Well, so PlayStation has shattered the silence and revealed the totally new game, The Relic First Guardian, and its release date, which is set on May 26. The news is not that great, the main news still remains the powers of the game. They are going to get rid of the traditional character levels. Completely. The ‘memory-based Relic system’ has been designed instead of it. Yes, you read it right. Your days of grinding just to see a number go up are over. You will instead be in touch with your growth through your memories. That is… quite wild actually when you think about it.

What does it mean exactly? The PlayStation tweet did not provide thoroughly but did give a link to further information. The mere concept appears to be that the powers and skills of your character depend on the memories that you have collected or unlocked in the game world. It is not about the number of monsters killed but rather what you have experienced and remember. This is quite a daring step for a game that seems to be a fantasy action-adventure. It kind of shows how a person dies learning, you know? You don’t get a level-up notification in real life after doing your taxes; you just… remember how to do it better next time. Or you try to forget it. Whichever way.

There has been such a wide range of players’ reactions on the internet; it has always been part of the fun in the situation. Some people totally praise the new concept. One gamer, Eric Nofsinger, put it very well: “Exciting to see a new system replacing character levels. Innovation fuels growth in gaming.” That would be the general opinion of many. They have become tired of the same old grind and are very pleased to see something that possibly changes the core loop. Another user named Taste referred to the memory-based progression as “being closer to how players actually grow rather than arbitrary numbers.” And they are! It is more natural, maybe even narrative-driven way to handle the process of becoming stronger.

On the other hand, however, there is the other side of the coin. Not all gamers are ready to let go of their beloved level-up sound effects just yet. A comment simply said, “Another game with a Parry system? 😒” which is not the exact comparison but still captures the sentiment. Some gamers see “new combat system” and immediately think of those games that required the perfect timing. And then there is the skepticism that goes with the classic gamer mindset. McNaireXStream went on a long rant about weapon physics and compared it to Zelda and God of War and wondered how this normal-looking guy with a sword isn’t getting launched into orbit by a giant club. It is a logical question! But then again, maybe the memories make his bones stronger? Who knows!

It is certain that many people find the hype surrounding this game to be real. Comments like “This looks fun, color me interested 😋” and “This doesn’t look bad at all 👀” show that the visual style and the concept are very appealing to the consumers. Curiosity is there. A user called RP | rp.eth has precisely the same idea linked to a common thought: “That memory-based Relic system looks like it might change the whole grind loop.” This is the chance they have before them. If they achieve the desired effect, it will be one of those things that other games will try to imitate. Or it could turn out to be a total mess. The fun part is the discovery.

However, in the chaotic world of gaming Twitter, no announcement is ever free of random side quests. One user immediately jumped in to ask about ‘Ballad of Anataraa’, wanting to know why it still says 2025 when “2025 is almost over.” Sir, we are in 2024 right now. The calendar is mixed up. Another joker connected the dots to Grand Theft Auto VI, saying “So this is the real reason why R changes the GTAVI release date.” As if the whole gaming industry was affected by this one Relic system. Love the self-confidence.

So, here comes the date to keep in mind: May 26. The Relic First Guardian is trying to challenge the conventional way of thinking about gaining strength in games. Replacing levels with a memory-based system is extremely risky. It might be a refreshing, immersive masterpiece that makes other RPGs feel like a past era. Or it can be a confusing gimmick that players abandon after the first hour. There is really no middle ground with such a radical concept.

The trailer presents a dark fantasy universe, one protector facing some really ugly monsters, and a system of development that does not count kills but rather the player’s experience. What an offer! Will it be a success? Can a game make recalling events as satisfying as seeing a “LEVEL UP” notification? We will have to wait and see.