Hi, I’m Jake Yeom, CEO and Game Designer at CIRCLEfromDOT, a Korean development team working on our first game – the high-octane hardcore top-down shooter, Kusan: City of Wolves.
You play as Jin in Kusan: City of Wolves, an ex-solider turned gun-for-hire living in the heart of a city where the line between predator and prey has already been crossed. This isn’t just another job though, a mysterious girl fitted with a city-grade atomic weapon is linked to a violent conspiracy that threatens to shift the balance of power. As chaos erupts, Jin must cross every line to save the girl, confront his past and the betrayal of a commander he once trusted without question.
One wrong move means death, so you’ll need precision, style, and the right skills to succeed. While I am excited to see how everyone tackles the game, I wanted to share some tips to help get you started as you venture into the neon–soaked streets of Kusan.
Death is Part of the Process
The enemies you’ll face in Kusan: City of Wolvesdon’t hold back, so don’t be afraid to die! The game is designed around learning through failure, with each death teaching you something new. Stay aggressive, keep experimenting, and don’t be discouraged if you fail. If one approach isn’t working, learn from your last run and try something different!
Experiment with Your Loadout
You’ll encounter many different enemy types, from grunts to bosses, throughout your time in Kusan: City of Wolves and there isn’t always a single ‘correct’ way to deal with them. Thankfully, Jin is equipped with a range of different weapons, including the Quantum Knife, the War Hand, Pistol, Revolver, Shotgun and Crossbow. With plenty of weapons, abilities and upgrades for you to choose from, you can experiment to find those you prefer, and then build a loadout that fits your playstyle. Switching up your arsenal may help you overcome challenges that have previously blocked you from progressing, or help you score the impressive SS rank.
Finding an efficient strategy that matches your playstyle, and refining it through repeated attempts, is one of the most rewarding parts of the game.
Tackling the Techtrix
Early in the game, you will learn about the Techtrix – the system where you are able to upgrade your weapons and abilities, and equip them for loadout. The first skill you pick can make a big difference to your gameplay, so I have a few recommendations depending on your preferred playstyle.
- Quick Step. This upgrade is ideal for you if you like to play action gamesaggressively, staying mobile and constantly keeping the pressure on your enemies. You’ll be able to navigate combat scenarios faster than before!
- Auto Recovery. If you prefer a safer approach to combat scenarios, this is the upgrade for you. After throwing your Quantum Knife it will now return to you seconds later, instead of you having to manually pick it back up, helping you keep distance from oncoming enemies.
- Counterstrike. If you enjoy parrying, the counterstrike upgrade is perfect for you! Your precise timing is rewarded by turning defense into offense – counter at just the right moment and enemy projectiles will be sent back to their source.
Try not to look for a single ‘best’ skill to use while playing!, Choose skills that best compliment the way you want to fight to help suit your style.
Quantum Knife Combos: and Your Own Rhythm
You may not realise it at first, but the Quantum Knife isn’t just a standalone weapon. It can be used at the same time as your other attacks, letting you create combinations that suit your own playstyle.
When watching new players, I usually notice two common approaches. Some naturally combine the War Hand with the Quantum Knife, creating an aggressive close-range fighting style. Others prefer to pair the Quantum Knife with firearms, controlling enemies from a safer distance while keeping constant pressure on them.
Either approach is ‘correct’! I suggest you try both, discover what feels most natural to you, and build your own combat rhythm.
Once you’re comfortable, challenge yourself to combine all three attack options—the Quantum Knife, your firearm, and the War Hand—into a single flow. Mastering these combinations, together with stylish play bonuses, is one of the keys to earning the coveted SS Rank.
I hope these tips will help you feel more confident on your first playthrough. While your first run might not see you achieve the highest score, you can replay levels at any time to keep aiming for the highly sought after SS rank.
After eight years of development, this is the first game our team has brought into this world, and we are really excited to see how each and every one of you experience it. We have poured our passion, dedication, and countless hours into every part of this project.
Kusan: City of Wolveslaunches today on Xbox Series X|S and we hope you enjoy your time in the streets of Kusan and experience the action, characters, and story we worked so hard to create.
Kusan: City of Wolves
☆☆☆☆☆5
★★★★★
$14.99
Get it now
Welcome to Kusan: City of Wolves, a brutal top-down shooter set in a neon-drenched urban jungle consumed by violence and corruption.
Kusan delivers hardcore action where one mistake means death. Master gunplay, perfect your movement, survive the streets and combat arenas ruled by furious kingpins that demand speed, precision and flawless execution. Every moment of action is intensified by Korean hip-hop heavyweight Loptimist’s adrenaline-fuelled soundtrack drenched with head-bopping loops and deep 808s pushing you forward without mercy.
You play as Jin, a skilled ex-soldier turned gun-for-hire, living in the heart of a city where the line between predator and prey has already been crossed. This isn’t just another job though, a mysterious girl with immense but uncontrollable power is linked to a violent conspiracy that threatens to shift the balance of power. As chaos erupts, Jin must save the girl, confront his past and the betrayal of a commander he once trusted without question.
Everyone in Kusan wants something and nobody plays fair.
For Jin, there is only one way forward: flawless planning, ruthless execution and saving the girl from criminals while relying only on his wit and unrelenting will to survive the battlefield.
With the whole city at stake, Jin knows it is time to not only clean-house but restore balance.
Dive into Kusan: City of Wolves and descend into a city on the edge. It’s more than just a fight, you are the last line between order and oblivion.
