Let me start with the conclusion: I have been playing this game for three days and give it a 7.5/10 rating. It's not a masterpiece, but it's definitely a breath of fresh air in your fragmented time.
Screen/Performance: 7 points. The vertical painting is a typical Chinese comic style. The male protagonist Yuxuan's "waste but bright eyes" painting method is well executed. Xiaobai's appearance as the "dead heroine" is more spiritual than a living person. The elimination special effects are done very morally, and the spells are actually a bit cool when they splash. However, the UI interface is a bit crude, and the transition animation when the battle is settled is a bit stiff, which is watchable but not refined enough.
Gameplay/system: 8 points. I originally thought that the combination of eliminating X love was just a gimmick, but I didn't expect that the level design was really tied to the plot. For example, you need to eliminate "Grudge Orbs" and collect "Red Threads" to advance the emotional line with the heroine, and the senior brother Adi will also cause trouble in the level and become a special obstacle block - this kind of design that turns the character relationship into a mechanism is better than simply stacking numerical values. However, the difficulty curve of the later levels is a bit steep. If you don't spend money, you need to rely on physical strength to grind hard. Fortunately, the single round is short and suitable for fishing.
Krypton gold/paid: This game is free to download, and the in-app purchases are mainly skins and physical strength. The skin affects combat effects but does not add attributes, which is very conscientious. However, the stamina system is too restrictive. The stamina provided at noon and evening every day is only enough to play around 40 levels. If you want to finish it in one go, you have to wait. Generally speaking, it belongs to "spending money can save time, but you can play without spending money", and the monthly card party has the best experience.
Social interaction/interaction: To be honest, social interaction is almost zero, there is no team formation and no friend system. The only "social" thing is to see the elimination scores of the big guys on the server-wide rankings, and a very simple barrage message wall. But considering that this is a stand-alone plot game, it is reasonable. Players who want to go online can take a detour, but those who like to be alone to push the plot will be very comfortable.
The plot/characters are the biggest highlight🙌. On the surface, it is a trap of "Taoist priests exorcising evil spirits", but it actually tells the darkly humorous story of "how the good-for-nothing male protagonist was half-deceived and half-kidnapped by a mysterious sorcerer to become a tool for resurrecting his granddaughter." The text is full of laughs but not vulgar. The brotherly love between brother and brother who is mocking but actually protecting their shortcomings is very realistic. Xiaobai's indifference from the incarnation of a resentful spirit to being gradually moved by Yuxuan's naivety. This kind of "unresolved love between man and ghost" foreshadowing is much more sincere than some ancient puppet dramas. Moreover, the trailer at the end of each chapter hints that the story is not that simple, and the alchemist's purpose is a mystery - I guess there must be a twist later, and I am currently pushed to Chapter 12, and I am already completely hooked.
The shortcomings must also be mentioned: first, although the elimination gameplay incorporates attribute restraint (five elements restraint), playing for a long time will cause a bit of aesthetic fatigue. I hope there will be more special level types in the future. Second, in the dubbing, only the male protagonist and the senior brother have complete voices. Xiaobai often only responds with "um" and "ah", and his mood is a little worse at critical moments. Third, the chapter is too proficient in breaking up chapters, and every time it pops up "next chapter decomposition" at the most worrying part of the plot, it is really annoying😡.
To sum up: "Yin Yang Love" is suitable for players who like Taoist themes, casual elimination, and "idiot beauty"-style characters. There is no forced social interaction, and you can watch the entire plot without worrying about it. It is one of the rare mobile games in recent years that has "likeable characters and unobstructed gameplay". Although the details are still a bit rough, but in response to Yu Xuan's words "I even dare to like ghosts, why am I afraid of your rumors?" - I think it's worth the time and money spent.
Rating: 7.5/10 (Picture 7 + Gameplay 8 + Story 8.5 + Social 3 + Money Friendliness 8)
Recommended for: You who want to have fun while squatting but don't want to use your brain, or you who have been hurt by fairy tale dramas and want to watch some disenchantment.