When people see a breathtaking performance, they often rave about it, saying, "That was a killer show." It’s a way of expressing that the experience was so mesmerizing and moving that they could die happy—no one actually gets hurt, of course. But the game I’m about to introduce is a different story. Amidst the flashy choreography, either you die, or your opponent does. The star of this show is 'Tsarevna: Age of Tales,' a killer performance I encountered at ChinaJoy.

How are you finding your time at ChinaJoy.

"It’s incredibly crowded, and it’s a fantastic place for networking and building business connections. As you know, user feedback is vital for developers, and I really appreciate that players are getting hands-on time with the game and sharing their thoughts.

Using ballet as the core combat mechanism is very unique. Where did you get the inspiration?

"My five-year-old daughter does ballet, which was an influence, and I also considered that ballet is a globally popular dance form, including in Russia. As you mentioned, ballet combat is a unique concept, and I wanted to create a game that blends the two.

Could you briefly introduce the game's background story.

" The story is based on Russian Slavic folklore. It’s a very famous fairy tale in Russia, which we’ve adapted slightly. The protagonist is the Swan Princess, who has the ability to transform her arms into wing-blades. The story follows her as she defeats main bosses to protect her island.

The style rank system on the side of the screen reminds me of 'Devil May Cry.'

" That’s right; we were inspired by games like Devil May Cry, Stellar Blade, and Bayonetta. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Devil May Cry 5, and our combat designer is a fan of the classic series. Of course, just because there’s a style rank doesn’t mean it’s aimed only at hardcore players. We’ve worked hard to ensure casual players can also enjoy the satisfying, hack-and-slash combat, similar to God of War.

You mentioned casual players, but after playing it just now, the game feels a bit challenging.

" The demo version is set to be difficult. In the final release, we plan to support a story mode where players can enjoy a simpler hack-and-slash experience while following the narrative. Plus, for those who want a challenge, there’s a Nightmare mode, so please look forward to that (laughs).

Are there enemies who use ballet like the protagonist.

" Absolutely. One of the main bosses is a male ballet dancer. The final boss fight will play out like a back-and-forth ballet choreography; it’s a very cool combat sequence, so I hope you look forward to it.

Could you explain the development progress and the target platforms.

" We plan to release a demo soon. We’ve completed over half of the game and are aiming for a 2027 release. We’re targeting PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, and thanks to good optimization, it runs smoothly on Steam Deck as well. We are also developing it to be playable comfortably on a GTX 1060.

What is the expected playtime for the game.

" It takes about 8 to 10 hours for the story mode. If you aim to complete all Achievements and get an S-rank on everything, we expect it will take over 20 hours.

Any final words for Korean gamers.

" I really love Korean games. I know there are many excellent MMORPGs in Korea, and that amazing titles like Lies of P have been created there. I’m a huge fan of Lies of P, and I want to sincerely thank the Korean game developers who provide such inspiration. Please show lots of interest and support for Tsarevna: Age of Tales.