Description
Xie Shuangxue is aware that he’s an NPC in a game. He exists in Shenmo, the world’s most popular VR game, which has been live for three years now. For the third-anniversary celebration, the game developer, Boundless Sea, announced a major update, introducing a new map, “Floating Dream Clouds.” Along with the update, they released a new world storyline quest—The Book of Floating Dreams. This quest unveils an ancient tale of entangled love and betrayal between a Princess of the Feather Clan and the former Demon Emperor. And Xie Shuangxue makes his entrance in this new storyline. He isn’t the main character; at best, he’s the fourth male lead—a mere plot device with a shallow, basic background. As an orphan adopted by the Feather Clan, he harbors an unrequited love for the princess, which eventually turns into bitterness and revenge. Betraying everyone, he ultimately meets a fitting end when the princess personally executes him, much to the players’ satisfaction. Xie Shuangxue: … I don’t think so. Even NPCs have their own ideas. So, the players who are grinding away at their quests encounter, for the first time, an NPC with an unexpected level of interactivity. When he first appeared, the players thought Xie Shuangxue was just another pretty face, gloomy, shallow, with nothing special to offer. However, as the plot unfolded, they came to understand his endless suffering, his deep and hidden love, the hardships he endured, and all the sacrifices he made in silence. This intricate character, Xie Shuangxue, ultimately reaches a moment of enlightenment in the final segment of the world quest. Smiling, he raises a sword and takes his own life. Under the snowy night sky, his black hair dances in the wind, blood as red as cinnabar flowing like ink—the very key to unlocking the new map. On that day, the official Shenmo account crashed under the weight of furious players. “Damn this hellish plot! Give me back my Ah Xue!” “WTF, you dirty devs—how dare you kill off Shuangxue!” “I swear, if Xie Shuangxue dies, Boundless Sea, neither will you live. smile” The game department, drenched in curses and complaints: …For heaven’s sake, this was not the original plot! Shenmo’s development team held an emergency meeting overnight and urgently contacted the CEO of Boundless Sea. Rumor has it that even the normally calm and collected boss, who also has an account in the game, sounded noticeably different over the phone, a mix of gritted teeth and indescribable emotions. “He’s not dead.” “He deceived all of them.”
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Publication Information
- Original Publisher
- Original Language
- chinese
- Type
- Web Novel
The Heartthrob NPC in the VR Game Review & Spoilers - Novel Translator
My Thoughts on The Heartthrob NPC in the VR Game
"The Heartthrob NPC in the VR Game" offered a unique premise that immediately grabbed my attention: a self-aware NPC trying to escape his predetermined fate in a virtual world. As a fan of both gaming novels and xianxia, I was eager to dive in.
First Impressions
The initial chapters were incredibly engaging. The humor derived from the MC's manipulation of players and NPCs alike was delightful. He's truly the darling of his senior brothers and the VIP players, and it's a lot of fun to see him navigate this strange world where he's both powerless and surprisingly influential. The idea of an NPC gaining self-awareness is always fascinating, and the author did a great job in the beginning of exploring this concept.
What Works Well
The relationships between the MC and the other NPCs are definitely the highlight. The author managed to create a believable dynamic where the NPCs felt like real characters with their own motivations, rather than just lines of code. I particularly enjoyed seeing how the MC interacted with his senior brothers; their bond was heartwarming. The premise is unique, you rarely see a gaming novel where the MC is initially non-human.
Areas of Concern
However, the novel stumbled a bit in the latter half. The world-building, while initially immersive, started to feel less logical. I found myself questioning some of the plot developments, and the reliance on the "omnipotent AI main brain" as a convenient plot device became a bit tiresome. It felt like the author had crammed in too much lore, and the story began to feel rushed towards the end. I really wish the author had taken more time to build up NPC-player relationships, but it ended up being rushed for the ending.
Final Verdict
Despite its flaws, "The Heartthrob NPC in the VR Game" is still an enjoyable read, especially if you're looking for something different within the VR game genre. While the ending felt rushed and the world-building could have been more consistent, the strength of the character relationships and the unique premise kept me invested. I'd recommend it with the caveat that you might need to suspend your disbelief a little in the later chapters. Overall, I'd give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
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