But when I really got into playing it, I realized that this was not a defect in my brain, but a strong brain.
"Dragon's Castle". For the record, in 2025, I actually played a serious 3D hard-core action game on a mobile phone. There is no stamina bar, no red dots, and no VIP15. Weapons and equipment are all picked up by farming monsters and exploring the map. The last time I had such a pure feeling was when I was playing tricks on the black and white handheld console.
I won't take back any awards the game has won. Just look at how it was released on TGS in 2019 and made a version for Switch. The gold content is much greater than that of a chat software that spends money to buy a game. Brother, awards can be watery, but at the Tokyo Game Show where console gamers stare at you and score points, it won't be able to hold on to your little moisture.
Let's talk about the feel. When doing hardcore actions on mobile phones, the biggest fear is that "sliding the screen is like rubbing against glass". This game's light and heavy attack + dodge + rebound module can clearly feel that the production team is forcing the console's operating logic into the touch screen, and the stuff is quite good. When you hit the gargoyle that got stuck in the early stage, you died over and over again. I almost dropped my phone to death, but when you finally caught it and swung it forward with your claws, it bounced back with a "ding" sound for a few tenths of a second. To be honest, that feeling was comparable to beating the Unknown King in Dark Souls alone.
The last mobile game that made me so addicted was "Pascal's Contract". But the two are not the same. "Pascal's Contract" is in the style of a buyout masterpiece, while "Dragon's Castle" is more like a fool. It uses the free download traffic entrance to force you to become a hard-core action player. And the developer is Suzhou Tianhun. Well, we are our own people. I know some people shake their heads when they hear that it is made in China, but this time it is really not about exchanging skins for gold. They can grind it all the way from TGS in 2017 to win awards in 2019, and then grind it on Switch. This thing is costing their lives.
Let's talk about this “Charging Mode: 0”. Yes, you read that right, there is no charge for downloading. What does the manufacturer earn? Rely on love to generate electricity. Is it possible to sell skins in later updates? But all the levels and all the BOSS battles that I have played so far, every sword and every shot, are all made by myself. There is no option to "spend 6 yuan and directly use a fully-leveled weapon to chop melons and vegetables." If you get stuck, you have to either practice your skills or brush up materials to upgrade your equipment. This process is just like the pure feeling of squatting in front of the TV day and night and playing single-player games.
Of course, this game is not without its shortcomings. The angle of view occasionally gets stuck in a corner, giving it the feeling of a "straight shot in a studio", and it's a common problem with hardcore games - it's not very friendly to novices. If you are used to mindless one-click ultimate moves, then you should save your money to recharge monthly cards for other companies. If you are willing to calm down and observe, test, get beaten, and fight back like a real hunter, then this game will be your "paradise of suffering" on your mobile phone.
Finally, let me say something that comes from my heart. In a gacha universe where even walking automatically finds your way, people like Tianhun dare to give you a hard meal for free. They don't force you to socialize or make money. They just ask you, "Do you dare to come and suffer? I'll treat you."
These days, being willing to make a game like this is almost like protecting animals. I won't call it a masterpiece, but if you like action games, what are you waiting for? Don't let these honest people get cold feet. 🏰⚔️
(ps: Remember to play with mobile phone version 4.0. The operation is optimized for the smoothest operation. Don't torture yourself with an old machine. You will cry if the frame drops.)