#THE LEGEND OF TIANDING SERIES#

It’s a shame, then, that it insists on spending so much time on other aspects of the game. The Legend of Tianding absolutely shines brightest when you’re knee-deep in its excellent combat. Put it this way - they could give some of the boss characters in Metroid Dread a run for their money.

Be prepared to face them multiple times (at least!), as recognising their routines and attack patterns is vital to success.

On the tougher difficulty setting these foes really test your skills and patience to the max, requiring you to use all the moves at your disposal whilst dodging, ducking, dipping, diving, and dodging out of the way of multiple projectiles at once. Of course, you can take the difficulty down to ‘Gentleman Thief’ for a more easy-going ride, but we’d recommend at least starting off on the higher setting for a more robust and rewarding experience.Īt the end of each chapter you’ll come face-to-face with the area’s boss. With the game set to the ‘Wanted Outlaw’ difficulty, these guys don’t pull their punches you’ll need to be swift, agile and aggressive, as it will only take a few mistakes to find yourself back at the last checkpoint. You’ll need to use every ability at your disposal too, as the enemies will come thick and fast. You’ll be utilising everything from a tanto to police batons and even rocket launchers as you dispatch your foes, with the game gradually introducing new abilities as you go, allowing you to string together attack combinations with style. If we were to compare it directly to another game, it’s pretty similar to the Guacamelee! series, but showcases its own style and flavour with a sharp focus on disarming enemies and using their own weapons against them. The real meat of the game is centred on its combat. It’s a light take on the Metroidvania genre the locations are, by and large, fairly linear with only a few additional areas to explore for items or collectibles.Ĭaptured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)

#THE LEGEND OF TIANDING SERIES#

Typically, the stories start off with a load of exposition and set-up, before dropping you into the main mission area where you’ll navigate a series of passageways and arenas, fighting off hordes of enemies as you go. The game is split into chapters, each of which tells its own standalone tale in the life of Liao Tianding. It’s also a game that, unfortunately, doesn’t entirely respect the players’ time, stubbornly refraining from showcasing its best aspects at frequent intervals. It’s a wonderfully authentic take with locations that feel remarkably alive with bustling streets and tall, imposing structures lining the roads. In The Legend of Tianding, you’re thrown into the streets of Taipei - the capital of Taiwan - during the early 20th century as the legendary outlaw, Liao Tianding. It’s always a joy to see an under-represented culture or time period in video games.

The legend of tianding