Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – Soulslike Comfort Food or Ming Dynasty Mayhem?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Eurogamer's review suggests Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a competent but unoriginal soulslike set in the Ming Dynasty, offering familiar gameplay with a few interesting twists, but ultimately lacking the spark to truly stand out – a tasty but predictable comfort meal. Basically, it's good, but don't expect any fireworks.
Right, so another soulslike has landed, and this time it's Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, developed by Leenzee Games and published by 505 Games. Eurogamer's Kaan Serin reckons it's like tucking into your favourite comfort food – familiar, satisfying, but hardly groundbreaking. But is it *too* familiar, or does it offer enough to stand out from the ever-growing pile of Souls-inspired adventures? Let's have a gander, shall we?
First things first, Wuchang plants you in the late Ming Dynasty, which is a refreshing change from the usual European-inspired grimdark. You play as Wuchang (bit on the nose, that), an amnesiac pirate afflicted with a disease called Feathering (also a bit on the nose), which turns folks into monstrous beasties. Lucky for you, Wuchang's a bit special – she can harness this Feathering power to cast spells and buff her weapons, adding a risk-reward element to combat. Sounds interesting, eh?
The combat itself is stamina-based (of course), and you can wield two weapons at once, swapping between them mid-fight for some flashy combos. Axes, dual blades, swords, spears... the usual suspects are all here. Serin notes that while the game gives you the tools to get creative, it often nudges you towards sticking with what works. Namely, longswords and parrying. Parry-focused combat seems to be all the rage these days, doesn't it? Makes you wonder what the next trend will be – rhythm-based parrying, perhaps?
Now, let's talk about dying – because, let's be honest, you'll be doing a *lot* of it. Fallen Feathers puts a twist on the usual corpse run by introducing a 'Madness' meter. The more you die, the madder you get, and the more Red Mercury (experience points) you lose. Reach max Madness, and a shadowy doppelganger will try to stop you from reclaiming your lost loot. It's a neat idea that adds a bit of spice to the soulslike formula. Serin argues that this also makes Wuchang more approachable since dying doesn’t always feel like such a massive setback. Cheesing certain battles is also a viable option, apparently. Though, be warned, difficulty spikes can be a bit jarring.
Visually, Wuchang doesn't disappoint. The environments are gorgeous, and the character designs are suitably grotesque. Plus, there's a transmog system, so you can look fabulous without sacrificing stats. RuPaul's Drag Souls, anyone? According to Serin, the game really shines when it leans into the weirder, supernatural aspects of Chinese mythology. Unfortunately, it can't quite shake the feeling of been-there-done-that. Enemies hiding around corners, traps that spring out of nowhere... it's all a bit familiar. Even the occasional jump scare feels like something we've seen before, even if FromSoftware hasn't inflicted *that* particular cruelty upon us yet.
So, what's the verdict? Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a competent soulslike that offers some cool ideas, but ultimately feels like a retread of familiar ground. It's like eating your favourite comfort food – enjoyable, but not exactly exciting. If you're a die-hard soulslike fan, you'll probably find something to enjoy here. But if you're looking for something truly innovative, you might want to look elsewhere. Kaan Serin at Eurogamer reckons that how much you enjoy Wuchang boils down to your tolerance for repetition. Fair enough, I reckon.
Tags: soulslike, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, action RPG, Ming Dynasty, indie games
Original article: Eurogamer