Nexon teases its next big thing: A singleplayer action-adventure about a 'Mage of the Way' who battles injustice and corruption in ancient Korea

Woochi the Wayfarer | Teaser Trailer - YouTube Woochi the Wayfarer | Teaser Trailer - YouTube
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I wasn't sure what to make of Woochi the Wayfarer when I first saw the title, but I reflexively assumed it would be cozy, and probably star a large anthropomorphic animal—an overweight bear, perhaps—with a bindle. I could not have been further off the mark if I had put conscious effort into it. It is in fact inspired by the "classic Korean novel" The Tale of Jeon Woochi, about a Dosa—a Mage of the Way— named Jeon Woochi, who battles injustice and corruption in Joseon-era Korea.

The announcement is short on specifics: Woochi the Wayfarer "will deliver players a deeply immersive and thrilling action gameplay experience featuring magical settings along with Korean traditional monsters and music," Nexon said, which, sure, makes for a solid basis for a videogame—in the most vague way possible.

There's not much more to be seen in the announcement teaser, which showcases a "fierce standoff" between Woochi and Myoan, "a mysterious shaman." It looks probably soulslike—oh boy, another boss fight—but there's the possibility of something more Witcher-like as well. Call me an optimist if you will, but the video isn't all that terribly dissimilar from The Witcher 3 launch cinematic "A Night to Remember," although not nearly as grim and sad. I wouldn't say it's likely—in fact, I'd say it's very unlikely—but a Witcher-like set in 1500s Korea? I would definitely be interested in that.

"Woochi the Wayfarer will provide a fresh and unique play experience that is based on traditional Korean materials while also having an emotional resonance that anyone around the world can relate to," Nexon CEO Park Yong-hyun said. "We plan to present a game that will appeal to gamers of all cultures, telling an amazing story that fully showcases Nexon Games' development capabilities and accumulated experience."

Well, not much help to be found there either, but he's not kidding about Woochi embracing "traditional Korean materials." Developer LoreVault Studio is working with experts in Korean literature and traditional music "to effectively represent Korea's unique history and culture within the game," and the studio is also "visiting cultural sites across Korea to recreate the Joseon era in high-quality 3D." Composer Jung Jae-il, whose previous work includes the soundtracks from the film Parasite and the Netflix series Squid Game, has also been signed up to create Woochi the Wayfarer's soundtrack.

There's no hint of a release date yet, and given that the developers are still scouting locations, I would imagine Woochi the Wayfarer is a good way off. But I also suspect it'll be one to keep an eye on as it gets closer.

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Andy Chalk
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Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.

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