although i am a chinese, my mandarin standard is not really good. i really struggled with the language while trying to play this game. nontheless, i have no regrets trying it out, as this game is indeed the best that i have ever played. I do not intend to go into great depths to describe this game.... basically because i am talking to the wrong audience. if you cannot understand mandarin at all, it is impossible for you to play this game. that's about it.

but to do justice for this great game, i will just highlight just two essential points that crossed my mind at this juncture:

1) Attention to details - this game goes to great length to make you feel that you are right there in ancient china and living out a character in a swordsplay novel. aside from the graphics and a great story that develops along with the quests, the developers did many additional things to improve the gaming experience. for example, when an NPC says he is in danger and needs help from bandits... you can often see and feel the threat. Not only do you see the bandits.... they actually make periodic attacks on the good NPCs that accompanies the quest NPC. another example is the "dungeons".... well... most of the "dungeons" are not really dungeons but manors or forts whereby you get to raid them. in my view, the developers did a great job with the design. u really get to experience what it is like inside the fortress.... guards making their rounds, archers perched on towers, assassins hiding at some strategic areas, soldiers working out at the training grounds. well.... i admit not doing a great job with this description. these are but just two of the many examples. u need to play it to know. if the english version ever comes out, i will attach screenshots and tey do a better job at describing this.... for this is one of the major highlights of this game.

2) Quests - the quests in this game are numerous, varied and enjoyable. when i mentioned quests, maybe u will start to think of monotonous quests in other games like... go kill 10 spiders. go kill 10 bats and collect 10 bat wings etc etc. yes... there are kill missions like these... but there are also many others including puzzles types that test your intelligence, quests that test your martial arts agility (i.e. qing gong), real escort quests whereby the NPC being escorted can really die if you are not up to it, and many others. It is way too much for me to go into details. in addition, most of the quests are part of a wonderful storyline that you get to read in those swordsplay novel. and oh yes... b4 i forget. doing quests help you to level faster. monotonous grinding to hit max level is really kept to a bare minimum.

if you add the two together... this game actually makes a decent single player roleplaying game on its own. coupled with the gaming experience of an online community... i couldn't have asked for more. that is also why i do not mind even though this game is a pay-to-play game.

if there are any interested english player with some basic understanding of mandarin who are willing to try out this game.... i would strongly encourage you to do so. while this is a chinese game, there are a number of players who can speak english there and guide you.

oh well... i have to stop here. have to leave it to someone more capable to help promote this game.