The Legend of Tianding is a unique comic book/cel-shaded stylized 2d action platformer taking place in a 20th-century Japanese setting. In this game, players step into the legendary shoes of Liao Tianding, a folk hero from Taiwanese tradition. This interesting premise almost immediately sets this game apart from its indie counterparts. Playing out as a mostly traditional action platformer with light Metroidvania elements, The Legend of Tianding is equal parts polished and enjoyable for genre fans.
While the game itself isn't overly challenging, especially since a good tutorial early on provides players with a wealth of basic knowledge, there are still some tips and tricks to know when first playing as Tianding. The game's mix of styles and narrative angles make it a real treat to play and this is only enhanced by the top-notch moment-to-moment gameplay.
8 Choosing The Best Difficulty
It's always nice when a game gives players options when it comes to difficulty. In the case of The Legend of Tianding, players can choose between Gentleman Thief or Wanted Outlaw. Gentleman Thief is the game's narrative mode, offering less overall challenge and difficulty in order to enjoy the story more easily.
The Wanted Outlaw mode is much more challenging, letting players explore difficult levels while facing off against more punishing baddies. Fortunately, the game's difficulty can be toggled at any time from the settings menu so there's no pressure to stick with one.
7 Disarm Baddies To Use Their Weapons
One of the more unique gameplay aspects of The Legend of Tianding is the ability to weaken enemies in order to disarm them and steal their weapons. It's quite rare to see a 2d action platformer feature a mechanic like this. Each baddie has a health bar and status. Once the player has pummeled the baddie enough, a prompt pops up on the screen to move into a disarm animation.
Players are able to steal swords, daggers, axes, and even firearms if performed correctly. These weapons can now be used by the player to deal additional damage. The player can also drop this secondary weapon at any time if they want to try something new or just go back to the default attacks.
6 Dodge Through Enemies And Hazards
Any good action or platforming game should offer players copious ways to dodge and move through the environment. Fortunately, in the case of this game, players can run, jump, double-jump, and most importantly; dodge. Dodging in this game provides a few frames of invulnerability and can be used to (of course) dodge attacks but also through enemies and environmental hazards.
Right from the gameplay onset, players can also perform an air dodge to get out of harm's way or to navigate more effectively in the tougher platformer sections. Practice using the dodge and air dodge at all times in order to stay nimble while avoiding damage.
5 The Importance Of Checkpoints
It may sound very obvious but checkpoints in The Legend of Tianding should be sought out at all times. The main reason for this, apart from saving the game, is that they replenish Tianding's health and healing food buns. Yes, healing in this game comes from eating delectable buns.
Checkpoints are strewn all over the explorable levels and provide a nice respite from the frenetic action. If players find themselves low on health and buns, simply head (or backtrack) to a checkpoint to heal up and save the game progress.
4 Take Time To Chat With NPCs
The Legend of Tianding is a narrative-rich game, dealing with historical and mystical events surrounding the 20th-century Colonial Japanese area that the game takes place in and around. Players are going to learn about Taiwanese and Japanese cultures and values to some extent, thus making this game strong in story and place.
Fortunately, there are tons of NPCs to chat with at any time. These NPCs can be interacted with and will offer up tidbits of lore. Sure, it's mostly optional, however, it helps add to the game's overall immersion and sense of ambiance and storytelling.
3 Using Spiderwire For Traversal
Traversal and environmental navigation are of the utmost importance in most action platformers and Metroidvanias, with that fact remaining true in The Legend of Tianding. Apart from Tianding's basic maneuvers, he can also use something called Spiderwire to traverse through the more tricky scenarios.
Using the Spiderwire mostly comes down to jumping towards a spherical latch and hooking onto it with the item. Doing so is quick, easy, and responsive, and can be used to get to hard-to-reach places. What makes the Spiderwire even more useful is that it can be used in any direction depending on which way Tianding is facing.
2 Focus On Combo Attacks
The Legend of Tianding's combat system is quite deep and extensive, even early on in the opening hours of the game. Tianding can perform multiple regular attacks, dodges, and disarm maneuvers, all while staying nimble and responsive. However, in order to deal the most punishment (and stay alive longer), it's highly encouraged to use combo attacks, keeping in mind Tianding's stamina.
Combo attacks are fast and fluid and provide a great way to take on multiple opponents at once, especially if players can disarm them first. Upon finding training manuals through exploration, players can enhance combos with directional attacks as well, something that helps keep the moment-to-moment action fresh and frenetic.
1 Keep An Eye Out For Secret Areas
Nothing beats the feeling of discovering a well-hidden secret area in a video game. In The Legend of Tianding's case, these hidden areas are numerous and reward the player with currency (Yen) and training manuals, on top of other goodies. It's a great idea to always keep your eyes open for these secret areas.
Fortunately, many of these areas are denoted by a treasure chest, meaning players will have to perform some specific moves in order to prove themselves worthy to get the coveted rewards. Players should be exploring every nook and cranny of the game's myriad levels.
The Legend of Tianding is currently available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.