As time progresses, players eagerly anticipating Divide have grown increasingly excited. During this period, Neon Games has actively promoted the game with several pre-launch campaigns.
This new title is now positioned as the second-biggest game from Neon Games, following Dark Souls. Although neither players, industry insiders, nor the media are entirely convinced of its success, the promotional efforts have nonetheless garnered significant attention.
Interestingly, the promotional costs for Divide are considerably lower than last year's Dark Souls. This is largely due to the current lull in the gaming industry, where a lack of high-quality releases has left players craving engaging content.
Any promising-looking game is receiving heightened focus, and gaming media have been quick to cover such titles.
Furthermore, Neon Games' reputation adds to the anticipation. A few years ago, during the annual gaming awards, Chen Xu's heartfelt acceptance speech left a lasting impression, and any new work from him now naturally attracts attention.
The combination of timing, quality, and reputation has ensured a strong spotlight on Divide.
For Neon Games' loyal fans, the decision to purchase the game is straightforward. To them, Chen Xu's work is always a strong Buy!
In a community in the capital, Wang Han was ready. Both computers were logged into the Neon Games platform, waiting for the game to unlock and purchase.
Beside Wang Han, Zhang Yi observed her excitement with a subtle expression. Memories of a treaty signed a year ago flashed through his mind—he had spent an entire year washing dishes because of a game called Overcooked.
Yet, despite that, Zhang Yi felt no resistance to Neon Games' releases. From Magic Mirror, beloved by long-time fans, to last year's Dark Souls, which left him in awe, every game had been a memorable experience.
Now, his anticipation for Divide was growing. The promotional videos showcased a wealth of playable content that promised a thrilling cooperative adventure.
"Unlocked! Unlocked! This game is huge—it's almost as big as Dark Souls!" Wang Han exclaimed with excitement, her eyes lighting up at the download interface.
While game size isn't always indicative of quality and can depend on compression technology, Neon Games has a reputation for delivering high-quality, expansive titles. For Wang Han, the similarity in size between Divide and Dark Souls only heightened her expectations.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yi snapped out of his momentary anticipation and stared at the screen, muttering under his breath, Impulse is the devil!
He resolved not to act impulsively during gameplay. Otherwise, he wouldn't just be washing bowls, he might end up doing the laundry too!
Although Divide seemed vastly different from Overcooked based on previews, Zhang Yi remained cautious. Chen Xu's reputation for creating challenging cooperative games was well-known. Every time Zhang Yi thought about Overcooked, he vividly recalled how high his blood pressure had soared during gameplay.
"How did I boldly agree to become a dishwashing man?"
Zhang Yi recited the warning three more times. Wang Han, standing next to him, reminded him, "Hurry up! The game is downloaded. Quickly enter it; I'll invite you directly."
"Okay, I'm on it," Zhang Yi nodded, then launched the game.
After skipping the Neon game logo, the game screen appeared, revealing a farm-like yard. Cody, who had stepped out to take out the trash, encountered Mei driving up with a bag in hand.
The relationship between the husband and wife had completely broken down, and they were on the verge of divorce. Even small, daily disagreements turned into heated arguments, with both feeling misunderstood and overwhelmed by their own internal pressures.
The quarrel played out in the courtyard, with their daughter Rose watching sadly from the windowsill. She clutched two dolls tightly, silently wishing her parents would stop fighting.
At this moment, the screen froze. Rose held two dolls in her hands—one male, one female. Cody was represented as a clay doll, while Mei was depicted as a wooden doll.
Zhang Yi and Wang Han, who had seen the promotional video before, immediately recognized the scene. The freeze-frame interface prompted them to choose their respective roles.
"Do these two characters have any differences?" Wang Han asked curiously.
"Of course, they do!" Zhang Yi replied confidently.
"What kind of differences?" Wang Han pressed further.
"Isn't it obvious? One is male and made of clay, the other is female and made of wood," Zhang Yi quipped with a grin.
Wang Han rolled her eyes at him, unimpressed.
Sensing her irritation, Zhang Yi elaborated, "Remember the demo on Chen Xu's official blog and the promotional trailer? Both characters have unique abilities in the game. You need to cooperate to progress, and their special abilities are different."
"Ah, that makes sense!" Wang Han nodded in realization.
Although they weren't entirely sure what the characters' abilities would be, they decided to select their roles based on their gender preferences. Wang Han chose Mei, and Zhang Yi selected Cody.
Once their choices were confirmed, the screen went black for a few seconds before transitioning to a cinematic cutscene.
At the dining table in the living room, Cody and Mei informed their daughter Rose about their decision to divorce.
Rose appeared calm on the surface, quietly returning to her room with her baby elephant toy. However, once alone, she grabbed the dolls representing her parents and climbed out the window. She headed to the utility room, where a red book titled The Book of Love lay under the table.
"Doctor, you have to help me... They need to stay together," Rose whispered, her voice trembling.
She read aloud from the book: Love requires effort. See? You can't just give up.
Tears welled up as she looked at the dolls in her hands. "Mom, Dad, I hope you can be friends again."
As Rose's tears fell, the screen darkened briefly before transitioning back to the two dolls, now animated and alive.
Cody and Mei woke up from their sleep, horrified to find they had turned into a puppet and a clay figure, respectively.
At that moment, the human form of Book of Love, Dr. Ha Jin, appeared and briefly introduced their current situation. However, the explanation seemed less for them and more for the players sitting in front of the monitor, setting up the game's premise.
"It feels like watching an animated movie!" Wang Han exclaimed.
"Yeah, and the game's surrounding scenes are so intricate," Zhang Yi added with a nod of agreement.
Entering the game, players are greeted by a stunning environment that immediately catches their attention.
While the game's graphics can't compete with those in the top-tier realistic category, Divide takes a different approach with its charming cartoon art style. Combined with detailed modeling, the surroundings feel like a dreamy, miniature world.
This sense of scale is heightened when players control the tiny clay and puppet characters. Wooden floors, table legs, and cardboard boxes loom large, creating a delightful contrast and novelty. The shift in spatial perspective offers a fresh visual experience that captivates anyone playing divide.