NFT-Enabled Hero Shooter Game Could Win Over Mainstream Gamers

 

TL:DR

  • Onenet has launched an open alpha build of Bushi, a fast-paced, third-person arena combat game, built on Unreal Engine 5, with a unique Japanese setting and cel-shaded aesthetic.

  • Players can expect frenetic gameplay, double-jumping, sliding, and pirouetting off walls, as well as ranged and melee attacks that can be charged with a long-press. Bushi is “chain-agnostic” and supports integrations with multiple blockchains, with an integration with Secret Network enabling unique character skins for NFT holders.

  • Bushi is a free-to-play game, and Onenet plans to introduce additional in-game cosmetics as NFTs and an in-game currency, ONET, that will be used across Bushi and other Onenet titles.

Web3 studio Onenet has released an open alpha build of Bushi, a fast-paced, third-person arena combat game with mechanics inspired by Spellbreak, GunZ The Duel, and Fortnite. The game is built on the powerful Unreal Engine 5 development suite and features a unique Japanese setting paired with a slightly cartoonish cel-shaded aesthetic.

The main character, Son Goku, is a Japanese interpretation of the Monkey King from Chinese legend. The arenas include a temple, dohyō, and bridge, familiar sights from countless martial arts films.

In Bushi, gameplay is frenetic and athletic, with characters double-jumping, sliding, and pirouetting off walls. Ranged and melee attacks can be charged with a long-press, while headshots deliver substantial damage without necessarily resulting in an insta-kill.

The alpha build has some balancing issues, as expected, with the one ranged weapon, a bow and arrow, feeling a bit feeble, and melee combat being unrefined. Special moves include a shield, a dash, and a hilariously overpowered sliding slash, which is directional and can be used to reach higher levels.

The game is designed to be “chain-agnostic” and supports integrations with multiple blockchains, though it can also be played as a purely Web2 title. An integration with Secret Network enables holders of Catyclops or Anons NFTs to access unique character skins based on the NFT collections.

Future plans for the game include additional in-game cosmetics as NFTs, plus an in-game currency, ONET, that will be used across Bushi and other Onenet titles. Partnerships with other Web3 platforms are in the offing, with Onenet’s game launcher being built atop layer-1 blockchain Sui, which will support a dynamic battle pass NFT that tracks your in-game statistics.

While it is unfair to judge a game based on an alpha build, with some additional refinement, Bushi could be a fun and accessible title. The game’s focus on melee combat could be expanded with more sophisticated combat mechanics such as directional attacks and blocks, plus combos. The addition of more fluid movements such as cartwheels, wall-crawling, backflips, and pole vaults could make players feel like ninja warriors.

Bushi has the potential to win over mainstream players, with its unique Japanese twist on the Overwatch-like hero shooter/combat approach. The game’s NFT integration is a refreshing change from past Web3 titles, which often position themselves as an earning opportunity first and an actual game second. Onenet assures players that Bushi will be fully free-to-play.

In conclusion, Bushi is a game with enormous potential, and its developers are investing considerable effort in making it stand out. We look forward to seeing how it evolves over time and how it ultimately fares in the highly competitive gaming market.

Bushi screenshot

While the game is still in its alpha stage, it already feels polished and unique, built on the powerful and industry-leading Unreal Engine 5 development suite. The game’s aesthetic features a feudal Japanese setting with a slightly cartoonish cel-shaded aesthetic reminiscent of Borderlands and Overwatch. Players can expect to battle it out in arenas such as a temple, dohyō, and bridge, which are familiar sights from countless martial arts films.

The gameplay of Bushi is frenetic and athletic, with characters double-jumping, sliding, and pirouetting off walls. Ranged and melee attacks can be charged with a long-press, while headshots deliver substantial damage without necessarily resulting in an insta-kill. However, there are some balancing issues in the mix, as you would expect from an alpha build.

Special moves include a shield, a dash, and a hilariously overpowered sliding slash, which is directional and can be used to propel oneself up to a higher level. Depending on the move in question, players have one or several abilities “banked,” with all three recharging over time at different rates.

One thing that sets Bushi apart from other Web3 titles is that it is fully free-to-play, with no in-game economy introduced yet. This is a refreshing change, given that many past Web3 titles seem to position themselves as an earning opportunity first and an actual game a distant second.

Bushi is a samurai-themed shoot-'em-up. Image: Onenet

Moreover, Bushi is designed to be “chain-agnostic” and supports integrations with multiple blockchains, though it can also be played as a purely Web2 title. An integration with Secret Network enables holders of Catyclops or Anons NFTs to access unique character skins based on the NFT collections. Future plans for the game include additional in-game cosmetics as NFTs, plus an in-game currency, ONET, that will be used across Bushi and other Onenet titles. Partnerships with other Web3 platforms are also in the offing.

One potential drawback is that plugging your Keplr wallet into the Onenet website and approving a couple of transactions to access character skins did not work for some players.

If the game does end up being more melee-based than a straight shooter, it would be good to integrate some more sophisticated combat mechanics, such as directional attacks and blocks, plus combos. With the addition of more martial arts moves that could be chained together in a fluid sequence, players will feel like a bona fide ninja warrior.

Overall, Bushi has the potential to be a fun and accessible game that could win over mainstream players, regardless of whether they are interested in NFTs or not. Its Japanese twist on the Overwatch-like hero shooter/combat approach is appealing, and its unique aesthetic and game mechanics could make it stand out from other games in its genre. With additional refinements, it could be a great addition to the Web3 gaming landscape.

 

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