Kuro Games has unveiled a new trailer for its forthcoming action RPG, Wuthering Waves, showcasing a fresh character named Jianxin. Additionally, the company has confirmed that the next closed beta will commence on February 19 at 10 AM UTC+8.
Regarding video games, I find it challenging not to harbor disdain for live service games, particularly those incorporating “gacha” mechanics. These games, often originating from Eastern countries and predominantly available on mobile platforms, offer minimal gameplay but frequently feature enticing female characters in exchange for cash payments.
Games like Blue Archive, Azur Lane, NIKKE, Arknights, Honkai, and numerous others primarily cater to the mobile gaming market with straightforward and repetitive gameplay loops. They capitalize upon the Western video game industry’s ESG compliance which has led to the perception that the attractive female character designs are inherently sexist and bigoted.
I have a genuine hatred for “gacha” as a whole. They hardly qualify as actual video games; instead, they serve as microtransactional platforms designed to consistently offer attractive female characters to players, regardless they are overwhelming popular with players alike, regularly churning hundreds of millions of dollars each and every month.
Unless your name is Square Enix.
On the other hand, I do have a bit of appreciation for gacha games that offer genuine gameplay experiences and immersive storytelling. Titles like miHoYo’s Genshin Impact, as well as upcoming games like NetEase’s Project Mugen and “Wuthering Waves,” seem poised to challenge the dominance of traditional gacha games with their focus on engaging gameplay and actual story narrative.
In Genshin Impact, rolling for specific characters isn’t a requirement. You’re free to explore the expansive third-person action RPG using default characters or those provided for free during timed events. The core gameplay and fully voiced story offer tens of hours of entertainment, though it may become repetitive once you’ve reached the currently available story content like every other game that’s similar.
Genshin Impact has enjoyed immense popularity since its official release in 2020, offering something unique that sets it apart from other live service gacha games even years later. Which of course is actual gameplay and a cohesive story narrative to follow.
That’s one of the reasons why I’ve been casually keeping an eye on Wuthering Waves, developed by the Chinese studio Kuro Games. It’s another action RPG that bears a striking resemblance to Genshin Impact, of which I personally don’t mind.
Unlike being a mundane tap fest filled with sexy characters, Wuthering Waves distinguishes itself with its own charm and unique mechanics, aiming to be taken more seriously as actual competition compared to other titles such as Tower of Fantasy.
The game held its first closed beta in 2023, and the developers have since released several assets showcasing what the game has to offer. These include a video detailing monster capture, another trailer featuring plenty of gameplay, a trailer unveiling the character Sanhua, and another focusing on another character, Danjin.
miHoYo have stood alone in the niche of gacha games that provide actual gameplay, which is a medium that I believe warrants genuine competition. Instead of churning out low-quality mobile games, I hope to see more Eastern developers making waves compared to the slop squeezed out by the Western gaming industry by producing video games of a higher caliber.
Games that offer genuine enjoyment regardless of whether you choose to spend money on limited-time character pulls are what truly matter. These games provide hours of fulfillment and entertainment, with the added bonus of female characters that aren’t quote-on-quote “realistic” and repulsive.
However, it’s worth noting that other Chinese developers, like miHoYo, have censored various characters in Genshin Impact and their upcoming Zenless Zone Zero, reducing the breast size of various characters alongside making their attires less revealing, so I wouldn’t set your expectations too high in this regard, leave that to the Koreans.
https://wutheringwaves.kurogame.com/en/cbt
Once more, the second closed beta test for Wuthering Waves is set to commence on February 19th at 10AM UTC+8. If you act swiftly, you might secure access to this second closed beta, which notably won’t include any NDA restrictions.
Even if you miss out on participation this time, rest assured that there will be plenty of gameplay videos uploaded for you to evaluate whether or not Wuthering Waves piques your interest.
