The Weeping Swan: Ten Days of the City's Fall Review Summary

Engaging and intricate plot: The plot is praised for its depth, intricacy, and engaging storyline. It includes interesting twists and detailed narrative that keeps players invested.

Deep character development: The game features well-developed characters with deep and realistic character arcs. Players appreciate the complexity and emotional depth of the characters, particularly Lin Pianpian and the main characters.

High narrative quality: The game's narrative is noted for its depth, emotional engagement, and literary quality. The storytelling is compelling and often compared favorably to literary works.

Rich historical context: The game is appreciated for its detailed depiction of historical events and cultural references. It provides a rich historical context that enhances the narrative.

Improved visuals and audio: The game has seen significant improvements in its CG, illustrations, and overall visual quality. The music and sound design are also highlighted for their emotional impact and immersion.

Unsatisfactory and controversial endings: Many players expressed dissatisfaction with the endings, finding them controversial, unsatisfactory, and lacking positive resolutions. The endings were criticized for being unnecessary, depressing, and not emotionally fulfilling.

Criticism of character portrayal: Players criticized the portrayal of characters, particularly the female characters, finding their descriptions and developments to be lacking and sometimes offensive. Specific characters like Lin Pianpian and Su Lianyan were noted for their poor treatment and weak portrayal.

Narrative and pacing issues: The narrative was criticized for being redundant, with pacing issues making the story feel dragged out. Players noted that the story felt forced and illogical in many parts.

Depressing and tragic storyline: The storyline was criticized for being depressing, tragic, and emotionally challenging. Many players found the themes and plotlines to be too dark and not appealing.

Criticism of male protagonist: The male protagonist was criticized for his personality, indecisive behavior, and excessive dialogue. Players found his development and actions to be unsatisfactory.

Historical and literary themes: The game incorporates historical references, settings, and events, along with themes of life and death, providing a rich historical narrative.

Multiple endings and branches: The gameplay features multiple endings and branches based on player choices, offering a narrative-driven experience with more choices and endings compared to previous games.

Character-driven gameplay: The gameplay is deeply character-driven, focusing on character development, relationships, and interactions.

Dual narrative timelines: The narrative structure includes dual narrative timelines and parallel storylines, enhancing the storytelling experience.

Emotional and voice-acted storyline: The game features a storyline with voice acting, music, and emotional impact, providing an engaging and immersive experience.

Text errors and minor bugs: Players have encountered various text errors and minor bugs that need to be addressed.

True ending option text missing: The text for the true ending options is not displaying, which affects the gameplay experience.

Language setting issues: There are issues with language settings, particularly in the true ending chapter where the text appears in English or Chinese despite Japanese settings.

Improved optimization over predecessor: The game has shown noticeable improvements in optimization compared to its predecessor, enhancing overall performance.

Occasional system text errors: There are occasional instances where system text appears as default or placeholder text, such as 'defaultXXX'.

Recommended for fans of the predecessor: The game is highly recommended for those who enjoyed the previous game in the series, as it continues the story and provides a similar experience.

Engaging story and character arcs: The game is praised for its powerful and engaging story, with deep character arcs and thought-provoking themes, appealing to those interested in historical accuracy and character-driven narratives.

Positive gameplay experience: Many players recommend the game for its overall quality and enjoyable gameplay experience, suggesting it is best played in a good mood.

Anticipation for updates and fixes: Players are anticipating future updates and fixes for current issues, including language support and improvements to the storyline.

Atmospheric music and voice acting: The game is noted for its atmospheric music and Chinese voice acting, enhancing the overall immersion and experience.

Community fair range: $9.99 - $12.99.

Game completion: 15.0h.

Story completion: 10.0h.

Session length: 2.0h.

The game starts slow but becomes enjoyable after a key character appears around the two-hour mark, leading to a satisfying experience.

Reported time to anchor: 2h.

Friction: slow pacing in the first 1–2 hours.

History Buff: Engages deeply with the narrative and historical context, often reflecting on the themes presented. Motivation: Appreciation of historical and philosophical themes. Stance: buy.

Franchise Fan: Focuses on the narrative and character arcs, often comparing to the previous game. Motivation: Continuation of the story and character development from the previous game. Stance: buy.

Art and Tech Enthusiast: Focuses on the game's presentation and technical aspects, often providing detailed feedback on these elements. Motivation: Appreciation of the game's visuals, audio, and technical performance. Stance: buy.

The game performs well across both hardware cohorts, with players reporting positive experiences and smooth gameplay.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: positive. Players report a smooth and engaging experience with no significant performance issues.

Windows 8-11GB VRAM: positive. Players report a seamless and enjoyable experience, with the game running well.