I just finished my preview of CINDER CITY at Gamescom 2025, thanks to NVIDIA. Let me tell you, this girl hasn’t faced so many deaths in public, not to mention in front of an audience, but CINDER CITY definitely set me straight.

NCSOFT presented CINDER CITY, previously known as Project LLL, on the Gamescom showroom floor, but not before NVIDIA highlighted it at a private event showcasing DLSS 4 and the RTX 5090 GPUs. It was here that I managed to squeeze in around 20 minutes of hands-on gameplay, which included combat, looting, and a lot of dying. The experience began with a cutscene, and the game was rich in detail. The facial features and hair in the scene were astonishingly lifelike, displaying elements like wrinkles, blemishes, and under-eye bags with remarkable accuracy. The character faces were exceptionally realistic.

Following that, the player’s character is introduced as Seven. He seems to be a highly advanced soldier, equipped with multiple weapons and gear. Your commanding officer sends you off from an airship as a final effort. Seven appears to be the go-to choice when you need the task accomplished. In a comprehensive Iron Man-like suit, you’re launched from the ship into a realm populated by Knights, who are the foes you encounter.

“Let me tell you, this girl hasn’t faced so many deaths in public, not to mention in front of an audience, but CINDER CITY definitely set me straight.”

All the adversaries I faced were human, each with distinct abilities. However, the trailer hints at a lot more. During my brief play, I was targeted by several firearms, but I also noticed large shields I had to navigate around, smoke grenades, and seemingly frantic enemies waving their guns above their heads. In many shooters, I can rush in guns blazing, but CINDER CITY appears to necessitate a certain level of strategy, unless you enjoy frequently replaying from your last checkpoint…a lot.

Switching between your weapons is straightforward, just a roll of the scroll wheel, which allows for dynamic adjustments to your gameplay. Full disclosure, I’m more of a controller player, and the keyboard and mouse setup was a bit disorienting. With the capacity to throw grenades, utilize your knife, deploy special abilities, or switch weapons, there’s a lot to manage while dodging bullets from all sides. The keyboard controls mean many of these actions are assigned in ways that might not be comfortable for someone like me with smaller hands. Of course, this could be alleviated with a Naga or similar gaming mouse, but it’s worth considering.

“I’m concerned that CINDER CITY might be attempting to shove too much into one game.”

My primary issue involves the player’s posture while crouching. The visuals during this action seem quite unnatural and odd. While crouching should lower you closer to the ground, in CINDER CITY, it resembles more of a position between standing and squatting, and the movement in this stance feels minimal, almost like a shuffle. Combined, these aspects appear rather silly, to be honest, and detracted from an otherwise visually appealing experience.

Once more, judging by the trailer, I feel like I didn’t get a genuine glimpse of what CINDER CITY will ultimately be. Although I experienced a single mission and learned a bit about my capabilities and navigation, I’m eager to see more of the in-game experience further along in the narrative. With vehicular combat, adversaries ranging from mechs to zombie-like creatures in addition to the humans I fought, acid-spewing creatures, mechs—and…was that a face-hugger—I’m worried that CINDER CITY may be trying to fit too much into one title. The trailer doesn’t seem to align with the narrative I played, aside from a short clip from a cutscene, so I genuinely want to explore deeper and see how everything coalesces.

My encounter with CINDER CITY was brief but enjoyable, and I believe once I have some time to adjust, it could turn into an exhilarating shooter experience. After the demo, I found myself wanting to learn more about Seven and his significance, as well as how everything interconnects. A game that makes you eager to return is the ultimate achievement.

**Digital Content Production: A Pathway to Fame and Impact**

The realm of digital content production has transformed from a simple pastime into a legitimate career choice, launching creators into the limelight and considerably affecting consumer habits. With traditional advertising waning, content producers have risen as influential sales conduits, revolutionizing marketing tactics and consumer interactions.

**Understanding the Creator Economy**

The creator economy encompasses platforms like YouTube and DeviantArt, where individuals distribute and monetize their creations. Content producers build robust connections with their audiences, gaining trust and authority. This connection enables creators to capitalize on their influence, altering product views and driving sales through reviews and endorsements.

**Evolution of Marketing**

Brands tap into influencer fame, with creators frequently endorsing products organically or through paid partnerships. Authenticity is paramount, as consumers favor real voices over rehearsed advertisements. Creators within specialized niches can effortlessly blend promotions, focusing on targeted audiences. The supremacy of social media over conventional media further enhances the influence of creators on consumer choices.

**Creators’ Transparency and Disclosure**

Unrevealed influencer marketing has led to a wary consumer base. Openness is essential, as misleading tactics can tarnish credibility. Aspiring creators must reveal sponsorships to uphold trust and comply with regulations such as those from the FTC.

**Income Opportunities for New Content Creators**

Creators can generate revenue through various avenues, including selling digital items, providing exclusive content via subscriptions, and utilizing platforms like Patreon. Built-in monetization features and strategic alliances can unlock earning potential. Investing in high-quality equipment and content strategies is crucial for attracting sponsorships and cultivating a dedicated audience.

Content producers have become crucial in influencing consumer choices, with the creator economy presenting profitable prospects. Nevertheless, preserving integrity and partnering with reputable brands is essential for enduring success.

In a realm brimming with countless games at our disposal, the beloved genre can easily become tiresome. Despite an urgent desire for something novel, if the newest offering isn’t a sequel, prequel, remaster, or remake, the excitement rarely reaches its full potential due to apprehension about the unfamiliar. Personally, I favor RPGs and action-RPGs, yet recent entries have failed to captivate me…until this moment.

I had the opportunity to experience a one-hour preview of *The Blood of Dawnwalker* from the new studio, [Rebel Wolves](https://rebel-wolves.com/en) and [Bandai Namco](https://www.cgmagonline.com/articles/previews/towa-and-the-guardians-of-the-sacred-tree/). I can assert with confidence that they are offering a vibrant approach to the action-RPG genre, and I am both thrilled and anxious to dive in.

During our demonstration, we witnessed what I believe to be the game’s introductory cutscene, followed by a quest line set later in the game when you would have become acquainted with the distinctive gameplay loop and your skills. That opening cutscene had me enthralled. I wish to maintain the element of surprise for other players, but in just those initial moments, I felt fear, sorrow, terror, and fury establishing the ambiance for your journey in *The Blood of Dawnwalker*.

### “Detective skills will play a crucial role in The Blood of Dawnwalker, as investigations will grant you access to new insights, dialogue choices, or the subsequent portion of a quest.”

The game is constructed using Unreal Engine 5, and the cutscene was stunningly crafted. Sweat shimmered on the character’s skin, and you could see their breath in the frosty air. The audio and voice performances were equally impressive. If this level of quality persists, there’s something genuinely extraordinary unfolding here.

What I can reveal about the narrative is that you take on the role of Coen, a man in 14th-century Europe, amidst the creeping Black Plague. The Vrakhiri—essentially their interpretation of a vampire (bringing to mind the Volturi, *[Twilight](https://www.cgmagonline.com/articles/features/five-blood-sucking-vampire-classics-to-watch-instead-of-twilight/),* perhaps?)—sought to transform you into one of their own. However, you evolved into something different. You are a Dawnwalker—though this revelation occurs later in the story. Fortunately, some narrative elements were left out for me, and I am genuinely curious to piece things together when I get to play the game myself. As a Dawnwalker, you possess the ability to…well, walk at dawn. You can exist in both sunlight and darkness.

This introduces one of several distinctive mechanics in *The Blood of Dawnwalker*. While you can live during both day and night, your array of skills differs for each time period. To demonstrate this, Rebel Wolves guided us through the same quest on two occasions, once by day and once by night, highlighting the pros and cons of each scenario. At night, you gain access to a teleportation ability that facilitates movement more easily than during daylight. The lighter crowds also contribute to this advantage. You battle using sharp claws and powers, although I don’t believe we encountered any combat capabilities in the demo.

By day, you’ll find more people to interact with and investigate, to start with. You wield magic and a sword regarding combat. One unique ability you have as a human is communicating with the deceased to uncover details about past events and advance your investigations. From what I gathered, detective skills will be essential in *The Blood of Dawnwalker*, as delving into mysteries will open pathways to new information, potentially providing fresh dialogue options or guiding you to the next quest segment.

Questing presents another intricate mechanic in *The Blood of Dawnwalker*. Certain quests will necessitate your Vrakhiri form, while others require your human form, particularly based on the time of day. You can undertake quests at any point, with a non-linear structure, allowing for flexibility in your gameplay experience across different playthroughs. This leads to another mechanic: not every quest will be available to you.

As part of a storyline element that I’m not privy to yet, you have a limited timeframe to rescue your family. This is not an RPG that goes on indefinitely. You must decide who to assist and which quests to pursue. Some will push time forward, in days or units, and you have only 30 days. A segment of the story appears to navigate the moral complexities between good and