Action RPG

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Review: Soaring to Souslike Success

BBG News

In the face of stiff competition from FromSoftware and other top-tier soulslike games, developer Leenzee has demonstrated their prowess with the creation of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. This soulslike game offers fresh concepts, engaging systems, and a unique sense of freedom in gameplay. The game’s difficulty is prominent yet generally fair, providing ample opportunities to surmount its challenges.

The diversity of enemies keeps players alert and encourages strategic decision-making, from weapon selection to spell choices, and even armor equipment. All these elements draw inspiration from Chinese mythology and folklore, resulting in one of the most visually captivating soulslike games available today.

Wuchang is a pirate warrior who has lost her memory and is battling a strange disease called Feathering that’s widespread in the land. People with this illness often transform into monsters, but Wuchang retains her human form. Due to her sickness, some people are initially wary or even hostile towards her. Yet, not everyone is hostile, and many non-player characters (NPCs) offer help to Wuchang or ask for her assistance.

One captivating feature of the game “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” lies in its universe and style. Unlike numerous soulslikes that recycle a variant of dark fantasy reminiscent of “Berserk“, Leenzee has chosen to establish the action-RPG within the Land of Shu during the Ming Dynasty. Although it preserves a sense of dark fantasy, “Wuchang” distinguishes itself with a distinct character due to its Chinese backdrop. Scattered across this expansive and connected world are forgotten temples, cursed villages, and ancient ruins, all of which draw players into the game’s experience.

In the game “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers“, the interconnected world and its vastness pose an issue. Players often find themselves relying on shrines to preserve their advancement and recovery, which also resuscitate most adversaries as in many soulslikes. At times, these shrines seem too distant from one another. In some regions, the only accessible shrine was reached by unveiling paths that led back to a prior shrine. The region’s expansive size and complex design made progress arduous, and it was particularly challenging because it was effortless to slip up and perish while battling the enemies present.

Reflecting on this thought, the world in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers boasts a stunning beauty. The diverse landscapes offer a continually engaging experience that fosters curiosity and exploration. This aligns with the traditional soulslike narrative approach. In this game, while some of the story is directly provided to you, much more lies hidden within item descriptions, notes, and conversations with non-player characters. Though the method may seem familiar, the tale unfolds with a unique twist compared to most other soulslikes.

In the storyline, feathering plays a crucial part not just within the plot but also in enhancing Wuchang’s abilities. Through the power of Skyborn Might, Wuchang can learn potent spells. This mechanism lets Wuchang accumulate charges, which can be utilized to execute lethal attacks and cast special spells. These charges are earned by skillfully dodging and parrying, thereby fostering a balance between risk and reward.

Similarly, the Madness system operates on this risk-reward basis. As Wuchang fights, she accumulates Madness, which increases her damaging potential but also makes her more vulnerable. The peak of Madness occurs at death, resulting in the spawning of a mirror demon that Wuchang must defeat. If she fails to do so, she loses any items she had upon death. This demanding encounter compels players to manage their Madness levels cautiously and weigh the potential benefits against the risks.

In the combat of “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers”, boss fights stand out as thrilling moments. They resemble epic encounters on the silver screen, pushing your skills to their limits in innovative ways. One formidable boss is a ferocious creature that lashes out with unpredictable attacks before retreating and spraying blood, while another is a tenacious adversary who constantly pressures you without giving an inch. It’s during these battles that Skyborn Might becomes indispensable, as landing precise parries or dodges not only keeps you alive but also fuels your spells and weapon special abilities. Mastering each boss’s moveset and delivering the final blow is incredibly rewarding, making the struggle worthwhile.

As a devoted admirer, I’d like to share my insights about “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers.” This game offers an impressive degree of flexibility in the way you play. A significant aspect of this versatility lies in the defensive stats, which are largely determined by the gear you choose. Donning armor with specific resistances can prove incredibly helpful when facing off against formidable bosses.

Each weapon in “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” comes with unique abilities that can be activated using Skyborn Might. Some of these skills enable blocking, while others offer agile attacks and even defensive counters. This diversity seamlessly transitions into the game’s expansive skill tree. Each weapon has a distinct branch offering bonuses and perks when used. Wuchang himself boasts a general skill branch that enhances the number and effectiveness of healing vials, boosts health, increases stamina, and much more.

All these features provide a tremendous amount of freedom when designing your Wuchang build. You can truly customize your character in ways that suit your preferred playstyle!

In a different context: Not every weapon in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers offers the same enjoyable experience. For instance, the heavy weapons seem less engaging to play. The game shines most when you’re stringing together flawless dodges and quick attacks, which is why the longsword, spear, feather sword, and twin daggers feel more suited. The slower weapons, on the other hand, seem to clash with this style and dampen the enjoyment of combat. It’s also disappointing when one slot of your weapon is reserved for a block ability instead of a martial art move, particularly for slow weapons that could benefit from their agility and speed, especially since they could use such skills more.

In the opposite scenario, the magic in the game “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” ranks among the finest in any soulslike title. Magic users won’t need to invest points into it, as each spell has its own stats and effects. The Skyborn Might system, which can be used for a variety of abilities, allows players to generate this resource and decide whether to use it on spells, weapon swaps strikes, or weapon skills. This offers great freedom without forcing a choice between magic and power.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” blends fresh concepts with a time-tested approach that’s become synonymous with FromSoftware. While not all elements are successful, Leenzee has crafted an engaging and demanding adventure for their inaugural game that stands tall among the ‘soulslikes’ genre. Its intriguing storyline and stunning environment serve as a captivating setting for its boss battles, which are the game’s most enthralling aspect. Soulslike enthusiasts should not miss out on “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers”, and it serves as an ideal entry point for newcomers to the genre, particularly given its competitive price.

Rating: 4 out of 5

A review copy for PS5 was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.

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2025-07-23 05:12

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