The 9th Dragon is offering a look behind its cramped alleys and rooftop fights. Developer FrameOver has released the first episode of its making-of documentary, exploring the inspirations and creative direction behind the narrative-driven action game.
The episode focuses on the team’s interpretation of Kowloon in the 1980s, where narrow passages, hanging cables, and tightly packed buildings provide the backdrop for Rookie’s story.
Bringing 1980s Kowloon Into The 9th Dragon
FrameOver Project Advisor Ramon Nafria describes the setting as central to the game’s vision.
“Kowloon in the 80s was a wild labyrinth,” Nafria said. “The perfect place to tell our story.”
That density carries into exploration. You can climb rooftops, cross cables and ziplines, and blast open hidden routes through Kowloon Walled City. NPC conversations and collectible lore items offer clues about its secrets, while old comic books grant additional combat abilities and combo chains.
Close-Quarters Combat and Choices With Consequences
The 9th Dragon pairs hand-to-hand beat ’em up combat with weapons ranging from pistols and Uzis to shotguns, flamethrowers, and explosives.
Fights take place in cramped rooms and narrow alleys, making positioning and environmental use part of survival. Breaking enemy stamina creates opportunities to control encounters and land special moves and combos.
Your decisions also influence Rookie’s Hero or Anti-Hero alignment. Sparing or killing enemies and returning or keeping mission money can lead to different outcomes. Every level supports replay, letting you try other decisions and follow different story paths.
FrameOver lists 20 enemy types and eight bosses for a campaign spanning roughly 10 hours.
