古龙风云录 - Gu Long Fengyun Lu is a premium action game inspired by the works of Gu Long, the Taiwanese novelist and filmmaker known for his wuxia works, or fantasy-infused martial arts works. In this role-playing game, players explore a magical version of ancient China. You explore mountains, lakes, and rivers as you train yourself. Meet different heroes and villains from Long’s works.

Featuring a 3D visual approach common among MMORPGs, 古龙风云录 - Gu Long Fengyun Lu fits right in for fans of the subgenre, aside from the fact that it features turn-based combat and a couple of optimization issues.

Experience the world of Gu Long

As mentioned, 古龙风云录 - Gu Long Fengyun Lu revolves around various works created by its namesake writer and filmmaker. Those different worlds cross over in this experience, giving you access to prime locations like the capital city of Luoyang, the solemn Shaolin temple, and even the exquisite Peacock Villa. The map, set designs, and even the user interface all create an immersive experience of being in ancient China.

Also, a chief difference in this game is its use of turn-based combat. Most of the exploration and interactions are in full 3D. On the plus side, it gives the game an additional strategic element while reducing the need to rely on players’ ability to mash buttons or just buy their way through the game. It also features a strength-weakness system, adding more strategic elements to learn and enjoy.

As mentioned, optimization issues make it challenging to enjoy the game. For example, movement is intuitive with WASD, but there’s no option for moving the camera angle in real time. This makes for awkward views in the game. Another major hindrance is that the game is only available in Mandarin, with no other language localizations available. This makes it inaccessible for non-speakers.

A promising game that needs more work

In a nutshell, 古龙风云录 - Gu Long Fengyun Lu is a great opportunity to present Gu Long’s works to the rest of the world. It perfectly visualizes the locations that appear in his works, and the overall feel of the game is already designed to pull players into this immersive world. A few reworks on the optimization issues, plus additional language support, and this game should reach wider markets.