PREVIEW: Blood Message Deserves Way More Attention Than It’s Getting

Blood Message received an all-new trailer during the Summer Game Fest showcase, and I was lucky enough to follow that up with a behind-closed-doors hands-on preview at Play Days in Los Angeles. I was welcomed by NetEase and 24 Entertainment and given a brief introduction before diving into an early segment of Blood Message.

When I walked away, I turned to the developers in the room and pledged, ‘This is going to win awards.’ I was so taken aback by the quality, intensity, and emotion on display in Blood Message, and mused that it’s a single-player narrative title that could go toe-to-toe with the likes of Naughty Dog.

This is why I think Blood Message deserves way more attention than it’s getting.

Blood Message Will Blow Minds

Blood Message is shaping up to be one of the most impressive narrative-driven games in a hot minute. It’s a linear thing, which is refreshing, as it pulls away from some of the open-world fatigue gamers might be feeling these days.

What’s interesting is that Blood Message is rooted in reality. It takes place in 848 AD, during the late Tang Dynasty, and it sees players cross a war-torn landscape, exploring Chinese history and culture in a visceral and immersive way.

As players dive into Blood Message, they’re treated to some of the most jaw-dropping visuals, immense cinematic sequences, and authentic combat mechanics in recent years. When I played Blood Message, everything from the scripted chase sequences to the desperate fights for survival blew my hair back. I found myself connecting with the characters remarkably fast, and in a matter of minutes, I was emotionally invested.

The character models, set pieces, and vistas are all sumptuous and intricate. The smaller details make you stop and stare, and if this game doesn’t launch with a photo mode, I’ll start some kind of revolution, because I just wanted to take pictures of everything in Blood Message.

For instance, I entered some kind of textile store while sneaking my way past guards, and the way the light came through the roof slats, illuminating the dust hanging in the air, kicked up from the sandy floor and drifting across the half-lit interior, had me begging for some digital photography options.

I wasn’t able to find out how long the linear experience found in Blood Message will be, but the opening segment that I played sets up an epic story, which I later learned covers 1,000 miles across a brutal yet beautiful Chinese landscape.

The UI is almost non-existent, plunging players into a deep immersion, and the combat feels weighty, authentic, and frantic. The controls were easy to pick up, and the nature of the game as a third-person action title felt familiar within a matter of minutes. The animations were sublime, the Chinese voice acting was on point, and the audio palette, even through a set of tinny television speakers, was incredible.

I will proudly say that Blood Message was my number one game from the Play Days showcase in Los Angeles, and I was exposed to a lot of titles. I’m eagerly awaiting more information about this game, and if you are too, I’d firmly recommend you stay tuned and join the Insider Gaming Discord server.

For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out our preview of Arizona Sunshine from Summer Game Fest