1080p on systems with an i5 11th gen and RTX 3060 mobile. However, some users have reported potential optimization bugs that may affect performance in specific scenarios.
- “- Performance: excellent (solid 60fps at 1080p. My system: i5 11th gen, RTX 3060 mobile)”
- “- Performance: excellent (solid 60fps at 1080p. My system: i5 11th gen, RTX 3060 mobile)”
- “Probably just a weird optimization bug.”
- “Probably just a weird optimization bug.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is marked by its exploration of dark themes, including socioeconomic issues, racism, and discrimination, which adds depth to the narrative. While certain moments aim to convey hope and inspiration, they can be perceived differently by modern players, sometimes overshadowing the intended positivity with a sense of danger.
- “The story can get dark; it has depth, touching on socioeconomic problems, racism, and discrimination.”
- “It's supposed to be a wholesome moment where Tianding inspires hope in the local boy, but from the perspective of a modern gamer, in that very moment, Tianding seemed to be way more dangerous to Taiwanese people than greedy pro-Japanese businessmen were.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
While the boss fights are enjoyable and challenging, the overall shortness of the story limits the game's replayability, leaving players wanting more content to revisit.
- “But the story is a bit short, and replayability is not good.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game introduces a unique steal mechanic, adding an interesting twist to the overall experience. However, the reviews do not provide further details on how this mechanic impacts the game's monetization strategy.

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88%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

The Legend of Tianding Review
The Legend of Tianding is a short game, but it provides such a memorable experience that makes it difficult to wait for the next title from the team behind it.
Impulsegamer.com
88%

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4h Median play time

6h Average play time

3-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Legend of Tianding is a arcade hack and slash game with fantasy, drama and historical themes.

The Legend of Tianding is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, iPhone and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing The Legend of Tianding.

The Legend of Tianding was released on November 1, 2021.

The Legend of Tianding was developed by Neon Doctrine.

The Legend of Tianding has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

The Legend of Tianding is a single player game.

Similar games include Dust: An Elysian Tail, The Vagrant, Bladed fury, ANNO: Mutationem, Outland and others.

The Legend of Tianding

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