As a hot track in the past two years, open-world games have been sought after by powerful manufacturers, cutting-edge manufacturers and even start-up studios. On TapTap alone, there are nearly 100 related products under the open world label, covering two-dimensional, martial arts, fantasy, dress-up, racing, and space, among which there are more than 10 projects under research under the name of "codename" and "project".
To this extent, in addition to lamenting the high "production capacity" of the domestic game industry and the cruelty of stock competition in the second half, the author is more worried about the high elimination rate under the "homogeneous competition". In fact, after two years of being online, the C position active in the open world track is still "those few", if you can't get out of your own characteristic path, you will inevitably face the end of being unexpected.
So the question then arises, how to avoid becoming the "sand" of the big waves and making yourself an immovable "gold", "Sword and Fairy World" combines the core characteristics of Sword and Fairy IP and gives its own solution - as the first attempt of Sword and Fairy IP in the open world, the development team has derived a unique Xianxia Palu gameplay through in-depth exploration of the concept of "animism", which has brought new possibilities to the open world track and even the future of Sword and Fairy IP.
On October 15th, "Sword and Fairy World" ushered in the fourth test called "Animism", and the day before, the pre-download of the game rushed to the first place in the three major lists of the TapTap platform as soon as it was opened, which shows the expectations and enthusiasm of players for this "final test".
As the last survey of the official title of "final test", how the game will use the concept of "animism" to support the core of Xianxia, how to tell the story of Xianjian in the open world, and how to make multiplayer social content shine in the open world are also the three most noteworthy questions in this "final test".
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As a classic IP with a history of 29 years, the word "fairy sword" carries the feelings of countless players. From the system, culture to the character narrative, although the works of the past dynasties have their own characteristics, the root of the book always lies in how to interpret the spiritual core of the word "fairy sword". And the answer given by "Sword and Fairy World" is "all things have spirits". The game revolves around the core concept of "animism", innovatively launches the "Xianxia Palu Open World" gameplay, and completes a round of large-scale upgrades and iterations in this final test, from subduing all things for my use, advancing to igniting the spirituality of all things to a new life, "Sword and Fairy World" has completed the presentation of "animism" in the true sense, and the spiritual core of "Sword and Fairy" also has a "soul interpretation" from connotation to extension.
From the prologue, you can feel the full "aura" of "Sword and Fairy World". Whether it's meeting the flower spirit girl Shikaling who can transform into shape, coming into contact with all kinds of spirits in the village under its leadership, or unlocking the wooden sword to gain the ability to control spiritual power, it seems to tell that this is a vivid and unique world, and everything really has a "spirit".
As an important embodiment of the "animist" worldview, and also an important component of the "Xianxia Palu" gameplay, the word "Royal Spirit", which makes old IP fans teary-eyed and new fans ecstatic, runs through the game. From the moment he got a wooden sword, the player who was the protagonist opened the "Pandora's Box" that danced with the "spirit", and it was out of control ever since.
To put it simply, this ability allows players to control everything in the world, for example, during battle, you can arrange spirits to come on the field to assist in the battle, and the five spirit traits to which they belong can also trigger the five spirit reactions in battle. For example, the Water Spirit Element of the "Little Water Spirit" can be combined with the Thunder Spirit Elemental attack of the "Long Ming" on the field to trigger the state of mutual restraint and deal additional damage. In addition, you can also choose to possess the "water spirit" to complete the water battles that the character would not otherwise be able to play; Possess the body of the "bird and beast" to fly and dodge attacks; You can even attach yourself to a large boss in a quest and engage in a battle of the century with another boss.
On the basis of maintaining a sense of coolness, "Sword and Fairy World" also rarely guarantees the realism and rationality of the "Royal Spirit". To this end, the game has introduced a probability mechanism, in the process of acceptance, the lower the blood bar, the higher the success rate, even if it is the same type of spirit, qualifications, skills are also different, all kinds of details can make people feel the "realism" of this animistic world, "Sword and Fairy World" is a complete understanding of the gameplay of the spirit.
In addition to the spirit control gameplay, which also belongs to the framework of the spirit control system, the "spirit transformation" gameplay that has been reflected in the three tests is also impressive. For example, when looking for hidden elements in the scene, players can "transform into spirits" on the broom spirit and discover important props under the fallen leaves; In the multiplayer competitive Tibetan Lai Lai gameplay, use "Turning Spirits" to avoid tracking; There are even some hidden entrances where the player has to possess a dwarf spirit to pass due to the protagonist's height "limit". In the experience of some plots in the game, it is also necessary to use the "spirit" gameplay to achieve it. For example, in a small plot and interactive design of Dingbaowu, when the player approaches the NPC in his own form, their conversation stops abruptly, but when he attaches himself to a nearby "chicken", he can hear the full dialogue and plot. Such an in-depth depiction of the gameplay of "Spirit" also allows the exploration in the open world to have more content performance, which will be much more brilliant than the presentation of the traditional open world.
This final test also added a new "Infused Spirit" mechanic, further expanding the boundaries of "Xianxia Palu" gameplay. To put it simply, "infusion" is to inject spiritual power into all things, mountains, rivers, lakes and seas, birds and beasts can all open "spiritual wisdom", and even in the case of sufficient aura, through the player's ignition, they can also transform into the world. These lit artifacts can even learn immortal skills, and accompany players in big world exploration and battles, becoming your reliable companions. Not only that, but "Infusion" has also derived more abundant combat gameplay. During battle, players can summon up to three Spirits to fight alongside your main Spirit, and trigger a variety of bonding effects to derive more strategic content.
From the spirit of the royal spirit, the spirit of the spirit to the spirit of the soul, from a macro perspective, "Sword and Fairy World" continues to improve the richness of the gameplay of "Xianxia Palu", and at the same time, it has built a gameplay cycle in which various systems are interconnected and mutually inclusive under the concept of "animism"; From a micro point of view, what players get is a gameplay experience that is different from the traditional Xianxia open world. It can be said that based on the "animist" Xianxia Palu gameplay, the differentiated path taken by "Sword and Fairy World" has handed over a satisfactory answer sheet for the Sword and Fairy IP and even the open world.
In addition, the "Imperial Spirit" system also builds a huge set of home gameplay in addition to combat and exploration, for example, players can return to the home system of "Sword and Fairy World" to rest for a while. In the home scenario, spirits can refine elixirs, mine ores, cultivate spirit plants, etc., so that spirits can help players in ways other than combat.
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Let's say you're a seasoned veteran and when you see an "IP adaptation" game, your thoughts are:
I believe that there are not a few people who choose A or B, after all, after the unremitting efforts of countless developers, there are already many fans who have been heartbroken by the adaptation. Based on this, "Sword and Fairy World" dares to break away from the narrative axis of the series and tell a story of "Sword and Fairy" that is both familiar and unfamiliar in the open world, which is commendable.
Building a stage that conforms to the temperament of "Oriental Romantic Fantasy" is the first step in telling a good story. The 9 orthodox sequels of the Sword and Fairy series have left many classic scenes worth inheriting. In the game, you can pay homage to the legendary land of Shilipo, revisit Suzhou City and the hometown of Linjiabao, board Xianling Island and come to the lotus pond, the place where the dream began, and reproduce the high-definition of the sentimental attractions, with technical power beyond the past, to complete the beautiful scenery missing in the memory, which constitutes the author's initial impression of "Sword and Fairy World".
On the basis of respecting the classics, "Sword and Fairy World" also cleverly integrates the elements of "animism" - embedding the story of the spirit into the plot line, telling the beautiful story of people and people, people and spirits, and spirits and spirits entangled and relying on each other. While injecting fresh blood, it also provides richer performance in the presentation of the plot of Fairy Sword and the expression of romantic and moving emotions.
At the same time, the narrative technique of "Sword and Fairy World" also retains the classic narrative mode of Sword and Fairy IP. For example, the latest branch line "Cloud Island" tells the story of "Cloud Island", which was once the warm residence of the god general Shui Bi and the demon general Xifeng, which became ethereal after the owner left. In terms of narrative style, the suspense of the fairy sword theme is fully retained - from the different reactions of the villagers to Yunzhong Island at the beginning, such as some villagers regard Yunzhong Island as a fairy trace, while the girl holds a grudge because her husband was captured, to finally unveil the mystery of Yunzhong Island. Everything happens unexpectedly, but the logic is tight, and the story is cohesive and moving. This kind of plot design is a microcosm of the overall "Sword and Fairy World", with the ingenious plot structure and rich world view, players can still enjoy it even if they free their hands and let the characters find their way automatically, just reading the plot story.
In addition to retaining a strong sense of suspense, "Sword and Fairy World" adopts a dual-perspective narrative approach, first telling the story of Yunzhong Island from the perspective of a bystander. As the plot progresses, we will enter the game ourselves, solve layers of mysteries in the island in the clouds, learn the bitter story of the lovers of gods and demons, and listen to the legend of protecting thousands of creatures along the coast. Through the three-dimensional integration of levels, scenes, and plots, we will be fully immersed in the story of the island in the clouds, and with the exploration of the plot like a cocoon, the mystery of the "island in the clouds" has finally been revealed.
For "Sword and Fairy World", a good stage is only the foundation, and whether it can bring users an excellent narrative experience is the foundation that determines whether it is good or bad. The reason why the Sword and Fairy IP is called a classic of a generation is that the excellent narrative that has touched countless players has contributed a lot. However, the open world is like a narrative black hole, and even triple-A masterpieces such as "Assassin's Creed" and "Fallout" will inevitably have many canned missions that are helpless to make up for a long time. In this regard, "Sword and Fairy World" focuses on the main line to develop the narrative rhythm, and completes the shaping of key characters through fragmented content. Some non-core characters, such as NPCs living in cities and villages, have established a chain of social relationships through the introduction of AI, so that we, as players, can see a living world.
Through the way that the main line branches and branches are scattered, "Sword and Fairy World" realizes that almost every chapter has a wonderful narrative. For example, in the first chapter of the story of the conspiracy to destroy the Chaoshengmon, with the investigation of a series of events in Pumpkin Village, the protagonist will rescue his friends with Pumpkin Essence. However, after destroying the enemy, the final self-sacrifice of the pumpkin essence in the face of the unskilled partner gives the player a strong impression that "all things are animistic and all things are sentient".
In the personal side story of Wang Xiaohu, the protagonist of Sword and Fairy 2, the magic knife and Wang Xiaohu's childhood memories are used as the starting point to depict the story of his magic knife again and the conspiracy to stop the spread of demonic energy. The scene begins to recall the past when Wang Xiaohu practiced swords when he was young, and the vague scenes in the memories of many players finally converge with the help of the space of the new big world, and the feelings in the memory are reshaped based on the actual landscape, and in an instant, they travel back to the afternoon in front of the box monitor.
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In the domestic game market, due to the needs of long-term operation and commercialization, multiplayer social elements have become a part that developers cannot ignore. In response to the social "pain points" of the open world that favor single-player gameplay, "Sword and Fairy World" has innovated on the basis of the social gameplay of the traditional big world, and built a new social model similar to a community gathering place, while finding a delicate balance between single-player content and multiplayer experience, through the pet attributes of "Xianxia Palu", it triggers the driving force of players' social interaction, and also adds a lot of color to the overall social gameplay of the game. For example, players can socialize with spirits in the multiplayer area, as well as trade and collect rare spirits obtained from the group. Whether it is using spirits as a "social partner" or actively socializing for the sake of collecting, this down-to-earth experience that is infinitely close to the reality of raising pets also makes the multiplayer world of "Sword and Fairy World" more distinctive.
In addition to integrating pet socialization, in terms of gameplay and social interaction, "Sword and Fairy World" has launched team content such as "Lianxing Maze" and "Thousands of Tribulations", so that players who like multi-person interaction can experience the excitement of fighting on the same screen. In these plays, players can invite others to take on challenges and ask teammates for help when they can't beat them, which not only facilitates communication between players, but also creates icebreakers between strangers. This multiplayer dungeon mechanic further develops the relationship between players, forming a virtuous social cycle and deepening the connection between people. In addition, Sword and Fairy World has also designed gameplay such as four-player dungeons and ten-player large team dungeons, allowing players to fight against strong enemies with friends and complete challenges together.
It can be said that pet-driven socialization and gameplay-driven socialization will undoubtedly bring players a more immersive and interactive social experience, which also distinguishes "Sword and Fairy World" from other Xianxia games. In addition, the game also places interactive mechanisms in the multiplayer exploration area, gathering players through fun mini-games, and driving them to rub more sparks of friendship in the process of solving puzzles/solving levels, so as to strengthen the emotional connection between people in the social framework. Not only that, but the game also adds an expression system and multiplayer interactive actions, adding more vitality to this classic IP, and at the same time injecting more fun and warmth into social networking.
Overall, although many games try to connect users through social gameplay, Sword and Fairy World has added social elements that complement pets and gameplay in a pioneering way in the open world, which is mainly a single-player experience, becoming the first batch of products to achieve a "connected" experience in the open world, which also makes the social gameplay of Sword and Fairy World more unique and innovative than other similar products.
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On the whole, "Sword and Fairy World" has a considerable degree of completion in terms of world view and gameplay. To the delight of players and the trembling of friends, "Sword and Fairy World" is still adding chips despite holding the "King Bomb", such as maintaining close cooperation with technology manufacturers such as MTK, and adding mobile light-chasing technology to the Dimensity chip platform, so as to create more realistic light and shadow effects.
While pursuing technical iteration, "Sword and Fairy World" seems to have solved the problem of volume in advance, such as actively joining the REP platform of the TapTap platform for resource replacement, as a phenomenal game with 120w reservations on the platform, its cost savings are self-evident. The cost saved is fed back into the game, which undoubtedly brings more confidence to the follow-up public beta of "Sword and Fairy World".
epilogue
As an important test before the official open beta, the final test of "Animism" provides a vivid and complete experience of exploring the open world of Xianxia Palu - from the rich spirit gameplay derived from "Animism", to the stories of different creatures integrated into the plot narrative, and then to the down-to-earth social "cute pet pair", by deepening the differentiated "Xianxia Palu" gameplay and the concept of "Animism", the game has verified a new direction of differentiation for the open world industry.
At the same time, the success of "Sword and Fairy World" also indicates another possibility of IP adaptation of games: the game does not have to be limited to restoring specific characters or events, but should focus on the reconstruction of the world view. By maximizing the cultural atmosphere, freedom and interaction rules of the world, players can naturally feel the feelings in it with a detailed design. Under the influence of a rich atmosphere, the emotional core of the IP can be naturally revealed without being deliberately emphasized.
Today, "Sword and Fairy World" is becoming an important driving force to promote the "Sword and Fairy" IP to complete its gorgeous turnaround, which also symbolizes that the 29-year-old national classic IP is about to enter a new milestone. We will also continue to pay attention to the follow-up impact of "Sword and Fairy World" on the game IP and the open world industry, and bring you the latest reports.