TL:DR; Hero's adventure: Road to Passion is held back by brute-force combat design and rough translation, but more than makes up for it with mountains of content and excellent representation of both the wuxia genre and Chinese literature.

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What a pleasant surprise! I had more than a few misgivings about the game, what with the inconsistent translations ("Qi" and "Energy" are used interchangeably, for instance) and combat system. The combat system has all sort of different stats and passives and what-nots, but overwhelming brute force pretty much beats any other tactic in this game (hint: Stack up Strength and Action Speed, and pick up the last node in Thunder passive tree). It doesn't help that the large number of AoE attacks removes a lot of tactical positioning. I suppose most people will enjoy coming into power then breezing through the opposition like the overpowered protagonist you are.

None of those criticisms I have of the game really matter. The sheer amount of content in the form of story and, well, adventuring more than makes up for in in spades. There are over 40 different interesting characters who can join your team of six (the excess of whom can be placed in your homestead to give you bonuses), and many of them have interesting stories which introduce you to them. And that's not including the quest-lines from each of the different factions and sects, and there are a LOT of them!

I was genuinely surprised by just how many Chinese literature troupes were represented in Hero's Adventure. Some examples include:
a) Justice Bao style courtroom drama
b) Investigation of crime scene
c) War tactics (lightly) reminiscent of Romance of Three Kingdoms
d) Philosophy of the three major religions; Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism.
e) Gu poison practitioners (which, granted, are not uncommon in wuxia)
and plenty of wuxia specific troupes such as kung fu masters and inter-sect politics, of course.

In summary, Hero's Adventure has some janky aspects, but the sheer amount of story content eclipses such concerns. Take your time to explore the world, find the hidden treasures, build a large harem [gotta catch 'em all, huh? (-‿-") ], and flattening fools who court death by disrespecting you.

A tip for beginners: The drunk old man in the village is the "tutorial" sect, accept him as your teacher. Stick with him for your first playthrough as he'll guide you through some of the game's main quests and leads to a unique ending. You can try joining other sects in future playthroughs. Pick either Fist or other martial weapons (not exotic weapons like fan or brush or musical instruments like I did) for your first playthrough until you know where you can get the more exotic manuals.

great game, lots to do, english translation isnt the best but its not the worst, 9.5/10

Good

recommended

♥♥♥♥

Fun to Play, Addictive but Can be More Enjoyable with updates

the games world is incredibly large and full of unique quests and events everywhere. almost every unique NPC you meet can eventually be recruited to your party and theres like 12 different endings that range from you taking over the martial arts world to achieving enlightenment and ascending. the games mechanics seem complex on the surface but its really quite simple once you interact with it for a bit.

gameplay is ok but somewhat repetitive. you learn pretty quickly that fights are mostly about who has the highest stats and most damaging skills, theres honestly very few meaningful decisions in combat. the translations ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ but is just functional enough to be (mostly) understandable.

the game basically has endless replay value with how many different skills, equipment, traits, and story choices are available to the player. theres also some meta progression that adds even more replayability. its very fun even with the poor translation.

amazing game and highly recommend. you will be surprised how extensive the game is and how the decisions you make impact. And of course the goal to replay the game with all the strong traits

This game is a rare gem in the underrated Wuxia/Murim genre and offers a refreshing take on martial arts and turn-based combat. I honestly wish there was more games like it, as I know this genre tends to lean onto hack n slash instead (looking at you Dynasty Warriors). I really found this game's combat system to be pretty rewarding, especially with its unique martial arts mechanics and learning tomes for the school or style. I dove in blind on Hard mode, opting for a Luck/Intelligence build to challenge myself without relying on brute strength or agility, and while I may have cheesed some mechanics to survive... the game is pretty flexible in a way that made it possible and enjoyable. That is a big plus in my book.

The Wuxia/Murim atmosphere is brilliantly captured with the quirky, poorly translated (ML) dialogue to the hidden Easter eggs that feel authentic to the genre. The soundtrack complements the experience perfectly, and the relationship-building system adds depth as improving bonds with characters can unlock skills that would otherwise be a grind to obtain.

Ratings:
Artstyle (4/5): The soft, FF Tactics-inspired aesthetic is charming, though it could use some polish.
Customization (3/5): While the main character’s appearance is limited, equipment choices meaningfully impact gameplay.
Gameplay (5/5): A dream for turn-based fans who enjoy experimenting and breaking systems.
Theme (5/5): Perfectly encapsulates the essence of Wuxia and Murim.

Overall Enjoyability: 5/5. But I'm biased.

old school gaming and nice cultural story