Who says there is no free game without brain? The toxic PS4 Hong Kong version of "GUNS UP" teaches Chinese people how to make krypton gold games

For most people, 3A masterpieces on console games are indeed the first choice for hardcore players. However, with the improvement of game production standards in recent years, 3A masterpieces have long been unable to make much waves in the eyes of players, which has also laid a certain foundation for the rise of independent games.

With the development of diversified games, the quality of light, medium and heavy games is gradually becoming balanced. The abundant quantity and good playability also allow foreign players to have a deeper entertainment experience. However, for China, pay-to-win games still dominate the domestic game industry, and free-to-download, mindless mobile games also have the upper hand.

Is it right for independent games to require players to spend money? How can we make a good independent game in China's deformed game industry? All of this, with the PS4 free game "GUNS UP" landing in Asia, seems to have given people a new understanding of pay-to-win games.

Alternative gunfight style in console games

As early as last year, this game was already available on the PS4 platform. Even though there are often free games available on PSN, for foreign players, perhaps charging for props that are downloaded for free is not the right way to play the game. As a result, "GUNS UP" was not outstanding at the time, and foreign media basically gave it a score of around 6 points.

However, after entering Asia, there seem to be some different changes.

The overall graphics of the game are similar to many independent games on Steam, but for the PS4 platform, the cartoon style of "GUNS UP" is more like the mobile games we usually play. After all, casual games like "Child of Light" and "Rayman" do have much better graphics on PS4 than "GUNS UP".

However, this style of painting is indeed a lot more relaxed than most shooting games on consoles, especially the options interface, which is estimated to make many people feel like they are watching a war version of "Plants vs. Zombies". However, with some exciting background music, the only theme of war cannot be escaped in this puzzle tower defense game.

It is worth mentioning that this game, which has been in the American version for a year, was translated into Traditional Chinese soon after it landed in the Asian region. Faced with such a game, many people are also considering whether it is possible to introduce it to the Mainland, but the lack of simplified Chinese is indeed disappointing.

Small but beautiful free game also requires brain

As a tower defense game, domestic mobile games have given us too many templates. The routines of construction, defense, and victory can be found everywhere. This also makes it impossible to find a second eye-catching game among the same type of products in the entire domestic market. This is undoubtedly a tragedy.

This has been presented in a completely new way in "GUNS UP". Although the entire map is relatively simple with only one road, the war theme of the game is quite obvious. At this time, tower defense is no longer a one-way defense, but a back-and-forth bombardment until one side completely disappears.

As a mini-game, this is different from "Westward Journey" on the Chinese Xbox One. The game operation style is also quite similar to "Plants vs. Zombies". It spends military supplies and mobilizes personnel on the battlefield. Although the army takes action immediately, it makes the whole game no longer boring.

Of course, if the direction of the war can be determined solely by the number of soldiers, then what is the difference between this and a mobile game? As the game progresses and the level increases, various types of reinforcement cards emerge in an endless stream. Offensive, defensive, and harassment types all influence the changes in the battle situation at all times. Have you ever thought that when the enemy's soldiers are approaching, a smoke bomb combined with a mine is enough to destroy the enemy's advantage in military strength.

Of course, "GUNS UP" does not have the so-called single-player mode of tower defense games. The full online PVP battle has become the uniqueness of this game. Although the opponent is still controlled by the computer, different players have different ways of playing. Of course, you must always be prepared to be attacked by others.

The base system is essential for tower defense games. In fact, the construction system of "GUNS UP" is quite similar to that of "Warcraft". Building, upgrading, defending, purchasing soldiers, building fortifications, etc., will make people feel that they can do it easily. At the same time, with the PVP battle, the fixed defense mode is abandoned, and the ever-changing game also gives full vitality.

In fact, "GUNS UP" still retains some traditional tower defense elements, but the CPU defense battle after level 5 is really a headache. It abandons the limitations of the turn-based method. In an infinite time, how to rely on the terrain and one's own soldier base to block the enemy's continuous attacks is enough to make people headache, but such a challenge is far stronger than domestic single-mode games.

As for the krypton gold part, in the eyes of most people, as long as it is a prop, it cannot escape the restrictions of this framework. Even the support-type cards are definitely a hole that cannot be filled (those who have played mobile games know that it is easy in the early stage and difficult in the later stage, and it is even more difficult without props).

Similarly, as a pay-to-win game, "GUNS UP" does include cards as a charge. However, with the completion of daily tasks, the number of cards and gold is enough to support the experience of many players. What's more, the conscientious production team only charges for decoration, and other players can experience it for free.

This reminds me of the 1,288 gift pack for the current Chinese version of the console game "Warframe", which really discourages many players, but many Perfect World game fans also jumped in without hesitation.

"GUNS UP" reminds Chinese people to spend money in moderation

Judging from the entire game, "GUNS UP" is not excellent on the console platform, but its novel approach makes the entire tower defense game feel suddenly brand new. Indeed, as an independent game, its unique charm can indeed attract the attention of many players.

However, its scope and the method of paying for games have led many people to classify it as a mobile game. After all, free download and charging for props have long been a way for many domestic game manufacturers to make money. Even many domestic independent games have begun to embark on this abnormal path.

It is not wrong to play games that require pay-to-win, but it has been taken too far in China. This method of charging huge amounts of money actually reduces the vitality of a game. Just imagine that you cannot play the game smoothly without paying. Over time, this will reduce the playability of a game to an invisible level, greatly undermining the stability of the development of the entire gaming industry.

In fact, the console is also a krypton gold system. The game body + paid DLC method can be regarded as a prop charging method. However, it gradually extends the survival time of the game without destroying the game. And the method of charging for decorative clothes like "Milk Row 3" does not hinder the normal progress of the entire game, and players pay just because they are not interested.

The trend of focusing on "money" in China is not normal, which has also made the entire gaming environment distorted. Game developers cannot produce ideal works, and players are also influenced by krypton gold games and cannot distinguish the excellence of works. In the face of such a situation, "GUNS UP" has actually given a good answer, krypton gold should be moderate, otherwise, in the face of such an environment, the domestic gaming industry is like a quagmire, unable to attract players to stay again.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.