Developed by Morefun Studios and published by Tencent, The Hidden is a fighting game version of Hitori No Shita: The Outcast series that balances intense action and stunning visuals. Based on the webcomic Under a person and in subsequent adaptations, the series features mystical martial arts used by college students, criminal gangs, and mysterious warriors. The game is not a strict adaptation of the source material, but an expansion that brings new depth to the setting. This is a true blessing for The Hiddenwith Fantastic graphics and tight gameplay draw players into a vivid world.
For longtime fans of the original series and newcomers alike, The Hidden'The execution is impressive and engaging. During a demonstration event for The Hidden with the presence of Screen speechI had the opportunity to delve into the game's combat and see firsthand how strong the title transitions from anime cinematics to fast-paced brawls. I also had the opportunity to speak with some of the creatives behind the game, who highlighted the game's mechanics and set the stage for the game's future.
The Hidden Ones brings players into an anime world
Tencent's expansion to less than one person has a bright future
One of the best elements The Hidden'game design is the way Maintains tight control even when the action shifts to anime-style duels. The camera and rhythm of the fight may change briefly to highlight a technique that seems taken straight from an action-packed anime. It's an effective way to immerse the player in each fight, especially when fighting your way through the story mode. The story mode features tons of unique animations and battles, as well as a shift to a beat-em-up gameplay style that works incredibly well.
The game will launch with nine playable charactersbut the original anime's scope and live service model set the stage for future additions to the roster. As explained by senior game designer Stan Fan:
“TYour game is based on the original manga. It has a long story, around 400 to 500 chapters. We have many things to do. I don't think it will be a problem to find out what [characters] we want to do next.”
This scope also allowed the designers to expand the secondary characters, building the universe in a natural way.
PvP gameplay tasks players with forming teams of three fighters, sending one after the other in an effort to defeat their opponent. As with any fighting game, execution comes down to the title's controls and graphics. The Hidden succeeds with flying colors in this regard, with player characters moving with deceptive speed across the battlefield. Each character has basic attacks, special movies and an ultimate ability. However, as I discovered during the hands-on preview of the game, the real trick to winning in The Hidden is in motion.
Players can avoid attacks, maneuver around the field, and even chain attacks together by strategically retreating before continuing the onslaught of strikes. It's a clever way to approach a classic fighting game formatkeeping players on their toes with a direct but tight style of play. Dodges, counterattacks and grapples are incorporated into the back-and-forth combat. It is easy to understand and understand, but presents a challenge in improving map awareness and maneuverability. The tight controls never let the player feel out of control, even when combat takes unexpected turns.
How The Hidden's PvP focus expanded to a story mode
Hidden Ones solo mode turns the fighter into a fighter
This focus on combat was a key element of the The Hidden', according to the game's lead designer Fox Lin – although it eventually evolved in different ways. As Lin explains:
“The team decided to develop combat first. We spent a lot of time researching how to make the combat style really fun and fun to watch. It needs to be visually pleasing, but at the same time very fun. This took a few years. After that we move on to PvP and the story side of the game.”
However, giving the game an adventurous solo mode opened up new possibilities for overwhelming players without breaking the tighter balance of characters that had been established.
“When we were developing the game, we realized that with combat, bosses cannot have the same abilities as a player. beat them up so fast. Under our story and combat design concept, one thing is the same: you have to predict your opponent, whether it is the boss or a real person.
“You have to predict his movements. You have to think of a way to react quickly and how to counter the next move…we consider ourselves a live service game. Combat is really crucial, it is essential to involve all players for a long time. We think the story mode will be a great addition, something we can dedicate to our fans who want to learn more about the story and the original narrative. This helps to add value in the long term.”
– Lead Game Designer Fox Lin
Even if it didn't have rigid fighting mechanics at the heart of the title, The Hidden'an effective presentation must ensure it is a memorable launch. During the hands-on event, I had the chance to play as Wang Te, a young man who seeks to negotiate peace with a dangerous group of criminals for the sake of his family. Single-player mode features stunning cutscenes that flow easily into the action, and its emphasis on movement during combat lends itself well to larger-scale exploration as players enter the story.
While the world may expand to accommodate the story, the anime's setting art easily matches the game itself.
“Our producer is an artist. He's very good at making films, so he has a very good understanding of fight scenes and narrative in balance between cinematics. He adapted this for game development. The next point we discovered is how when we are reading the manga, and it tells the stories of different characters, it is changing from person to person.
“Sometimes the reader can simply feel distant from them, as if they are just watching someone else's story. We wanted to create an experience where you were that character. You control them, fight like them, and experience what they did – what you did. When you're set up, you feel like you're going through the motions and not the characters themselves. I think this creates an immersive experience. This is exactly what we were looking for.“
– Senior Game Designer Stan Fan
The Hidden Ones enters Alpha and Beta testing in early 2025, and the full game is expected to be released for PC, Android and iOS in Q3 2025.