Xuan-Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond the Mountains
- July 25, 2023
- SOFTSTAR ENTERTAINMENT
Get on SteamIn "Xuan-Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond the Mountains," play as a Frankish knight, Septem, on a turn-based RPG journey for the Invincible Arts of War from Venice to Tang Empire's China. Experience a rich blend of Western and Eastern cultures as you navigate power disputes, ambitions of the dark lord Satan, and legends of the Xuan-Yuan Sword. This game brings together a symphony of diverse civilizations and timelines in one epic adventure.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a rich and engaging story that blends elements from both Eastern and Western cultures, making it a unique experience.
- The graphics and music are beautifully crafted, maintaining a nostalgic charm while enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The remastered version includes quality of life improvements that make gameplay more accessible and enjoyable, appealing to both new players and fans of the original.
- The English translation is often poor, with noticeable machine translation errors that can break immersion and understanding of the story.
- Gameplay can feel unbalanced, with enemies being either too easy or frustratingly difficult, leading to a lack of challenge in many encounters.
- Some technical issues persist, such as cutscenes that appear poorly upscaled and occasional crashes, which detract from the overall experience.
- story48 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its unique blend of Eastern and Western elements, following a young man's quest to obtain a secret method for winning wars, featuring rich twists and mythological events, including a confrontation with Lord Satan. While the narrative is engaging and nostalgic, some players noted pacing issues and poorly detailed questlines that can detract from the experience, particularly in the latter stages of the game. Overall, the story is considered the standout aspect, with character development and lore that keep players invested, despite some flaws in execution.
“Story-wise, this has truly one of the craziest stories I have ever seen, in the best possible way.”
“It's an old game, but this story of a young man's journey from the West to East is a kind of unique one, whose like I don't think I've encountered before - a unique blend of elements from both East and West. I wouldn't quite call this a wuxia as such, but it has some elements from there.”
“The story, rich in twists and turns, involves fantastical and mythological events, with the main antagonist being Lord Satan himself.”
“The story really drags once you arrive in China, and the final boss really punishes you for not completing missable questlines, which are poorly detailed, some of which require another playthrough once failed (I'm looking at you, Salda merchant).”
“One problem I had with the story, which I don't think is just a translation error, is that you find out the big bad super early in the game, and you really have to suspend your disbelief as to why the characters just let him roam around and do what he wants to do the entire game.”
“It's an old game, but this story of a young man's journey from the west to east is a kind of unique one whose like I don't think I've encountered before - a kind of unique blend of elements from both east and west.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a traditional JRPG with unique mechanics such as the spirit fusion pot, allowing players to capture and fuse enemies. While the game offers a smoother experience and engaging exploration, it is noted for its lack of challenge, particularly in random encounters, which may disappoint veterans of the genre expecting more difficulty. Overall, the controls are smooth, and the game is visually appealing, making it a worthwhile experience despite its easier gameplay.
“One of the mechanics unique to the series is the spirit fusion pot, which allows you to both capture enemies during combat (which you can then summon to help you) and to fuse not only items but also captured enemies too.”
“Also find it interesting talking to every character in the city player visits; each has something to say about the area, current situation, or gives quests and riddles. While it may lack challenging gameplay, it's interesting to explore areas, talk to people in the story world, capture different demons, and perform fusion. Using the controller is very smooth with no issues.”
“I felt really satisfied with the ending, and it had some neat mechanics like the quizzes and monster-catching elements for abilities. The game looks great, even though it seems to be an old game revamped and translated for Steam; it's definitely worth the price.”
“However, I honestly preferred the vastly easier version of gameplay because I've already done the 100% completion on the older, much more difficult version.”
“However, the Chinese text becomes random characters, which is obviously unacceptable from an RPG gameplay standpoint.”
“Playing this game for the first time, I don't know how good the older version was when it came out, but the gameplay is easy. Only during boss fights does the player have to do something else or get killed, unlike random encounters which are not challenging. Old players or those expecting challenging encounters like in Persona or other games in the series will be disappointed.”
- music14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to evoke nostalgia and enhance the gaming experience, with many noting its thematic adaptability as players explore different environments. While some sound effects are considered average, the overall soundtrack is described as fantastic and integral to the game's beauty and storytelling.
“Just listening to the music brings back memories of my childhood.”
“As you traverse the in-game world, the music changes to fit the environment thematically.”
“The pre-rendered backgrounds and the character sprites make this game beautiful, together with an excellent soundtrack and a storyline that keeps you hooked till the end.”
“Kojima said that we get used to graphics sooner or later, and despite its graphics never leaving me indifferent at all, the music also failed to impress. Talking about mechanics, we can collect monsters as well as do some cooking, complete quests, and solve riddles, but the music doesn't enhance the experience.”
“The music in the game feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during long play sessions.”
“While the game has a lot of potential, the music does not contribute to the atmosphere and often feels out of place.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their quality, with many reviewers noting that they remain impressive and do not require a remaster. The 2D art style is particularly appreciated, appealing to fans of that aesthetic, while some players acknowledge that they may become accustomed to the visuals over time. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the gaming experience.
“The visuals of the game are great; there was no need for a remaster here.”
“Kojima said that we get used to graphics sooner than later, and despite its graphics, it never left me indifferent at all.”
“Kojima said that we get used to graphics sooner than later, and despite its graphics, they never left me indifferent at all. The music is also noteworthy, but when talking about mechanics, we can collect monsters, engage in some cooking, and tackle various quests and riddles aside from the story.”
“Art and graphics still hold up if you are into the 2D look.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally appreciate games that avoid excessive grinding, as it allows for a more enjoyable experience without the need for extensive farming to complete the game. However, some titles still require significant time investment for special rewards, leading to mixed feelings about the grinding aspect.
“We're talking hundreds if not thousands of hours of grinding for certain 'special rewards'.”
“We're talking hundreds if not thousands of hours of grinding for certain 'special rewards'.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with players appreciating the depth of the story and the growth of characters, which remains engaging even after many years. The combination of narrative and character progression contributes significantly to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a deeply touching experience, highlighting its unique emotional impact compared to other games they have played.
“It was a touching experience, and this game was nothing like I had played before.”
