Kusan: City of Wolves is built around fast decisions, repeated attempts, and stylish combat. Ahead of the game’s July 31 launch on Xbox Series X|S, CIRCLEfromDOT CEO and game designer Jake Yeom shared practical advice for surviving its dangerous streets and chasing the highest ranks in an Xbox Wire guide.
The game follows Jin, an ex-soldier who now works as a gun-for-hire. His latest job becomes far more dangerous when a mysterious girl connected to a city-scale atomic weapon pulls him into a conspiracy involving criminals, political power, and a commander he once trusted.
Combat takes place from a top-down view, and a single mistake can end a run. Jin can fight with the Quantum Knife, War Hand, Pistol, Revolver, Shotgun, and Crossbow, while abilities and upgrades let players build an approach that suits them.
Expect to Die While Learning the Game
Failure is part of the design in Kusan: City of Wolves. Enemies hit hard, and each defeat can reveal a new attack pattern, timing window, or positioning mistake. Rather than repeating the same plan after a failed attempt, players should change one part of their approach and see what works.
Staying aggressive is also important. The game rewards players who keep testing their movement and attacks instead of waiting for every encounter to become perfectly safe. A failed run still gives useful information, especially when learning how bosses and different enemy groups behave.
Build a Loadout Around Your Playstyle
There is no single weapon setup for every fight. Grunts, bosses, and other enemy types can call for different answers, so changing the loadout is part of solving each challenge.
The Quantum Knife can be paired with the War Hand for close-range pressure, or used alongside firearms to keep enemies under attack from farther away. Players can also mix the knife, gun, and War Hand into one continuous attack pattern. That kind of variety feeds into the game’s style bonuses and can help push a score toward SS rank.
Replay value plays a big role here. Levels can be revisited, giving players room to test a different weapon combination, improve their timing, and chase a higher score without needing to settle for the result of their first run.
Choose the Right First Techtrix Skill
Early in the game, Jin gains access to the Techtrix, a system for upgrading weapons and abilities and assigning them to a loadout. The first skill can change how combat feels, so the best choice depends on the way a player wants to fight.
- Quick Step: A good pick for players who prefer constant movement and close pressure. It helps Jin move through combat situations more quickly.
- Auto Recovery: This option suits a more cautious approach. After Jin throws the Quantum Knife, it returns a few seconds later instead of requiring a manual pickup, allowing him to keep his distance from enemies.
- Counterstrike: Players who enjoy parrying can use this skill to turn a well-timed defense into an attack. A successful counter sends enemy projectiles back toward their source.
These choices are recommendations rather than a strict ranking. A player who relies on movement may get more from Quick Step, while someone who prefers spacing or precise defensive timing may favor Auto Recovery or Counterstrike.
Make the Quantum Knife Part of Every Combo
The Quantum Knife is more than a weapon to throw and retrieve. It can be used alongside Jin’s other attacks, which gives players several ways to maintain pressure during a fight.
One simple route combines the knife with the War Hand for a forceful close-range sequence. Another pairs the knife with a firearm, letting Jin attack from a safer distance while keeping enemies occupied. Both approaches work, and switching between them can help when a particular enemy or arena makes one style less comfortable.
Once those combinations feel natural, add all three attack options together: the Quantum Knife, a firearm, and the War Hand. Keeping that chain going is one of the clearest paths toward the stylish play bonuses needed for an SS rank.
Kusan: City of Wolves comes from the Korean development team CIRCLEfromDOT, and it is the studio’s first game after eight years of development. Its Xbox Series X|S release puts the focus on sharp movement, weapon variety, and combat encounters where style matters almost as much as survival.
Use the first playthrough to learn the systems rather than chase a perfect score immediately. Once the weapons and Techtrix skills begin to click, replaying levels should make it easier to build faster combos and pursue SS rank.
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