The Legend of Silkroad

Game Details:

As another masterpiece from IGS following the Knights of Valour series, this title introduces bold gameplay innovations. The game features a unique "Proximity System," where a character's moves change depending on their distance from the enemy. The most central feature is the "Divine Sword System," allowing players to acquire Divine Swords with different elemental properties throughout the stages (such as Gan Jiang and Mo Ye), with each sword possessing exclusive spells and attack effects. Furthermore, the game supports multiplayer co-op, and its team-up moves and combo system are incredibly deep. Combined with a realistic ink wash art style and immersive traditional music and sound effects, it stands out as a rare, hardcore Xianxia action masterpiece in arcade history.

Game Guide:

Elemental Counters & Sword Selection:

The game has an elemental counter system, and choosing a Divine Sword with the right element can significantly reduce the difficulty. For example, when facing a Water-element boss, using Earth-element attacks or a specific sword will deal increased damage. Each Divine Sword has its own unique "Demon-Slaying Move," and properly managing your Power gauge to unleash screen-clearing super moves is the best way to handle being swarmed by mobs in the mid-to-late game.

Combos & Hit Detection:

This game's hit detection is very precise. The basic combo is "A-A-A-A," but inputting a direction on the third or fourth hit can lead into a launcher or a knockback attack. Advanced players will need to master the "Cancel" technique, which involves casting a special move or spell during the recovery frames of an attack to perform infinite combos. This is the key to getting on the high-score leaderboards.

Hidden Routes & Drops:

There are many hidden paths in the stages. For example, destroying background objects like screens or stone tablets in certain areas may open up a bonus room. Picking up wine jugs dropped by enemies restores your Power gauge, while buns and fruit are used to recover health. Before facing a boss, be sure to break barrels to stock up on enough healing items.

Defense & Counters (Parrying):

Unlike mindless button-mashing, this game emphasizes "parrying." Pressing the guard button at the exact moment of an enemy's attack will trigger a counter-attack. This is an effective way to preserve your health when fighting agile elite enemies. Mastering the startup animations for each stage boss's attacks is essential for clearing the game on the highest difficulty.