I Just Want Players to Save Money, They Insist on Giving Me!
Chapter 624 - 196: This game has defense counterattacks? Then, how can I lose?_1

Chapter 624: Chapter 196: This game has defense counterattacks? Then, how can I lose?_1

After being killed by the Crab BOSS in two strikes, an automatic cutscene begins.

The Fading One, while unconscious from the fall down the cliff, faintly hears a voice of supreme gentleness.

"Finally found you.

...Don’t worry, Torret, there’s still hope."

Shortly after, Czcu sees a girl riding a mount that he can’t quite tell is a horse or a donkey.

She jumps down from the saddle dressed in a gold-brown hooded robe.

She then walks over and squats beside the Fading One.

"This person will surely seek the Elden Ring...

Even if it means defying the Golden Rule."

After a short segment of seemingly meaningless dialogue, the cutscene ends.

The player now finds themselves in a spacious cave.

Ahead sits a white-glowing spirit-like being on a chair, as if beckoning the player to discover its secrets.

As Czcu controls the Fading One to approach, he realizes that this is the true tutorial.

Following the guide, he jumps into a large pit next to the spirit.

The tutorial officially begins.

Originally, Czcu was mentally prepared.

After all, games labeled with the action genre tend to be complex to highlight the action gameplay element.

Even the tutorial teaches the player some basic combos and skills casting techniques, and so on.

Moreover, each action game has its unique play style, which means each has its sequence of combos.

This requires a certain learning curve for new players to the game.

However, what surprises Czcu is...

The action element of "Elden" seems a bit...

Too simple?

In just a few minutes of the tutorial,

Czcu only learned Normal Attacks, charged heavy strikes, jumping slashes, and holding a shield for defense, Shield Counterattack.

And that’s it...

But these elements aren’t even exclusive to ACT games...

These are the most, most basic stuff, right?

There’s not even a Rising Dragon.

And forget about Rising Dragon.

The classic action game mechanics of ’three Ordinary Attacks is a combo’ or ’an Ordinary Attack plus a heavy attack followed by another Ordinary Attack’ makes a different combo.

Even that doesn’t exist.

It doesn’t even have the concept of the ’worker’s triple combo’.

The Fading One has just a simple two-strike pattern; no matter how Czcu maneuvers, it’s just swinging the sword left and right.

What’s even more puzzling for Czcu is...

The enemies provided in the tutorial for players to practice on are also very fragile.

Almost one hit per enemy.

With such a health line, forget about mastering combos.

It’s even difficult to warm up.

It feels like the designer didn’t intend for players to delve into combat strategies in the tutorial at all?

"ummmm..."

"This game is so weird."

"Let’s keep playing."

Czcu can’t judge the game from the start and decides to explore further.

Soon, he learns how to use Battle Skills.

That is, the special Skill inherent to the weapon the player is using.

His shield carries the classic Battle Skill found in many games: Shield Counter.

And different shields or weapons have different Battle Skills.

This aspect is relatively easy to understand.

Moving forward, after going through a narrow corridor, Czcu learns something new.

This time, it’s about crouching and executing backstabs.

Again, there are a few enemies that can be taken down in one or two hits, set there for simple practice.

"I quite like the backstab mechanic, but the moves still seem too basic," Czcu reflects.

"What’s the deal, top player? Can we turn up the difficulty a bit?" he frowns slightly.

"With such easy difficulty, I feel like my eight-year-old nephew could master this game easily."

Deep down, Czcu hopes that the top player would bring out something more substantial.

After all, the world has long suffered without the Hope Flute.

But judging by what has been shown so far...

"It feels like it can’t compete with ’Dark Domain.’"

As soon as he finishes speaking, a more elaborately equipped soldier appears ahead.

The soldier holds a silver shield and a spear, with a metal helmet on his head.

A full health bar pops up as soon as the player’s gaze meets that of the soldier.

"Wow! Here comes a BOSS!" Czcu’s eyes light up slightly.

At last, a worthy opponent arrives.

Time to warm up properly!

But just as Czcu was about to rush forward...

A tutorial popup appears once again.

[Defense counterattack: When you block an enemy’s attack, you can immediately follow up with a defense counterattack, which can cause the enemy to lose balance and expose a vulnerability.]

"What?" Czcu is stunned.

"If I understand it literally..."

"I can raise my shield to block the enemy’s attack, then sneak in a slash? And I can even make them lose balance and then follow up with more attacks?"

"Wouldn’t I be completely invincible?"

"What kind of monster could hurt me then?"

As he speaks, Czcu scans the live comments.

Everyone is suggesting not to just talk but to give it a try.

"Heh, underestimating me?" Without saying another word, Czcu charges directly at the BOSS named [Soldier Gerrick].

"Watch closely, I’m telling you this mechanic is a blunder, and I’m not just talking nonsense," he says as he raises his shield in front of the BOSS.

After a brief wait, the BOSS can’t hold back and strikes with his spear toward the Fading One’s shield.

"Thud!"

The impact of the attack is fully absorbed.

And in that moment, Czcu presses for a Defense Counterattack.

"Ding!—Smack!" The Fading One swings back the shield, knocking the BOSS off balance and follows up by slashing at him with his sword.