'Daba: Land of Water Scar,' a title currently participating in the China Hero Project—a game discovery and support initiative run by Sony Interactive Entertainment—was showcased at ChinaJoy 2026.

The game follows a protagonist in a world on the brink of collapse, fighting against looming threats to uncover their own story. It stands out for its efforts to avoid environmental monotony by utilizing diverse settings, including ruins, ancient cities, prisons, and snowy forests.

The demo allowed for gameplay ranging from encounters with minor enemies in a steep, snowy mountain dungeon to a boss fight. Like other Soulslike games, the minor enemy sections feature both 1-on-1 and 1-on-many combat. In the boss fight, understanding attack patterns was far more important than mindless aggression.

What sets this game apart is that it prioritizes fast-paced counterattacks over the standard rolling and basic attacks typical of the Soulslike genre. Players must skillfully utilize parrying, dodging, and counterattacks to clear encounters. Counterattacks are particularly crucial, as they offer significant rewards for successful execution. When an enemy's attack is highlighted in red, it can be countered using the R2 button.

Additionally, a charge skill that allows players to unleash more powerful attacks by building up energy adds to the combat fun. The game retains the high-stakes, life-or-death tension characteristic of the Soulslike genre while leveraging high-risk, high-reward 'one-hit' mechanics to stimulate dopamine and the desire for challenge.

A developer watching the demo nearby offered a tip as I struggled briefly with the boss: "The game is designed to reward explosive damage dealing through R2-based counters rather than just rolling (dodging) and basic attacks. You'll find it much more fun if you utilize that."

Looking at recent Soulslike titles, many now incorporate diverse gimmicks or fast-paced combat to reduce player fatigue while maintaining the high-stakes pressure of death, encouraging repeated attempts. Daba: Land of Water Scar felt exactly like that.

One point of concern is that the landscape of the Chinese console game market has shifted significantly since the game was first demoed in 2023. User expectations, particularly regarding quality, have skyrocketed. With the arrival of 'Black Myth: Wukong' and the upcoming release of 'Phantom Blade Zero,' the bar for Chinese gamers has been raised considerably.

The reception of games with questionable quality released last year, such as 'Lost Soul Aside' and 'Ming-Ming: Feather of the Void,' serves as a cautionary tale. In this climate, the level of polish and the market positioning of 'Daba: Land of Water Scar' appear to be critical.