Revision 1

Overview

Zhou is the capital city of the Zhou Kingdom and the primary setting of The God Slayer. Situated at the confluence of two mighty rivers emptying into the Eastern Sea, Zhou is a sprawling, densely populated metropolis that blends traditional Chinese cultural aesthetics with industrial steampunk technology. The city's map covers approximately 5km x 5km total, with the urban core occupying roughly 3km x 3km — dense and vertically layered rather than sprawling and empty.

Architecture and Design

Zhou's architecture draws heavily from Chongqing, China — a city renowned for its dramatic topography and layered urban structures. Sky-piercing towers rise above narrow streets. Monorails and cable cars connect different elevation levels. The aesthetic marries Ming Dynasty-era Chinese architectural details — tiled roofs, ornamental gates, traditional market stalls — with industrial-age machinery: steam pipes, gear mechanisms, factory smokestacks, and mechanical conveyances.

Districts and Social Divide

Zhou is sharply divided by class. Upper-class districts feature air-conditioned homes, mechanical servants, and elegant steam-powered amenities. The wealthy enjoy the benefits of the city's technological advancement while remaining insulated from its costs.

In stark contrast, lower-class neighborhoods are dominated by soot-blackened factories, cramped worker housing, and exploitative labor conditions. The poor fuel the city's industrial engine while receiving few of its comforts. This class divide is woven into the game's narrative and reflected in the visual design of each district.

Transportation

Zhou offers multiple traversal methods. In addition to on-foot movement (enhanced by elemental abilities like Fire boosters and Water glides), the city features a functioning subway system, bus routes, and fast-travel points. Creative director Zifei Wu has stated that adding vehicles would be "overkill" given the city's density and the player's elemental mobility options.

Points of Interest

Key locations within Zhou include the former royal palace (now under Celestial control), the industrial waterfront district, the underground network used by the Star Fall Society, market squares, residential neighborhoods, and the factories that power the city's steam technology. Each area offers distinct visual character, enemy compositions, and exploration opportunities.

Environmental Combat

Zhou's dense urban environment plays directly into the combat system. Destructible market stalls, rooftop chase sequences, fights along the riverside (boosting Water attacks), and industrial zones filled with metal scrap (empowering Metal abilities) make the city itself a weapon and a tactical consideration.