Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Review

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I spent 80 hours completing Lies of P, not because I was thoroughly exploring every corner, but primarily due to my lack of parrying throughout the game. It wasn’t a deliberate choice; rather, I unintentionally embarked on a challenge run. My instinctive behavior is to evade danger instead of confronting it directly, and in this way, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers seemed tailor-made for my playstyle.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers centers around our main character, Wuchang, who has contracted a peculiar illness called the “Feathering.” Although this condition gradually transforms her into a bird and presents certain disadvantages, it also brings about some benefits. In critical moments when she manages to evade an impending attack, Wuchang accumulates a stack of Skyborn Might. This empowerment can be utilized for casting spells, swiftly switching weapons, or executing rapid knockback attacks. Accumulating and retaining your Skyborn Might can also enhance your character’s physical strength or stamina regeneration based on how you customize your character.

This center primarily focuses on evasion as its main combat strategy, enhancing the inherent risk/reward dynamic essential to its genre. Instead of adhering strictly to conventional soulslike aspects such as overencumbrance and heavy reliance on parrying, Wuchang boldly blazes its own trail. Many of its weapons are incapable of blocking incoming attacks, compelling players to adopt a quicker, more aggressive playstyle. Consequently, even when defeated in battle, the player can quickly return to the fray. This is particularly evident in boss encounters, where there’s typically a direct route from a shrine to a boss fight with minimal obstacles along the way.

In certain areas, you’ll constantly encounter foes, battles seem unending, only to be followed by expanses that invite tranquil contemplation of the breathtaking scenery. And it truly is breathtaking! The landscape varies from snow-capped mountains to vibrant flower beds and the fiery hues of autumn leaves. Wuchang doesn’t deviate much from the usual somber ambiance prevalent in many soulslike games, but it does introduce a touch of diversity. However, some areas can be confusing; it’s tough to distinguish between familiar territories and uncharted lands, but eventually, you’ll experience that moment of clarity when the map makes sense in your mind.

Distinctively, it stands out through its unique skill tree, armor, and weapons. As for the equipment, it doesn’t merely grow in power as you progress through the narrative. Instead, each item has varying weaknesses and resistances, making it essential to gather them all and craft an outfit suitable for every scenario. You’ll don various sets based on the situation, with each one having its own specific role. I can’t help but wish there was a feature to save multiple outfits so that switching between them would be more convenient.

The skill tree is divided into various categories for weapons and magic, allowing you to choose the one that suits you best while keeping the majority of the tree unoccupied. To ensure flexibility, you’re free to adjust your stats without any charges. Although it might require some effort, you can customize your abilities just like your armor, with no in-game penalties, so you can adapt to different situations more effectively.

Due to the versatility offered, bosses appear highly strategic. If you’re finding it challenging to defeat one, consider switching up your gear, weapons, spells, enhancements, status effects, and even stats. Although mastering attack patterns is crucial, you’ll discover that you have a wide range of resources at your disposal for escaping difficult situations, not just relying on skill improvement alone.

In this work, the narrative isn’t heavily emphasized. Instead, it provides hints regarding your sister’s disappearance, while primarily focusing on world construction. The setting incorporates elements of the supernatural, yet it also tells a genuine tale of war, rebellion, and challenging the established order. This storyline isn’t central, but it does introduce characters who aid you in your journey. If you assist them, they will reciprocate by helping you as well.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” Breaks Traditions in the Soulslike Genre Whilst Retaining Its Essence

In this game, you’ll encounter battles that push your skills to the limit, stretches of intense play without healing options, and numerous character deaths. Yet, amidst these hardships, you’ll also discover breathtaking vistas, innovative combat mechanics, and opportunities to customize Wuchang according to the challenges you face.

WUCHANG: FALLEN FEATHERS VERDICT

As a gamer diving into Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, I find it refreshingly different from the norm. Instead of being bogged down by excessive gear or relying heavily on parrying, this game encourages a quicker, more offensive playstyle, all while delivering breathtaking, cinematic action sequences that leave me in awe.

TOP GAME MOMENT

Recognizing that I’d reached an unexplored region much sooner than the game anticipated, and thus, having the liberty to investigate it freely.

Good
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Bad

  • Gorgeous semi-open world environment with varied beautiful landscapes
  • Emphasis on dodging over parrying in a different take on the genre
  • Excellent pacing where frantic, high-stress fights are bookended with quiet stretches of exploration
  • Variety of bosses which need different approaches in order to defeat them with a smooth difficulty curve
  • Selecting weapon and armour isn’t just about ‘number going up’ as the best item to use is dependent on the situation
  • There are infrequent but noticeable performance issues on console including input lag and freezing
  • No way to quickly select different armour sets, which can lead to long and frequent re-equipping sections
  • Some areas are labyrinthine and it’s difficult to tell where you have and haven’t been before

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2025-07-29 21:41