As I booted up Jili Super Ace for the first time, I was immediately struck by the sheer variety of build possibilities laid out before me. The game doesn’t just hand you a preset path—it invites you to experiment, adapt, and sometimes stumble your way through each run. And honestly, that’s what makes it so compelling. Over the past few weeks, I’ve poured roughly 50 hours into the game, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that your success hinges on how well you can make use of the tools at your disposal—especially when those tools are randomized with every new attempt. Every death resets your progress, wiping your equipped weapons and talismans clean. It’s a mechanic that forces you to think on your feet, and I’ve come to appreciate the subtle art of building your loadout dynamically, even when luck isn’t entirely on your side.
Now, let’s talk weapons. While the game offers a pretty balanced arsenal—at least on the surface—I’ve noticed that not all options carry the same weight in the heat of the moment. Take the compound bow, for example. In my experience, starting a run with this weapon gives me a noticeable edge. It’s versatile, reliable, and lets me engage enemies from a safe distance. Compare that to the grappling hook, which, while fun and situationally useful, just doesn’t offer the same consistency. I’d estimate that in about 70% of my successful runs, the compound bow played a central role. That’s not to say the grappling hook is useless—far from it—but if I had to pick one to bet my run on, the bow wins every time. This kind of preference isn’t just personal bias; it reflects a broader imbalance that I hope the developers address as Jili Super Ace moves through early access.
Talismans add another layer to the build-crafting puzzle. These powerful items can turn the tide of battle, but like weapons, their value isn’t uniform. Early on, I was drawn to talismans that release resin to slow enemies—sounds helpful, right? Well, in practice, I found them underwhelming. They just don’t pack the same punch as talismans that inflict poison or burn effects. Poison, in particular, has saved my skin more times than I can count. I remember one run where a poison talisman helped me clear a room of elite enemies with about 40% less effort than usual. Numbers like that stick with you. Of course, this could come down to playstyle—I tend to favor hit-and-run tactics over crowd control—but I’ve spoken with other players who share the same impression. It feels like some talismans are clear winners while others lag behind, and a little balancing could go a long way toward making every option feel meaningful.
What I love most about Jili Super Ace is how it encourages adaptation. No two runs are the same, and that randomness keeps things fresh. But it also highlights the importance of planning on the fly. I’ve had sessions where I started with what I thought was a weak loadout, only to discover unexpected synergies halfway through. One time, I paired a seemingly mediocre weapon with a burn-effect talisman and ended up melting bosses I’d previously struggled with. Moments like that are pure magic. Still, I can’t ignore the fact that certain combinations consistently outperform others. After tracking my last 30 runs, I found that builds focusing on damage-over-time effects had a success rate hovering around 65%, while control-oriented builds barely cracked 40%. That’s a significant gap, and it tells me the game has some fine-tuning ahead.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to see how Jili Super Ace evolves. The foundation is solid—the combat feels tight, the art style is gorgeous, and the procedural generation works well most of the time. But if the developers can bring the underperforming weapons and talismans up to par, we could be looking at a true genre standout. For now, my advice is to lean into what works but stay open to experimentation. Try the gear you normally ignore. You might be surprised. I know I was. At the end of the day, Jili Super Ace is about mastering chaos—and there’s real joy in that journey, even when the odds are stacked against you.
