Sword and Fairy 7

For the people have second thought, please keep this in mind.
This is a finished game. Not an early access.
It is NOT AAA. But its finished and no micro-transaction shop.

An amazing high-tech and beautiful game nobody's talking about
Sword and Fairy 7 is probably one of the most impressive and amazing discoveries that came from the interactive recommender that I have ever experienced on Steam. Without knowing a thing about this game and never hearing about the franchise before, I decided to give it a try after playing Wo Long Fallen Dynasty because of the Chinese styled games hype train and hoo boy, it was the right choice.
I was truly impressed by the amazing and beautiful visuals and high quality graphics this game delivers. It's cutting edge high quality for both environments, character models and animations with a very high level of detail and optimization on top of features like ray tracing and DLSS support. The game is an absolute joy to look at.
The art style, environments, character models and animations are definitely what stand out the most, but this game also has an amazing soundtrack that helps the environments become even more immersive on top of a great story with good characters, development, romance and emotions with a lot of cultural references of Chinese mythology and takes about 22 hours to beat.
The gameplay works similarly to Final Fantasy VII Remake in it's structure. It is hack n' slash gameplay with martial arts skills and magic. It feels a little bit clunky and could've been smoother, but I never felt it as an issue since the game is not that hard and healing is very easy. Sword and Fairy 7 is not an open world game and is very linear but it has a good variety of separate environments with large areas and I think it's a good thing because it means the developers could spend their efforts making very detailed, rich and colorful areas and this is a major point in my opinion since most open world games these days are just big sized maps but bland, empty and dead worlds.
This game brings an unique experience of it's own since there aren't many high quality games inspired by Chinese mythology right now. It is still unexplored territory in gaming and I think it stands out because we are oversaturated with medieval European based games.
Optimization is also really good right now. I played this game at 1440p DLSS Quality at 60fps and All High settings without Ray Tracing very smoothly with basically no drops on a RTX 2060 Super. The game also never crashed and the loadings are blazing fast. No bugs or glitches, zero issues and a very smooth experience.
It is one of the games that really look real next-gen and not a last-gen game running at higher settings.
There isn't anything really bad about the game but it's worth mentioning a few things: The subtitles are not that good and there are some text boxes with over 7 lines of text that are hard to read and disappear very fast. Most side quests are very simple and boring to read the NPC text, but are very easy to complete and I never really felt I was missing anything major by skipping the NPC dialogue. And yeah, the combat is a little bit clunky and would've been better if it were smoother on hit.
But none of there issues are really major and can definitely be overlooked because everything else that is good stands out a lot more.
This game does so much things right that a lot of AAA games these days don't while costing 1/3 of the price. High quality visuals, amazing art, deep story, incredible character models and good gameplay system. Absolutely worth it and recommended.
I think this marks the beginning of a new wave of high grade Chinese games that are coming. A few years back we've never heard about Chinese games, but after Genshin completely dominated the world and raised the bar we're starting to see a lot of high quality games from China appear on the market and rivaling the AAA Western giants. We'll see what's yet to come, but if Sword and Fairy 7 is one reference of what they can deliver, Chinese games are looking very promising in the near future.

Took me a long time to finish. lol
But I love this game, the story, characters felt like a final fantasy game to me but in Chinese. People should support this so the devs can put out another one!

I highly recommend this if you like epic storytelling, unique characters and beautiful graphics. The voice acting is in Chinese, but there is English text. I prefer the voice over in Chinese anyway it's more immersive and authentic. It should be up there winning gaming awards.

I've only surpassed the 7-hour mark, and although I initially planned to wait until I finished the game, I simply couldn't contain my excitement any longer. I absolutely NEED to tell you about the extraordinary journey I'm currently immersed in with Sword and Fairy 7. This game has truly captivated me, sweeping me off my feet and transporting me into a realm of pure magic. As I find myself sitting here, still completely engrossed in this mesmerising world, I am compelled to share my raving review of this remarkable masterpiece.
The first thing that struck me when I entered the world of Sword and Fairy 7 was the sheer beauty of its graphics. I find myself constantly in awe of the exquisite details that bring this virtual world to life. The landscapes are breathtakingly rendered, from sprawling meadows bathed in golden sunlight to misty mountains shrouded in mystery. The attention to detail is impeccable, with each leaf on a tree and every ripple on a pond meticulously crafted. The vibrant colours and atmospheric lighting enhance the immersive experience, making me feel as if I've stepped into a painting that I can interact with.
But it's not just the visuals that have captivated me; it's the characters themselves that have truly stolen my heart. Each one is expertly developed, with unique personalities, motivations, and flaws. They feel so human, so relatable, that I find myself forging genuine connections with them. I laugh with them during moments of joy, empathise with their struggles, and cheer them on in their quests. The character development is masterfully executed, making me genuinely invested in their stories and eager to uncover their destinies alongside them.
Now, while exploring this wondrous world, I did notice a small quirk with the map. It seems to be slightly off centre and lacks proper calibration. However, fear not, for this does not affect the gameplay in any way. It's a minor inconvenience that pales in comparison to the grandeur of the game itself. The map may not be perfectly aligned, but it doesn't hinder my ability to navigate or enjoy the immersive experience that Sword and Fairy 7 offers.
On the subject of bugs, I did encounter an issue with the camera mode. The longer I spend capturing stunning snapshots in photo mode, the higher the chances of the game freezing. It can be frustrating, especially when I stumble upon a picturesque scene and want to preserve it forever. However, despite this glitch, the overall gameplay remains unaffected. The fluid combat, engrossing quests, and rich storytelling continue to shine brightly, overshadowing this minor setback.
Overall, Sword and Fairy 7 is an enchanting masterpiece that continues to weave its spell around me. The breathtaking graphics transport me to a world of unparalleled beauty, where every pixel is a testament to the dedication of the developers. The relatability of the characters tugs at my heartstrings, ensuring that their journeys become my own. Although the map may be slightly off centre and the camera mode has its hiccups, they are mere blips in an otherwise flawless adventure. I eagerly anticipate uncovering more secrets, conquering new challenges, and continuing to be enthralled by the wonders of Sword and Fairy 7. It's a game that will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on my gaming journey.

About 20 hour game
Pros
Nice Story
Beautiful World
Cool Moves
Chinese with English subs
Cons
Boss fights have time events that where just the same time event (3 times in every boss fight)
Can't talk to NPC If your party is talking to you
A lot of reading

Solid game. Not perfect but a good time overall. Pretty graphics, decent combat, solid story. I enjoyed it. Would prob be a 7-8 on a 10 point scale for me. The Dreamlike World DLC felt a bit cheap in the way it plays out but it wraps the story up nicely. The characters are simple but I like them. It isn't exactly the best optimized, so make sure you have the hardware to play it. Definitely recommend.