A Whisper of Fall: Jinyiwei might just be the absolute biggest surprise for me at this year’s Gamescom. First off, I had no idea what to expect. I saw the trailer, and that was it. I expected nothing spectacular, yet I was greeted by a game featuring perhaps the best combat mechanics currently in development. And no, I’m not exaggerating when I say that. I was so utterly blown away that when I noticed I only had a few minutes left on my demo, I immediately put it down, because I knew if I kept playing, it would be impossible to pry the controller out of my hands. Now, everyone is probably thinking: “Okay, a Chinese studio making another action RPG,” but no, it is not that simple, from how the game looks to how it controls. Even though this was an “early” demo, it felt so incredibly polished that it wouldn’t surprise me if the game launched in a few months. Unfortunately, that’s not the case; the development team at Cangmo Games just prepared an exceptionally good build for their Gamescom showcase.
The story takes us to the twilight days of the Ming Dynasty, a period when the empire still looks impressive on the outside but is slowly crumbling from within. You play as an ordinary boatman who, completely unplanned, gets thrust into the Jinyiwei, the imperial secret police, but not as a standard member. He is actually a double agent, simultaneously executing orders for the Jinyiwei and working for the black market. As your investigations progress, it becomes glaringly obvious that a much grander political conspiracy hides behind these individual cases.
The Jinyiwei organization is a highly fascinating choice for the main role. This is not your classic heroic organization. Its members have the authority to arrest, interrogate, torture, and even pass judgment on enemies of the state, especially high-ranking officials who sit beyond the reach of normal institutions. In other words, you, as the protagonist, find yourself in a very tight spot. On one hand, you represent the extended arm of the empire; on the other, you are actively trying to undermine it from within. I genuinely didn’t know if this was pure fiction or based on historical events, and I was quite surprised when they told me the Jinyiwei was a real historical organization, and that the setup is grounded in true events. Of course, that doesn’t mean the specific plot is real history; rather, it serves as the historical skeleton they used to flesh out the game.
However, the absolute best mechanic in the game is the so-called “Deduction.” The main character possesses a unique power to rewind time when he messes something up during a mission. He can see how the current situation plays out, inevitably fail in his initial intent, and then literally turn back the clock. Armed with the knowledge of his mistakes, he can fix things, or rather, use his newly acquired foresight to do things differently. For example, say you try to pass a security checkpoint to reach a person of interest. The guards won’t let you through, so you slaughter them. As you sprint toward the person you need to interrogate, they hear the commotion and simply run away. At that point, you can analyze what you did wrong, learn the layout and the dynamics of the situation based on the “past,” and rewind time to start over. Then, armed with all that knowledge, you can bluff your way into the palace, effortlessly sneak through the entire complex, and simply grab the target you are hunting.
I find this to be an absolutely brilliant mechanic because it essentially means you can play the same level multiple ways. Every attempt yields a completely different outcome, different enemy placements on the map, and, naturally, different reactions to your presence. Best of all, the game does not hold your hand. If you are creative and resourceful, you can find the perfect route and complete the mission on your very first try. So, it’s entirely up to you.
In the demo I played, I didn’t experience that exact scenario, but a different one: I had to reach a prisoner, and it was practically a race against time against a rival faction chasing the same person. The problem was that if they got to him first, they would kill him, meaning you couldn’t extract any information from him. But by a stroke of luck, and my own sheer clumsiness while platforming, I managed to stumble upon a shortcut and reach the prisoner first. So, in my specific case, there was no need to “replay” the entire mission to see alternate events unfold. While all of that is cool, I have to circle back to what absolutely blew my mind.
At its core, this game blends several distinct gameplay elements. One is stealth, which works excellently, and in moments feels like a mashup of Tenchu and Assassin’s Creed. You have to be quiet, but also lethally decisive when the window of opportunity opens. The other side of the coin is the absolutely spectacular combat system, which screams brilliance, especially during boss fights.
Now, I absolutely adore Team Ninja games, and I honestly believe they are the studio that crafts the best combat mechanics in the industry. The proof lies in the sheer number of their titles that absolutely shine when it comes to that style of gameplay. And I have to say, Cangmo Games comes so inexplicably close to their throne with what is effectively their debut title. When I entered a boss fight, I had no idea what to expect. But the moment we started trading blows, it turned into a literal dance of blocks, parries, deflects, dodges, and chasing each other across the arena. The best part is that this incredible experience is massively elevated by the game’s stellar animations. Every move, every sword swing, and every dodge looks truly magnificent. When you start dancing with a boss, the choreography unfolding before your eyes, choreography you are directing, looks truly unbeliveable.
During my playtime, I had several of those “phew” moments. Honestly, I didn’t expect this, but I was completely blown away and thrilled the moment I started playing. Naturally, I didn’t manage to beat the boss. Not on my fifth try, nor my tenth. Not because I didn’t know how to play, but simply because, in just under an hour, I couldn’t fully adapt to the game’s unique controls. I’m not saying they are bad, but they are slightly different from what you’re used to in other games, and it simply takes time to build that muscle memory.
Finally, if I had to explain the combat mechanics to someone, the simplest way to put it would be: a combination of Ninja Gaiden 2 on Master Ninja difficulty (fast, ruthless action) mixed with elements from Rise of the Ronin. On several occasions, I tried to get the producer to admit that these titles were inspirations for A Whisper of Fall. But get this, they weren’t even familiar with those games! That was yet another mind-blown moment I had during the presentation and playthrough. Not because everyone is obligated to know every game, but because it’s staggering how they crafted such brilliant mechanics without drawing from those specific, legendary inspirations.
This is undeniably a game I cannot wait to play when it launches, and I just hope that alongside the PC platform, it sees the light of day on consoles too. Because, as I said, this is undoubtedly one of the biggest surprises of this year’s Gamescom, and I am incredibly glad that such talented people can finally create something this good, even if they are currently unknown to the majority of gamers worldwide. So, go wishlist Jinyiwei: A Whisper of Fall on Steam, because this game is absolutely worth keeping an eye on.
