Xuan Yuan Sword 7 Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)

Rating: 7.6
Author: Jim Smale

by Jim Smale · Published May 30, 2024 · Updated May 28, 2024

This Xuan Yuan Sword 7 Review introduces you to an ARPG rooted in Chinese history and mythology. Players take on the role of Taishi Zhao, a calm and reliable swordsman who was accidentally involved in a tragic fate. To protect his beloved family, he starts a journey in this chaotic realm to find the truth.

Xuan Yuan Sword 7 Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
9.4GB download size.
Action RPG gameplay.
Invert axis and sensitivity sliders.
Auto-lock on – off or on.
Tutorial pop-ups and manual with each showing a video clip of what it’s explaining.
In-game cutscenes.
Japanese voice.
On-screen mission markers.
Can skip the cutscenes.
Good loading times.
Plays in the 3rd person.
Fire pits allow you to save and replenish your health.
Find loot chests in the world.
Puzzle elements but after a time you can skip/autocomplete them.
Hack and slash combat with light/heavy attacks, blocking, and dodging.
Elysium – kind of your little hub in a menu where you can use materials to build new buildings that unlock new options like crafting and upgrading. Upgrade the buildings to improve it all.
Optional side quests.
You can play Zhuolo Chess.
The map fills in as you explore.
Guard stones are used as fast travel points.
Play how you want to a certain degree as a lot of the world is accessible.
Enemies drop materials and loot, and you automatically pick it up.
Trap enemy souls and learn recipes to fuse them together for passives and buffs. Works a bit like a Pokeball as you have a better chance when they are in low health.
Massive boss fights.
Full craft table for armor and weapons.
Loadout – weapon, armor, accessories, and appearance.
Weapons and armor/accessories give passive buffs or stats boosts.
Stances can be earned/unlocked and you switch freely between them with each one granting different attack styles and moves.
Your companion can fight alongside you as you give them commands.
Possible to capture many souls in one go as the spell casts a circle and any in it can be had.
Streamlined easy-to-use climbing system.
Companions have their own Loadouts that you can change like yourself.
The game really gets going after an hour, better enemy encounters a fighting companion and loads loot!

Xuan Yuan Sword 7 Review Cons:

Slow starter.
No touchscreen controls.
The performance and look of the game go up and down, especially in built-up areas or large-scale fights.
A lot to take in.
Robotic animations.
The skip cutscenes button takes a few presses to work.
Markers stay on screen and it gets confusing and cluttered, this is also the case with the compass bar.
I lost track of the story a lot.
Is short with only around 20 hours.
Very easy to get sidetracked.
Combat doesn’t mix up enough and gets quite spammy.
A lot to learn about button combinations.