Funny action, Chinese kung fu, and the Monkey King: If you want to re-experience the adventures of Journey to the West , then Unruly Heroes , a 2D action game by Magic Design Studios (MDS) in France, is for you. The game is an example where international talent meets traditional Chinese culture. “Creating a game based on the novel, Journey to the West , has actually been my dream since I entered this profession,” said Lu Yang, CEO and creative director of MDS. “It is a very dramatic tale set in a big, imaginary world. Every character is described vividly.” “Everyone in China knows the story, but in European countries or the US, few people know about Journey to the West . I think such a fascinating story should be introduced to more people,” he said. I n January, Unruly Heroes has received an 80 percent positive reaction on STEAM. The game features a unique story and cast of characters, where players can alternate between four characters: Wukong, Sanzang, Kihong and Sandmonk. The creative team combines many Chinese cultural elements with the art design, building an immersive world of art, animation and a taste of Chinese folk music. “Our goal is to introduce Journey to the West to the world, and be accepted by players from different cultural backgrounds,” Lu said Set against lush ( 华丽的 ) environments and a hand-drawn art style, Unruly Heroes updates the Journey to the West classic tale into an adventure that is more colorful, humorous and attractive to people in modern times. As Lu introduced, the game differed a lot compared with the original story. “For example, we reimagined White Bone Spirit as the owner of a beauty salon, so players need to destroy her mask to defeat her.” Lu believes that Chinese culture has strong potential to reach a broader audience, but it needs the efforts of more companies and creative minds. “We can add Chinese cultural elements into products that are accessible to people around the world. Video games, film and TV series, and other cultural and entertainment products resonate ( 共鸣 ) easily internationally,” he said. “I am not a scholar; I simply want to do what I can to present a story I love to more people far and wide,” Lu added.