🎮 FIRST GAMEPLAY REVEAL – NEW ACTION RPG LIKE CLAIR OBSCUR EXPEDITION 33 DROPS BOMBSHELL! 🔥🌀
Cinematic turn-based SLAYFESTS with QTE parries that DEMAND god-tier timing, ethereal xianxia worlds in UE5 glory, party of immortal-hunters unleashing spirit blasts on demon hordes! Misty peaks, forbidden tombs, UI so slick it’s SUSPICIOUS…
2026’s Expedition 33 KILLER or shameless RIP-OFF cloning the GOTY champ? Gamers DIVIDED – “CHINESE MASTERPIECE!” vs “LAZY COPYPASTE SCAM!” Devs silent amid clone accusations…
HIT PLAY BEFORE IT GETS PULLED – Your inner JRPG god awakens! 👇
The turn-based RPG faithful got a double-edged sword this week as Sword and Fairy 4 Remake slashed into view with its first official gameplay footage, sparking a firestorm of hype and backlash over striking similarities to 2025’s Game of the Year winner, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Leaked via YouTuber ENFANT TERRIBLE on December 31, 2025 – and quickly amplified across platforms – the raw clip showcases Unreal Engine 5-powered combat that blends ethereal xianxia aesthetics with dynamic QTE-driven battles, positioning the remake as a potential 2026 contender in the genre.
Clocking in under two minutes, the footage thrusts players into misty mountainscapes and fog-veiled ruins, where protagonist Yun Tianhe and his companions – including fiery tomb-raider Han Lingsha – weave through seamless exploration before clashing with spectral foes. Combat erupts in cinematic splendor: Party portraits line the left UI, enemy health bars and breakable shields dominate the right, with a sweeping camera that zooms on action prompts. Players mash QTEs to block crimson-glowing attacks, counter with spirit-infused slashes, and shatter defenses for devastating follow-ups – all underscored by orchestral swells and particle-heavy VFX like blooming lotuses and ethereal chains. No full mechanics deep-dive yet, but glimpses hint at elemental synergies, positioning swaps, and combo chains, evoking a “Persona-meets-Expedition” rhythm.
This follows the official “Unpredictable Divine Will” trailer from publisher CubeGame on December 29, teasing a “journey to find the immortals” with Yun Tianhe’s ragtag crew uncovering sealed truths amid divine strife. Shanghai-based UP Software handles development, rebuilding the 2007 Softstar classic from the ground up in UE5 for “latest technology” immersion. Targets PC and unspecified consoles; an English-subbed trailer landed days later, fueling global buzz.
Rooted in the blockbuster Legend of Sword and Fairy series (1.5B+ players since 1995), the original Sword and Fairy 4 follows orphan Yun Tianhe, raised in seclusion by his aunt on misty Shenshan. A chance raid by Han Lingsha on his “father’s tomb” sparks adventure: They hunt the mythical Water Spiritual Pearl to end a drought, allying with demon-slayer Liu Mengli, scholarly Yu Xiaoxiao, and brooding Jiang Yunfan. Twists abound – Qionghua Sect’s immortal ambitions via twin blades Wangshu/Xihe trap demons, igniting human-fiend wars; betrayals, reincarnations, and sacrificial ascensions culminate in cosmic heartbreak. Praised for narrative depth, multiple endings, and wuxia romance, it sold millions in China, spawning TV adaptations (2024’s hit starring Chen Zhe Yuan).
The remake promises fidelity with upgrades: Redesigned models, dynamic lighting on jade palaces and demon realms, fluid animations, and evolved combat ditching dated menus for Expedition-esque flair. Devs tout “reborn” systems, but no beta or demo dates; pre-reg likely via TapTap/Bilibili. System reqs TBA, but UE5 baselines suggest i5/Ryzen 5, RTX 2060+, 16GB RAM min – scalable for 4K/60fps spectacles.
Online exploded. ENFANT TERRIBLE’s vid hit 67K views, comments split: “PEAK XIANXIA!” vs. “CTRL+C Expedition 33 UI/camera/parries!” IGN noted “expedition-like genre now,” with fans memeing “Chinese DLC?”; Polygon dubbed it a “meltdown” magnet. Reddit’s r/Games (204 upvotes) and r/PS5 hailed visuals but grilled “copycat” vibes; ResetEra speculated “inspired, not ripped.” X’s @CubeGameCN trailer post drew 139 likes/40 reposts; @IGN amplified (138 likes), while Turkish/Portuguese users gushed “Wuxia Expedition.”
Xbox drama: Devs pitched via ID@Xbox (approved), but “still waiting on dev kits” – halting ports amid China-Xbox tensions. Comparisons sting: Expedition 33’s GOTY sweep (TGA 2025) popularized cinematic turns with QTEs/parries; Sword and Fairy mirrors fonts, layouts, even shield breaks – but swaps Belle Époque for misty immortals, adding xianxia spells like sword-summoning. Defenders cite genre evolution (Persona 5, Like a Dragon); skeptics fear “flood of clones” post-Expedition DLC drop.
CubeGame (Sekiro/STALKER 2 Asia pubs) eyes global push; UP Software’s small team crunches for polish. No monetization hints – single-player focus. As Chinese RPGs boom (Black Myth), this remake could honor a legend or ignite IP wars. Trailer views soar (100K+ aggregates); will QTE mastery redeem it? Fans, sharpen swords.
