Huan Shi Lu Remake Review: Combo Kill System Turns SRPG Into a Greed-Fueled Death March
The Combo Kill system inverts the standard SRPG tactic of eliminating threats quickly, forcing players to weigh risk against reward in a way that the Automaton review describes as a 'dopamine rush' and a 'strategic dilemma' that turns the game into a self-imposed death game.
Key Facts
- Huan Shi Lu Remake is a full remake of the 1998 PC SRPG The Legend of Fancy Realm, developed by USERJOY Technology.
- The game is scheduled for release on September 10, 2026, on Steam, and supports Japanese display.
- A free demo was released on July 22, 2026, and its save data can be carried over to the full version.
- The Combo Kill system multiplies experience gained by up to 5x when the same character defeats enemies in consecutive turns.
- The game features three difficulty levels: Normal, Story Mode, and Hard Mode.
Reporting from 2 sources: Automaton, Game Spark.
USERJOY Technology's Huan Shi Lu Remake, a full remake of the 1998 Chinese-language PC SRPG The Legend of Fancy Realm, is set to launch on Steam on September 10, 2026. A free demo is available now, and its save data carries over to the full version. The game preserves the original's story and charm while overhauling visuals and systems, adding multiple endings and quality-of-life features. The protagonist, Leonardo, is a mercenary and former knight commander who killed the emperor of the Lars Empire, whose daughter, Tina, he now protects. The demo's standout mechanic is the Combo Kill system, which grants an experience multiplier that increases when the same character defeats enemies in consecutive turns, up to a maximum of 5x. This creates a strategic dilemma: players must hold off on defeating strong enemies to maximize the bonus, leaving themselves vulnerable. The reviewer, playing on Normal mode, found themselves reloading frequently, turning the game into a battle against their own greed for experience. The game also features a turn rewind function, free saving, and three difficulty levels, including Story Mode and Hard Mode.
- Leonardo's backstory differs across outlets: Automaton frames him as a knight commander who rebelled against being treated as a disposable pawn, while Game Spark adds that he was awarded a medal for slaying Emperor Frank and appointed first captain of the Royal Knights before declining and being exiled from the Wosfita Republic.
- The Fairy King Crius captures Tina and pressures her to marry a knight of the Wosfita Republic, which Game Spark notes she escapes from on her own before meeting Leonardo.
- Kohaku is a demi-human archer who became a criminal after disobeying a superior to help young soldiers, earning the label "traitor"; the duo is known as the "Twin Reapers" or "Twin-Headed Reaper."
- Game Spark details the growth system: leveling up lets players allocate ability points, learn new skills, change character jobs, and some characters have top-tier jobs available.
- A "!" mark appears above enemies when a character enters their normal attack range, making threats visible at a glance.
- Card battles are implemented, with three characters available to fight in the demo.
- Stages include special challenge conditions beyond clear objectives, such as clearing within a set number of turns, which Automaton says further accelerates the Combo Kill dilemma.
- The demo was released on July 22, 2026, per Game Spark.
- Game Spark quotes Leonardo telling villagers who cannot afford his fee, "Show me more sincerity," and notes he once tries to leave a village mid-bandit attack before the negotiation succeeds.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.