Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a Soulslike RPG that’s coming to Xbox Game Pass — after playing it, I still have these concerns

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Concluding my Summer Game Fest 2025 review, I can’t help but express my thoughts about the intriguing action RPG, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, developed by Leenzee and published by 505 Games.

I spent approximately an hour playing Wuchang: Fallen Feathers in Los Angeles, tackling some of its bosses and delving into the game’s imaginative interpretation of Ming dynasty China. In essence, it offers a unique gaming adventure, albeit one that is notably challenging, as even minor errors can lead to harsh penalties during certain battles.

Initially unveiled at the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has been characterized by its creators as a game in the “Soulslike” genre, drawing significant influence from FromSoftware’s Dark Souls series and this year’s critically acclaimed title, Elden Ring.

In this game, you initially find yourself as Wuchang, a pirate who has lost her memory and grown feathers on her left arm due to an enigmatic, curse-like affliction. Eager for answers, Wuchang ventures forth, discovering that China is teeming with perils such as ruthless bandits and grotesque monstrosities.

The battle sequences are swift and brutal, even for larger weapons, and Wuchang manages well in combat, deftly dodging and rolling to avoid enemy assaults. However, she can’t absorb many blows, and a single mistake can lead to her demise, as is typical of games in this genre.

After about half an hour of exploring the opening zone, I was transported to a save point several hours into the game, allowing me to challenge two of the game’s bosses. The first, an agile acrobatic warrior, proved nearly invincible with my initial setup, evading my attacks effortlessly. The second adversary, a corrupted monk (as depicted in the provided image), presented a more manageable fight. I came close to defeating him but was ultimately thwarted when struck by a poison attack that drained my life at an alarming rate, outpacing my healing efforts.

As an analyst, I can’t help but bring up the intriguing aspect of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – the game’s outfits. In some ways, it appears to draw inspiration from Stellar Blade, as I noticed a considerable number of Wuchang’s available outfits reveal quite a bit of skin. While my hands-on time was limited, I couldn’t help but notice this trend more than what the full game might offer.

In addition, I must confess that Wuchang: Fallen Feathers presented me with an unprecedented level of challenge during my Summer Game Fest experience. I’ve faced tough bosses before, but none as formidable as these. The question lingered in my mind – what could I have done differently or better to overcome them?

However, it’s important to maintain fairness. Players diving into the game at launch will likely have a more gradual experience that prepares them better for these challenging encounters.

In a few weeks, the much-anticipated game, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, will be making its debut. This multiplatform release is set for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (Steam and Xbox PC), and PlayStation. Additionally, it’s included in day one on both Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, allowing subscribers to jump right in easily. I can hardly wait to take another swing at it!

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2025-07-02 13:39