As the cross-platform craze becomes more and more intense, the distance between mobile terminals, consoles, and PCs is getting closer than ever these days, and the trend of integration of players on different platforms is becoming more and more obvious. So not only can we see players buying PS5 just to play “Genshin Impact”, some stand-alone IPs on consoles and PCs are also launching mobile game versions to reach new groups – “P5X”, which has been quite popular in China recently, is A typical example.
However, in my opinion, the mobile game version launched by some stand-alone IPs,It is often just filling in its surface into a popular mobile game framework.Therefore, mobile game users can use gameplay rules that are more suitable for them to attract them to pay for the IP.
This is of course taking into account the characteristics of the mobile terminal, which means that the gameplay should be appropriately lightweight and the overall rhythm should be more portable, but it also means that the game has departed from the core design of the original work to a considerable extent. Therefore, stand-alone IP mobile games are always easy to end up with stand-alone players saying “it’s better to go back and play the original”, and mobile game players saying “I don’t understand why it is so famous”.
However, “Wanderer: Overlord of the Continent” (hereinafter referred to as “Wanderer Mobile Game”), which is represented by NetEase and will be launched on the Chinese server on May 16, has rarely brought the original gameplay to mobile phones. After actually experiencing the recent “Overlord Test”, I was both relieved and a little confused——Is the original stand-alone experience a false demand on the mobile terminal?
Complete frame exactly like the original
As a die-hard JRPG fan who won the Platinum Award for “Walker 2”, I have always been “somewhat interested but too lazy to touch” the mobile game “Walker 2”. Even though the overseas version of the game has been successfully operating for many years, and even though I know that its plot is closely related to the stand-alone work, I always unconsciously have the stereotype that this mobile game must be a “dog-meat”.
However, after actually participating in the internal beta test this time, I discovered that the mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads” is a very ambitious product——It does bring out just a little more of the original’s selling points.
Exquisite HD-2D graphics, touching plot, interesting NPC interactions and challenging battles… The “Walker” mobile game is a joint effort between the Asano Group of SE’s second development division and the fourth development division. The product almost uses the original framework to reproduce the charm of IP on the mobile terminal.
Let’s look at the screen first. HD-2D, SE’s representative screen technology, is extremely well-suited for mobile devices. The beauty of 2D pixel characters complementing 3D light, shadow and special effects is very suitable for playing on mobile phones. Even today, when the level of art is soaring, the retro and innovative look and feel of the “Walker” mobile game can easily grab players’ attention immediately.
The mist that keeps coming under the white snow, the sparkling lake bathed in the sun… The vivid and simple, gorgeous and elegant pictures make people have a strong desire for adventure. Coupled with the filling of a large number of characters, you can It is said that even though the mobile game “Qilu Traveler” has been launched overseas for several years, it still has sufficiently differentiated audio-visual competitiveness.
Second is the plot. As a prequel to the stand-alone work, the mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads” is also a game that focuses on narrative. The game uses three main storylines: wealth, authority, and fame to outline the various cruelties and redemptions of human desires. Nearly 60 hours of main plot, plus side stories scattered around the world, as well as traveler stories involving every traveler, together outline an extremely rich and profound plot framework.
At the same time, the narrative tone of the game is also very series-like. Under the surface of the cute pixel villain, there are many descriptions of the dark side of human nature. But precisely because of their cruel fate, the choices and persistence of many characters are so touching.
Just like the plot line between Wilnot and Lin You that I like very much, it is obviously not a conventional love drama, but the mutual support of two tough souls. There is a depiction of the big world and the emotional excitement of the characters. The appeal of the JRPG narrative is definitely a major selling point of the “Walker” mobile game.
The plot between Wilnot and Lin You is very touching
What surprises me most is that the mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads” does not refer to the conventional framework of current RPG mobile games.
The game does not have a “stamina card” setting. The process advancement is completely centered around plot tasks and combat development, and it is left to the players to control the rhythm. With a complete emotional flow of stand-alone experience and a foreseeable long-term plot addition, for players who prefer narrative RPGs, the mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads” is a very suitable product to get into.
In addition, some subsystems in the original work were not wasted in the mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads”.
For example, map commands that allow for rich interactions with NPCs and enemies are linked to the influence values of the above three major plot lines in the “Walker” mobile game, allowing players to carry out battles, transactions, probabilities and other negotiations based on differences in influence. From this, you can search for items from NPCs or temporarily add them to your team. Those passers-by everywhere have a deep connection with us in an instant, instead of being just stupid people who only speak fixed lines.
Generally speaking, although the mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads” is a long-term mobile game, it feels the same to me as a stand-alone game.
Dedication to playability
What is playability? The answers given by different players may be completely different. Some people think that raising characters and licking the card surface is the key to playability, while others think that if there is no complex and profound system and difficult challenges, don’t mention this word.
But it has to be said that even though mobile products have undergone tremendous evolution in operability and expressiveness in recent years,Most players still have some “tolerance” towards the gameplay of mobile games – it’s almost enough, but if it’s too complicated, it’s easy to “drive away customers”.
Especially today, when the “competition for user time” becomes increasingly fierce, many products will moderately simplify the gameplay. They want to be accepted by players as a “secondary game” and get a share of the pie, but they dare not make the gameplay too in-depth.
In comparison, the mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads” has a deep obsession with playability.
In terms of character development, matching, and the strategy of the combat system, the mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads” has greatly expanded on the stand-alone work, providing challenges, thinking, and a sense of accomplishment. It is not completely simplified just because you log in to the mobile terminal, but on the basis of optimizing the user experience, the essence of the IP is retained to the maximum extent.
For example, a very unique combat system.
“Walkers on the Crossroads” has a system that stores action points and then releases multiple actions or high-power skills at once, which is very addictive. Coupled with the setting of breaking weak points and breaking shields, the turn-based combat has an ups and downs rhythm, which largely solves the problems of slow pace and strong sense of repetition in conventional turn-based products.
Based on this system that has been proven by the market, the “eight people present at the same time” setting in the mobile game “Walker” further amplifies its fun and strategic nature.
You must know that in a single-player work, we can only play 4 characters, but there are many points to consider. The mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads” allows you to set up a gameplay where the front and back teams can switch at any time, instantly doubling your thinking at various time points such as breaking weak points and breaking shields, applying buffs, and achieving explosive output.
In the stage of testing the enemy’s weaknesses, which team of characters should be used first? In the round when the enemy is knocked down, do you want to switch to the team with more action points to fight? Especially when all eight character points are full, you have to carefully observe the timeline and simulate the sequence in your mind, for fear of wasting a teammate’s number of actions and failing to hit a big number.
Under such solid rules, not to mention the bosses in the plot, if you fight many powerful enemies in the wild in the early stage, you can enjoy good gaming fun if you cross levels. For players who like this, the quality and quantity of combat challenges must be the core attraction.
Corresponding to the battle, there is also a development system that is rich and a bit “scary”.
Since 8 characters need to be put on the field, and the enemy’s weaknesses must be covered and the balance of output, assistance, and treatment must be considered, a lot of brain cells must be consumed in the formation stage.
Not to mention that as a single character grows, players also need to make choices among many skills, collect better weapons and equipment to enhance character performance, and even the traveler abilities associated with the three plot lines can also provide players with various bonuses. .
It is worth mentioning that each character has a huge skill tree from low-level to high-level, covering a large number of attribute improvements and active and passive skills, which is the key to team formation. Although the branches are not too complicated, since there are so many characters, it is still a bit tiring to finish all the skills in one go. I hope friends who have not had much exposure to similar products will not be intimidated.
Rich development content inspires players’ enthusiasm for fighting
I am sure that the mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads” has the same gameplay depth as the stand-alone game, but it has not yet been determined whether mobile game users can accept this set of content. After all, the game not only retains the classic JRPG hidden mine encounter system, but also does not have automatic combat, which requires players to spend a certain amount of time running away in miscellaneous soldier battles. I feel that it somewhat challenges the conventional habits of mobile users. The real experience of the majority of Chinese players will have to wait until the public beta is released to observe.
Coming to the Chinese market: Are you acclimated or will you shine?
Obviously, I have not concealed my preference for the mobile game “Walker on the Wandering Road”. After the public beta version is launched, I am also willing to spend a certain amount of time to deeply experience the quality of the main story. But this Japanese mobile game, which has already achieved certain results overseas and has only just arrived in the Chinese market, can successfully carve out a territory of its own?
My current answer is:It’s possible, but it requires the efforts of the operations team.
Referring to the overseas version, I don’t think we need to worry too much about the quality and quantity of the long-term content of the mobile game “Walker on the Crossroads”. The key lies in how the domestic operations team will plan the iteration cycle of the product to ensure long-term immersion of players.
If the team’s ambition is not just to serve JRPG enthusiasts and fans of the original IP well, but also wants to take this opportunity to expand its influence among new user groups, then more in-place guidance is also essential. Especially in the face of the insistence on the gameplay of the mobile game “Walkers”, how to allow players to quickly pass the learning period and feel the core charm of the system will test the official’s planning in terms of publicity, activities, welfare, etc.
At present, it seems that NetEase is still very concerned about the national server.
For example, in order to give players a more comfortable visual experience, the Chinese server has made detailed adjustments to the overall picture texture, and the position of the camera has been slightly further away and raised with reference to the original work. Moreover, the official also emphasized that the national server has a lot of exclusive content, such as exclusive characters for the national server that will be online when the server is launched. As for the version update speed and card pool arrangements that players are concerned about, the national server will also make corresponding adjustments.
National server exclusive role
Conclusion:
If you only look at NetEase’s product planning for this year, 2024 seems to have become a “martial arts year” again.
First, “Shooting the Condor” was launched in March, then “Sixteen Voices of Yanyun” was scheduled for July 26, and “Eternal Tribulation Mobile Game” is also getting ready to launch. After “Egg Boy Party” completely gained a foothold, NetEase began to go all out in self-research on martial arts, aiming to create a moat for the new generation in this advantageous field.
But in my opinion, NetEase’s efforts in agency IP and cooperative research and development cannot be ignored.
This year is not only the year that Blizzard’s product matrix returns to China, but also many projects incubated by NetEase and overseas companies are being promoted. For example, “Marvel Contest” launched in cooperation with Marvel, and “Visions of Mana” released by NetEase Sakura Studio in conjunction with SE are all new attempts by it to use well-known IP. Even though the “Qilu Traveler” mobile game seems to be an old product that has just entered the Chinese server, it can be regarded as part of the cooperation between NetEase and SE, and it is somewhat another attempt for JRPG to enter the Chinese market.
While ensuring the output of self-research, NetEase’s cooperation with overseas manufacturers, as well as its new studio established by attracting many Japanese producers, I think will be the next product line worthy of attention. Because these projects are obviously more experimental, they are likely to produce heterogeneous new products that can effectively test market response.
Adventure is always exciting, so we might as well start with the mobile game “Walker on the Wrong Road” and keep a long-term view.
