When I first started playing Jili No 1, I assumed skill acquisition would follow the standard progression tree we've seen in countless games. Boy, was I wrong. The developers have created something truly special here - a system where about 70% of skills aren't automatically available through leveling up. Instead, you need to actively hunt them down across the game world or purchase them from specialized traders scattered throughout the British countryside. This design philosophy fundamentally changes how you approach the game, transforming what could have been a straightforward progression system into an ongoing treasure hunt that lasts throughout your entire playthrough.
I remember spending nearly three hours searching for the "Shadow Step" ability alone, only to discover it was being sold by a mysterious trader hiding in the basement of an abandoned London pub. That moment of discovery felt more rewarding than simply allocating another skill point. What's fascinating is how this system creates unique player experiences - my friend discovered the "Eagle Eye" precision shooting skill early in his playthrough, while I didn't stumble upon it until I was nearly 40 hours in. This variability means no two players will have identical skill progression, which dramatically enhances replay value. The game currently features around 45 discoverable skills according to community estimates, though I suspect there might be a few more hidden gems waiting to be found.
Here's where things get really interesting though - not every skill you discover will be worth using. I've personally unlocked about 32 skills throughout my 60-hour playthrough, but I regularly use maybe 15 of them. The "Botanical Knowledge" skill, for instance, sounded amazing on paper - supposedly allowing you to identify edible plants for healing. In practice, I found it nearly useless since health packs are plentiful throughout the game world. Similarly, the "Lockpicking Mastery" skill seemed essential until I realized that most locked containers contained minimal rewards. This creates an interesting strategic layer where you need to be selective about which skills actually deserve your precious skill points.
What I love about this system is how it encourages thorough exploration without feeling punitive. The game world spans approximately 28 square kilometers of beautifully rendered British countryside, and there are genuine rewards for checking every nook and cranny. I've developed a personal strategy of thoroughly exploring each region before moving the main story forward, which has led to me discovering skills that completely changed my approach to combat and exploration. The "Urban Parkour" skill I found hidden in Manchester's industrial district, for example, transformed how I navigated urban environments, saving me countless hours of tedious backtracking.
From a design perspective, this approach to skill acquisition is brilliant because it turns what could be mundane character progression into memorable moments of discovery. I'll never forget finding the "Silent Takedown" skill scroll tucked away in a Scottish castle's library - it felt like uncovering genuine secret knowledge rather than checking off another box in a skill tree. This emotional connection to skill acquisition makes each new ability feel more meaningful and earned. The traders themselves are wonderfully characterized too, each with their own personality and specialty, making skill purchases feel like meaningful interactions rather than simple transactions.
If I have one criticism of the system, it's that some of the more essential skills can be frustratingly difficult to find. The "Advanced Driving" skill, which is practically necessary for the vehicle-heavy later missions, took me nearly 15 hours to locate. I eventually found it with a trader who only appears during thunderstorms in the Lake District - a cool atmospheric touch, but potentially frustrating for players who just want to improve their driving mechanics. This highlights the delicate balance the developers had to strike between rewarding exploration and ensuring players can access fundamental gameplay enhancements.
What's remarkable is how this discovery-based system has created such vibrant community discussion. The Jili No 1 subreddit is filled with players sharing locations for rare skills and debating which ones are actually worth pursuing. There's ongoing speculation about whether certain legendary skills even exist - some players claim to have found a "Time Manipulation" ability, though I remain skeptical after my extensive playthrough. This community engagement extends the game's lifespan significantly and creates a sense of shared adventure that's increasingly rare in single-player experiences.
As someone who's played through Jili No 1 three times now, I've developed some personal strategies for skill acquisition that might help new players. I recommend focusing on exploration early rather than rushing through the main story - the skills you find will make subsequent missions much more manageable. Also, don't be afraid to experiment with unusual skill combinations. I discovered that pairing the relatively common "Basic Stealth" skill with the rare "Environmental Awareness" ability I found in Cornwall created a stealth gameplay style that felt uniquely my own. This flexibility is one of the system's greatest strengths.
Ultimately, what makes Jili No 1's approach to skills so compelling is how it respects the player's time and intelligence. The game doesn't hand you everything on a silver platter, but neither does it hide essential tools behind obscure requirements. There's a careful calibration at work here that encourages exploration while maintaining gameplay flow. Even now, after hundreds of hours across multiple playthroughs, I'm still occasionally surprised by discovering a skill I hadn't seen before. That sense of wonder and discovery is what keeps me coming back to Jili No 1 long after I've completed its main storyline, and it's what makes this skill system one of the most innovative I've encountered in recent memory.