Where Winds Meet is an upcoming open-world RPG that mixes the best parts of Assassin’s Creed and Ghost of Tsushima.
Where Winds Meet Will Let Players Become a Magical Assassin, But Also Allows Complete Freedom
This year’s Gamescom Opening Night showcase announced the Chinese fantasy open-world RPG Where Winds Meet. This ambitious title is the debut game of the newly created development team Everstone Studio. However, their publishers are NetEase Games which are quite known already in the industry.
This new title had an impressive gameplay and cinematic trailer that ran for a few minutes. The footage seen so far looks like a healthy mix between Assassin’s Creed,Ghost of Tsushima, and Red Dead Redemption 2. Why the last one? Let’s find out!
Let’s Meet Where Winds Meet
Where Winds Meet is an open-world RPG at its core. The game features tons of exploration into a wide world set in the tail-end of the Ten Kingdoms era. People won’t need to be familiar with history to be able to appreciate the story of a warrior who’s trying to find their place in a world where conflict has started to end. What need is there for a swordsman where peace is flourishing?
Thematically, that fits in with Red Dead Redemption 2. The story of Arthur Morgan and his rag-tag gang is quite similar. They’re a gang of bandits where ruthlessness has started losing its luster and civilization has become the norm. Visually, it has a lot of similarities with Ghost of Tsushima’s forests and environments but with its own unique elements like clothing and architecture. Gameplay-wise, it looks like it has taken notes from Assassin’s Creed wherein you can stalk alleyways and NPCs, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
The Gameplay Examined
The actual gameplay footage is about 2 minutes in length. We are greeted by a bustling ancient city filled to the brim with wandering merchants, peasants, and guards. Our protagonist is revealed to be able to climb walls and mountains but at the same time seemingly levitate dozens of feet in the air. They can also walk on water, which we can see later, makes invading enemy ships quite a breeze.
Yes, our protagonist has some magical tricks up their robe. Their dodges create a whirlwind of energy, and they have supernatural speed and agility that allows them to wall run and even run up ship masts. Concentrating will also let them slow down time and carefully aim with their bow for maximum damage. All good stuff.
Players will also have access to the usual assassination sneak attacks, frantic weapon and martial arts-based combat. Where Winds Meet will also have intense one-on-one duels with other prominent swordsmen. Of course, it also seems we will encounter some more mythical beasts and other spirits. Combat looks a bit more fast-paced and hack-and-slash compared to Ghost of Tsushima.
Freedom of the Winds
An extended gameplay exclusive with IGN also revealed some of the other freedoms that players can expect when playing Where Winds Meet. One of the objectives that the main character needed to complete was the acquisition of a special item. The gameplay footage showed the character standing by a local merchant’s window, brokering information on where that item is in exchange for some money.
The player tracks down the item, then slows down time, and finally magically grabs the item down from the unsuspecting merchant. This display of magic didn’t go unnoticed, however, and a chase ensued. According to Everstone, the player could tackle this objective in multiple ways. Another option would be simply buying off the item. Probably violence would be another, more straightforward answer.
If needed, players can also take up different professions. They can become a poet, even if they just don’t know it. We can even decide to become a doctor if we wish. How effective of a doctor a swordsman could be is anyone’s guess, but at least Where Winds Meet gives us that option.
Let Me Sing with the Colors of the Wind
Where Winds Meet doesn’t have an official release date just yet. We do know that the game is currently only planned for a PC release. Sorry console fans! Hopefully, if enough attention is garnered, Everstone might consider creating a port for the current-gen consoles. The title is yet another upcoming title that’s grounded in Chinese Myth and History, the others beingWo Long: Fallen DynastyandBlack Myth: Wukong.
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