Wuchang: Fallen Feathers review: “Flashy combos are impressive, but boss battle frustrations get in the way of me actually using them”

by

As a devoted fan, I find myself constantly rising after each fall in soulslike games – it’s an unyielding rhythm that keeps me coming back for more. The repetitive cycle of dying and learning enemy attack patterns eventually results in the exhilarating triumph of vanquishing a boss. However, in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, there are instances where I can’t manage to get up fast enough, adding an extra layer of challenge that makes the game even more enticing.

Despite my attacks being insignificant to them, bosses can easily stagger lock me, knocking me down and making it difficult for me to get back up. This leaves a brief window of opportunity for them to prepare another attack, often killing me before I can recover or regain my balance.

I encountered some difficulties while playing the game, particularly with its complex combat system. However, just like any other ‘Souls-like’ game, I kept trying and eventually figured out how to adapt to its mechanics in order to conquer its impressive boss battles. Moreover, the trip between these fights is rewarding, as it offers exploration of hidden paths and rewards, as well as the chance to appreciate stunning replicas of ancient China’s landscapes.

Dynasty warriors

Drifting Feathers centers around a young woman named Bai Wuchang, who contracts the enigmatic Feathering Sickness. Unlike others afflicted, she exhibits an unusual resistance to its madness-inducing properties. On a quest to understand the disease’s origins, she navigates her way through the intricate tapestry of the late Ming dynasty, encountering notable Chinese historical figures who appear as non-player characters in her journey.

Although Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has an interesting concept, its complex narrative can be challenging to understand due to the unpredictable appearances of NPCs at various points during your adventure, who share backstory about previously encountered bosses and adversaries. While this additional information is valued, the infrequent encounters with these characters often cause me to forget what I’ve learned from one encounter by the time another appears, several hours later. This makes it difficult to construct a clear narrative, and it becomes simple to lose focus on the story details altogether.

Even though I don’t usually play soulslike games for their narratives, Wuchang is no exception. Instead, it offers an immersive experience focused on overcoming challenges set against breathtaking landscapes. The game’s environments are truly awe-inspiring, featuring lush forests, intricate temples, and vibrant tundras. As a person of Chinese descent, these settings resonate with me, reminding me of ancient artwork I grew up seeing in my home adorned with paintings depicting similar landscapes. Given that Leenzee Games is a studio based in China, it’s evident that they have carefully crafted the settings to reflect authentic Chinese culture and beauty.

The style has solid substance to support it as well. Exploring in this game is exciting and fulfilling, with multiple routes leading to useful items and power-ups at the end. Typically, I’d come across Red Mercury (the game’s equivalent of Souls/Runes) or healing items like Steamed Buns that would aid me on my trek to the next save point. Rarely did I find an item I deemed useless. Any excess Red Mercury I accumulated was usually just enough to help me achieve a new level up, and utilizing smaller healing items allowed me to preserve my health flasks for when they were most needed. Discovering hidden shortcuts back to previous save points is also quite satisfying.

Wuxia arts

In Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, the gameplay mechanics may either push players away or draw them in deeply. The combat is centered around performing impressive abilities and linking attacks together, creating a thrilling experience for those who can pull off their combos effectively. Much like Black Myth: Wukong, your main defensive strategy lies in dodging. By perfectly timing your evasions, you acquire a single stack of Skyborn Might, which enhances your skills and spells, making them stronger and causing more damage when utilized.

Enemies are incredibly difficult to stagger and this ends up usually ruining your combo potential.

Playing defense effectively not just earns you rewards, but it additionally motivates you to keep pushing forward. It’s about finding the right balance to avoid either hunkering down too much or constantly charging ahead. Ideally, this is how things should work in theory.

As a gamer, let me tell you, the game world isn’t always as it seems. The enemies in this game are super tough to knock off balance, which usually spoils my combo opportunities because I can get hit while trying. This problem is especially noticeable during boss battles. Frankly, many of these bosses don’t offer enough chances for me to retaliate after I dodge their combos. I’ll go in and start my own combo, but since the bosses are so hard to stagger, my sequence of attacks gets cut short. So, I find myself playing more defensively, waiting for the perfect moment to attack.

In Soulslike games like Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, learning boss attack patterns is crucial for victory, and this holds especially true here. One tactic I found effective was utilizing my longsword’s Blink Kick ability. When an opening presented itself, I’d dash forward to execute a powerful kick that often knocked the enemy off balance, then I’d step back and repeat the sequence repeatedly. If I couldn’t manage multiple quick hits without being countered, I opted for landing one strong blow and retreating to avoid retaliation.

In games like Nioh or Elden Ring, when a character is knocked down, they can often roll away in another direction to recover swiftly. However, in Bai Wuchang’s case, she has minimal invincibility frames during her lengthy getting-up animation. This means the boss can easily follow up with another attack, causing you to fall again and potentially resulting in your death. This repeated knockdown mechanic is disheartening and makes battles more frustrating than they need to be.

Although they may seem surprisingly simple, boss battles do have occasional challenges. By “easy,” I mean that the bosses’ moves are patterned and less encompassing than I anticipated from other soulslike games. This makes it easier to dodge and minimize damage. However, my downfall is usually overconfidence, attempting to get one final strike before the boss attacks.

One observation I’ve made about Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and its boss battles is that there are fewer instances where second phase fights come as a surprise, unlike in many other soulslikes. Typically, after defeating the initial form of a boss, a cutscene occurs, followed by fighting their second form. It can be disheartening to discover that the first phase you’ve struggled so much with and depleted all your healing flasks was merely the prelude to the actual fight. This problem also surfaced in Khazan: The First Berserker earlier this year.

In the game Wuchang, not all boss battles have two phases, which I find refreshing. Overusing two-phase bosses can dilute their impact and make them seem less valuable. However, in Wuchang, they are used sparingly, making it especially gratifying to conquer those challenging boss fights when you finally do so.

Custom Wuchang

You’re encouraged to experiment with the different weapon types.

In Wuchang, the variety and distinctiveness of customization options for character progression sets it apart from many other soulslikes. It’s got a familiar vibe to the Sphere Grid system in Final Fantasy X, and using it feels instinctive. The game offers five unique weapon categories: axes, spears, dual blades, one-handed swords, and longswords. Instead of a general block or parry mechanism, each weapon possesses its own specific defensive skill, giving them a touch of traditional RPG class dynamics.

In this game, various weapons possess unique skills. For instance, the spear comes equipped with the Aerial Bulwark ability. When correctly timed during an enemy attack, it allows for evasion and a swift counterattack. The dagger excels against enemies or bosses armed with blades due to its clashing capability that nullifies incoming attacks. If you prefer a more conventional blocking mechanic, the axe is your choice. Consequently, your weapon preference in soul-like games may lean towards a specific type based on your playstyle. This innovative approach to traditional block and parry mechanics adds an intriguing twist to the genre, requiring some time to master but also encouraging exploration of different weapon types.

This is reinforced by the ability to completely rearrange your skill set at any moment without charge, which eliminates concerns about making poor investment choices in your character build. Moreover, Wuchang’s battle strategy includes Swift Draw, a feature that allows you to use one Skyborn Might to execute a powerful, surprise attack when switching between two equipped weapons. This constant weapon swap keeps battles exciting and enables you to create impressive combo sequences.

Apart from different types of weapons, you can also employ diverse attacks such as spells. By enhancing Skyborn Might, you can blend magic spells into your attack sequences. Among my preferred spells are the Echo of AI Nengi, which conjures a huge bow to fire five thunderbolts, and the Echo of Huang Yan, which invokes a swarm of insects to assault enemies. It’s incredibly enjoyable tailoring your combination of weapons and spells due to the flexible skill tree.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – A Challenging Soulslike Experience

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers presents a robust soulslike gameplay experience, yet it may take time to acclimate yourself to its unique idiosyncrasies. The narrative might not be particularly gripping, but the combat is certainly engaging enough to compensate. However, the inflexibility of some bosses during battle can turn the encounters into frustrating experiences, which contrasts sharply with the fluid wuxia-inspired combo sequences that Wuchang strives to promote.

The game’s portrayal of ancient China is visually stunning and boasts intricate environments for players to explore. Some players might find themselves struggling, but for those willing to embark on this adventure, the journey promises an immersive experience.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers was reviewed on PC, with a code provided by the publisher.

Read More

2025-07-23 05:10