Xuan-Yuan Sword VII Reviews
Xuan-Yuan Sword VII has promise, but it fails in delivering a consistent and manageable experience. In meshing hack and slash games like Dark Souls, Bayonetta, and any mid-2000 mid-card action game out there, this action RPG feels like a hybrid that doesn’t know what to excel & focus on.
It’s a shame that this game locks what good content it has behind a boredom-wall of turgid cutscenes and pointless, button mashing combat. It isn’t a long game, with around 20 hours of content, but it feels like it could have been a stronger contender if a lot had been cut and a more interesting, better paced story had been presented as the hook. Everything it does well can be found better elsewhere, and, while I haven’t played it myself, the reception to the series’ own first translated title The Gate of the Firmament is far, far more positive
An ancient Chinese character tale rather than an epic, Xuan Yuan 7 is a linear RPG that takes inspiration liberally from the best games around, but has no idea how to implement anything it’s stolen. Combat is farcically easy, systems are barely explained, puzzles feel decades out of date and there’s that stamina bar that does nothing. Sometimes there’s a reason you haven’t heard of a series.
Xuan Yuan Sword 7’s biggest sin is that it’s boring. Really boring. It might look nice, sound great, and be steeped in culture, but actually playing is closer to a chore than anything else. It’s also really long, coming in at 20+ hours. The gameplay on offer here can barely sustain a game half – or even a quarter – of that length. This is scratching at the heels of mediocrity, and it’s not with the time.
Xuan Yuan Sword 7 reminds me a lot of why people dislike trailers. You could easily watch the launch trailer for this and get the wrong impression. Everything shown happens, it’s just behind a couple of hour commitment and sandwiched between an underwhelming story and an equally underwhelming world. If you’re willing to invest the time and give Xuan Yuan Sword 7 a good try, it can potentially be a good game. However, for everyone else, there are better adventures out there.
Xuan-Yuan Sword VII suffers from a weak story, and a poor translation. Despite this, there is a lot to love for ARPG enthusiasts.
Overall, Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is a completely mediocre game. That isn't to say it can't be fun or doesn't have strong moments, but somehow, none of what it does really stands out. It's interesting to see a long-running franchise finally get its chance to shine outside of its home country, but Xuan Yuan Sword 7 doesn't do enough to set it apart from the crowd. There are a lot of interesting ideas here, and I look forward to seeing what the next entry shows off.
Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is a decently solid action RPG that stands out with its rich narrative, deeply intertwined with Chinese history and mythology. The game’s masterful blend of historical elements with fantastical storytelling crafts a unique and compelling experience that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Xuan Yuan Sword 7 offers players a journey filled with mystery, adventure, and the timeless struggle between chaos and order. Its narrative depth and cultural richness make it a memorable experience for fans of the genre and those intrigued by ancient Chinese lore.
Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is the series' second entry in the West, denoting a clear and concrete growth of its peculiarities. For us it's clear that the saga is on the right path to becoming a heavyweight, with the ability to easily face the most recognized RPG's that are deeply enshrined in the video game market. Certainly there are some flaws, but overall they have little impact on the transmitted experience. With a pleasurable plot to discover and surpass, its virtues left us delighted and clinging to the command!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Although there’s a lot to like about this latest release, some key issues still keep it from truly excelling and gaining as strong of a foothold in the west as it would otherwise be capable of.
Xuan Yuan Sword 7 tells a compelling story with gorgeous scenery and loveable characters, but it’s difficult to recommend to just anybody. I’m usually not one to knock game length, but a linear 15 – 20 hour experience for $49.99 is a harder sale than most. If you prefer story and style over combat and gameplay, Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is a no-brainer, its focus on familial bonds between brother and sister absolutely heartwarming. If you’re looking for a little more action in your ARPGs, Xuan Yuan Sword 7 probably won’t give you the satisfaction you’re expecting.
I had plenty of fun with Xuan Yuan Sword 7. Though I wish the story would have been a little more engaging, the fun yet straightforward combat and exploration kept me going until the end, that said the game does suffer from some lousy difficulty spikes and forgotten mechanics that are introduced early on. It's the seventh core title in the franchise, and I'm hoping it's not the last one to make it to western shores.
Xuan-Yuan Sword VII offers a dramatic story based on chinese mythology. Of course, the drabness of battles and long roads to some places can be tiring in the final part of the game, but in general, Xuan-Yuan Sword VII deserves an attention.
Review in Russian | Read full review
So overall while Xuan Yuan Sword 7 doesn’t really do anything new mechanically, it’s still enough of a solidly built title especially if you’ve been needing a break from the open worlds that have been all the rage of late. With a duration of a dozen plus hours, the world looked great on the Series X and there’s enough bad dad jokes from Zixu to his sister to make you either laugh or groan while they explore the lands to get her real body back.
Xuan Yuan Sword 7 combines a compelling narrative with solid combat mechanics. Though the Switch version has the expected graphical limitations, it delivers a reasonably stable frame rate and a satisfying experience. For those who didn't have the opportunity to check the game out on other systems, it's worth it to dive into this journey on Nintendo's hybrid system.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If you are looking for a different Action RPG, and you are able to forgive a technical section and some somewhat archaic mechanics, you will find a very enjoyable work thanks to its fun combat system, entertaining story and excellent setting.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Despite its flaws, I really enjoyed my time with Xuan-Yuan Sword 7. Being able to play a game set in ancient China was a breath of fresh air. There’s so much rich lore and mythology surrounding that culture, which has been largely underrepresented in the West.
Despite the notable jump in quality and budget, Xuan Yuan Sword 7 does not get to take full advantage of all its mechanics and leaves the feeling that with a little more time and effort a magnificent RPG could have been achieved. Despite that, it is a highly recommended game for fans of the genre and a great entry into the West.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is a welcome surprise. If its combat ends up leaving something to be desired and prevents it from reaching a level above, its story easily places it in one of those experiences that entertain the player, even with its issues.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While never having played a Xuan Yuan in the past, I can confidently say they have a new fan. As I stated above all of the talking, and explaining can turn off some folks, those that stay will be in for quite a thrill ride of a story full of Chinese mythology, politics and epic fights. While some of the translation is off during the script and on some combat abilities it was never enough to break immersion. The words that popped up were always close enough, that I was able to understand what was going on in the scene.