Xuan-Yuan Sword: Dance of the Maple Leaves

About

This turn-based RPG follows Fu Ziche, a tinkerer specializing in mechanical golems, as he hunts down a rogue warlord misusing ancient tech. Set during the Warring States era, the game blends strategic combat with exploration and character interaction. Players manage a party navigating pre-war China, solving puzzles, and battling armies of mechanized giants called Jiguan Ren. The interface and core mechanics echo earlier entries in the series but add tweaks like more detailed war machines and a narrative rooted in real history. The game stands out for its integration of historical figures like Mozi and Sun Bin, who appear as advisors or foes. Community notes highlight the emotional arc between Fu Ziche and Wenjin, the warlord’s daughter, though the story remains self-contained. With a PC release in 1995 followed by iOS and DOS ports, it’s one of the series’ earliest standalone tales. The Xuan-Yuan Sword itself plays a key role, not as a tool for players but a weapon wielded by the antagonist in the final showdown.

Storyline

The first standalone expansion episode in the series, the story of Dance of the Maple Banners (楓之舞) was based on the Warring States period in Chinese History. The Sword fell into the hands of the political radical, Shusangzi (蜀桑子 or Sang Jing 桑凈). The main character Fu Ziche (輔子徹) is an eccentric young disciple of Mozi, and is also an expert in mechanical engineering, especially in the creation and manipulation of Jiguan Ren (機關人), man-sized mechanical golems powered by mystic energy. Jiguan Ren were originally developed for war, but their designs were hidden away for fear of being misused. Shusangzi had re-discovered this technology, and developed a large Jiguan army for his own ends. Upon learning of this, Mozi sent Fu Ziche to investigate, and if possible, to stop Shusangzi. On his quest, he encountered Wenjin (紋錦), the estranged daughter of Sang created with the aid of the power of the Vessel, and they eventually fell in love.