#WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers overview – A promising Soulslike caught prior to now – Destructoid

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers looks like a little bit of a love letter to the origins of the Soulslike style, for higher or worse.

Darkish Souls and Bloodborne followers who really feel just like the streamlining of the method over current video games like Elden Ring has watered down the expertise will discover pleasure within the ache, however others (like myself) might discover the gameplay a bit cumbersome compared to current entries within the style.

Set within the late Ming Dynasty period of China, WUCHANG just isn’t totally with out worth, however I discovered it to be a principally forgettable new entry in an extended line of Darkish Souls-inspired creations.

Majestic masochism

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers‘ fundamental attraction appears to be in its punishment of the participant. I’ve performed a myriad of soulslike video games over the previous almost 20 years, however none ever felt too unfair or unfun for me from a gameplay standpoint. At sure occasions, WUCHANG broke that mildew for me.

Story-wise, the sport doesn’t maintain your hand a lot in any respect, equally to From Software program titles. The premise is that Wuchang, the participant character, is a pirate warrior who wakes up with amnesia and a mysterious sickness referred to as Feathering, which is slowly killing her but additionally granting her powers. It’s as much as you to unravel the thriller, and it’s in these similarities to the video games WUCHANG was impressed by that there’s some nostalgic pleasure to be discovered.

This similar sickness is affecting individuals and animals close by, and they’re your fodder for fight. You’re tasked with unfolding the story and determining the place it’s essential go by speaking to different NPCs, defeating bosses, and following the occasional chirping chicken that appears to level you within the course it’s essential go subsequent.

This hands-off storytelling strategy might be welcome to some, whereas a whole turnoff to many, and I can see the place either side would come from in that regard, as developer Leenzee Video games describes the sport as “primarily linear with semi-open components.” Both approach, I discovered WUCHANG’s plot itself to be nothing particular, sadly, though the attract of exploring this specific time interval was sufficient to maintain me pushing by the ache.

Whereas discovering the story, there are segments in WUCHANG much like a number of the most tough or annoying areas ever made in Souls video games, corresponding to Blightown or Misplaced Izalith within the authentic Darkish Souls. There’s an space close to the primary half of WUCHANG that evokes comparable emotions of rage, however it felt like Leenzee was simply making an attempt to ratchet it as much as one other stage only for the sake of claiming, “now THIS is difficult.”

The world in query consists of a number of sorts of poison, a number of enemies that stun-lock you, and even ranged enemies who can stun you with gunfire. It’s not enjoyable or intuitive. It’s simply annoying, no matter how the sport encourages you to change up your armor relying on completely different afflictions.

Acquainted, like a fever

The primary satisfaction WUCHANG, for me, comes by means of its Skyborn Would possibly mechanic, which mainly offers you means prices by hitting enemies in succession (R1 for gentle assault, R2 for heavy assault) or dodging the enemy’s assaults. You then use these prices up by triggering a Self-discipline Assault or Weapon Talent (L1 and L2) that may be geared up on every of the sport’s number of period-appropriate weapons.

The fight cadence of dodging, utilizing a capability, hitting the enemy just a few occasions, utilizing a capability once more to maintain the combo going earlier than retreating and regaining stamina is fairly enjoyable, and the sport’s distinct twist on the soulslike method. Boss fights are particularly reliant on the mastery of this fight system for fulfillment.

I simply want that Wuchang’s actions and assaults felt extra fluid. Every part is slower than I might hope for, and one of the annoying options of the sport is how all sorts of platforming are nonexistent. In actual fact, Wuchang has to brace herself and grunt after stepping off minor ledges, generally shedding well being, and it simply feels awkward, clumsy, and irritating.

WUCHANG’s different spin on the style, although, is simply one other type of punishment. The extra you die, the extra Wuchang turns into corrupted by an Internal Demon. When totally corrupted, a strong demon enemy will spawn at your final demise spot in an try to forestall you from gathering your dropped forex, Purple Mercury (like Souls, used to each stage up and buy objects).

It’s a really tilting mechanic, particularly because it compounds the extra you die in a sure space, solely to be met by a strong, evil demon who appears to be like to break your day additional. The one upside to this Internal Demon is that it’s going to additionally assault different enemies, so in concept, you possibly can kite it in direction of one thing else to have it deal harm and distract them for a bit. However in actuality, it’s simply one other ache within the ass to beat.

Talking of ache, the sport’s efficiency on PC left rather a lot to be desired throughout the overview interval, however a launch week patch appears to have fastened many of the issues I used to be having. I’m undecided how the console model runs, however I’d go together with that for now or look ahead to some optimization updates for PC, as a result of it was a reasonably large drag on my general expertise. As an Xbox Sport Go title on day one, although, I can advocate it simply.

There’s a strong sport someplace inside WUCHANG, however it falls in need of greatness in a number of areas, together with the truth that this style is actually beginning to really feel a bit tedious and saturated in 2025. However should you’re craving a few of that early early 2010s punishment period Soulslike feeling, this sport might actually resonate with you.