Core Viewpoint - The game "Mingmo: Yuanshu Zhi Yu" has experienced a significant drop in reputation despite initial positive reviews, highlighting the complexities of cultural and emotional expectations surrounding it [1][11][28]. Group 1: Game Quality and Design - The game is considered to have a competent quality, with a map design that allows for exploration, although it does not reach the level of renowned titles in the genre [5]. - The battle system encourages players to experiment with different combat styles, featuring a unique design that reduces difficulty through resource management [7][9]. - Despite its quality, the game faced a backlash due to operational and narrative issues, leading to a low approval rating of 19% at launch [11][28]. Group 2: Cultural and Emotional Context - The title "Mingmo" evokes strong historical sentiments among players, representing a complex intersection of nationalism and nostalgia [2][18]. - The game's narrative choices have sparked outrage, as the absence of certain historical representations has been perceived as offensive, leading to accusations of being a "traitor game" [11][13]. - The cultural memory surrounding the Ming dynasty has become a contentious topic, reflecting broader societal divisions and identity politics [18][41]. Group 3: Market and Commercial Strategy - The marketing strategy of leveraging a sensitive historical context has backfired, as it attracted attention but ultimately led to significant backlash [23][25]. - The game's initial promotional tactics were effective in generating interest, but the disconnect between player expectations and the actual experience resulted in a rapid decline in reputation [25][28]. - The game's performance on platforms like Steam shows a stark contrast in approval ratings between Chinese and international players, indicating that the criticism is rooted in cultural sensitivities rather than game quality [28].