Mr. Qian Zhongshu is famous for his profound learning, witty writing and humorous irony. His works are exquisitely written, and often reveal the various aspects of life in details. Today, we will try to talk about Ju Fufu’s distinctive “Popcorn Pot” skill in Absolute Zone Zero, and use it to look at the mental state of modern people and appreciate the irony and metaphor contained in this game setting.
Ju Fufu’s ordinary attack action is a three-stage combo, and the action is coherent and fast, just like the busy life of people in the secular world day after day. The three-stage continuous attack seems to coincide with the reality that life is difficult but has to move forward, as if it is the mechanical labor of people in the city-one hammer after another, hammering the predetermined fate. At this moment, the “popcorn pot” is no longer a cooking utensil, but a symbol of spirit, silently carrying the hard work and expectations of countless people.
The design of the “imbalance” value attached to the attack cleverly implies the fragility and subtlety of social relations. The accumulation of imbalance is like the roller coaster of modern people’s emotions, which will cause waves at the slightest disturbance. Social pressure is like the imbalance value, gradually accumulating until it explodes. The complex interpersonal relationships and emotional entanglements described by Qian Zhongshu in “Fortress Besieged” are just like this: people wander in the “Fortress Besieged”, facing the danger of imbalance at all times, but they have no choice but to compromise and cater to it.
Ju Fufu’s dodge design is short-press invincible sprint, long-press high-speed rotation, just like the two ways modern people deal with pressure. Short-press escapers are “head-down tribes” who temporarily retreat under the pressure of reality; long-press rotation is a symbol of inner anxiety and resistance, as if they are struggling to find self-salvation in the repetitive life day after day. This “duality” is a common trait of Qian Zhongshu’s characters: they want to survive steadily and desire self-breakthrough.
The design of the “heat” mechanism is full of meaning. The rising heat seems to represent the increasingly anxious emotions in people’s hearts, like ants on a hot pot, the harder they resist, the harder it is to calm down. Ju Fufu’s continuous attack accumulates heat, representing the tense state of modern people in a highly stressful society. When emotions accumulate to the critical point, they are inevitably out of control. Qian Zhongshu once said in his prose, “Life is like food in a pot, and you know whether it is hot or cold.” This is exactly reflected here.
The flame rotation of the popcorn pot in the enhanced special skill is nothing less than a spiritual eruption. Flame symbolizes passion, anger and resistance. Ju Fufu’s skill enhancement is like the vitality that occasionally bursts out of modern people, finding a sense of existence and freedom in mechanical repetition. Qian Zhongshu also described the spiritual world of people as “tangled”, and only when it is accidentally untangled can its mystery and beauty be seen.
The joint skills and finishing skills highlight the necessity of teamwork and the isolation of individuals. Ordinary joint protection of teammates implies the invisible dependence and watchfulness between people in real life; the finishing skills are the ultimate expression of individual explosion, which not only highlights personal strength, but also reveals loneliness and helplessness. Qian Zhongshu is good at depicting the complex entanglements between people. This tension of “dependence and isolation” is just like the epitome of the society in his writing.
The support skills of quick support and parry support are not dazzling, but extremely important. They are like those ignored silent contributors in life, supporting the entire system. Qian Zhongshu often has high hopes for these “little people” in his works, believing that they are the real backbone of society.
The core skill “popcorn pot automatic attack” brings continuous flame attacks, which symbolizes persistent efforts in life. Ju Fufu does not need to do it himself all the time, but can still output steadily, just like those people who are inconspicuous but struggle for a long time in life. Qian Zhongshu’s humor is full of praise for “unknown heroes”, which is exactly his spiritual portrayal.
In the imagery shadow skill, the flames are constantly dancing, which means both destruction and purification and rebirth. Ju Fufu dances in the flames, as if interpreting the impermanence and hope of life. In Qian Zhongshu’s writing, the world is like a play, life is like a dream, and only by finding a ray of light in the chaos can there be meaning in living.
In summary, Ju Fufu’s skills are not just game settings, but also a mirror reflecting the mental state of modern people. It reveals the way modern people struggle with pressure and anxiety, and also shows the tenacity and humor in human nature. If Mr. Qian Zhongshu were alive, he might laugh at such a design, lamenting the fickleness of the world, while still not forgetting to ridicule the various aspects of the world.