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0 Earlier this year, I played the preview for WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, a new souls-like game. Developed by Leenzee and published by 505 Games. Now, I’ll finally get the chance to step in and explore the world they’ve created. Has this one been on your list? If so, then you’ll be able to pick it up on PlayStation for £44.99, or for £49.99 will land you the Digital Deluxe Edition. That gets you a couple more outfits and weapons, as well as some skill point upgrades.
If you want to know my previous thoughts on WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers’ preview, click here.
Warning: GIFs used might contain flashing images.
Fate is such a hard thing to avoid.
Like I mentioned in my preview, we play as the titular character, Wuchang. A young woman who awakens in a cave with no recollection of what has passed. After running down a hill to a nearby temple, which houses some characters, we learn a terrible affliction has come upon the land. This ailment is called Feathering, which Wuchang herself has been afflicted with. But unlike those already affected by the Feathering, she has gained the power to use magic. With all that taken in, she sets out to locate a cure.
Gameplay
There are a few weapon types in WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers. So there is bound to be one that fits your preferred play-style. I opted for the axe, which scales more into strength, unlike other Soul-like games, where you put points just into attributes. Here, you’ll use them to unlock more healing items, weapon arts/disciplines and increase magic capacity. If you ever accidentally place a point in the wrong section, don’t worry. You’re able to respec your character anytime at no cost to in-game items. Allowing more freedom when adapting to new bosses.
Upgrades and items are bought with Red Mercury, which acts as the currency in the game. If you’re already familiar with this style of game, you know killing enemies is how you earn money. Merchant-wise, they will offer new items once they are given key items from your journey.
Finding the best gear for you
Besides increasing your preferred section of the skill tree, you’ll find various outfits with different stats. A boss rewarded the one I used most throughout the game and provided more protection from physical attacks. You will also be able to equip three pendants at once. A lot of them increase aspects but come at the cost of taking more damage, which wasn’t for me personally. I selected more for stamina recovery and a blunt weapon damage buff.
From the shrine, there are two other ways to build Wuchang: Tempering and Benediction. Tempering is like acupuncturing, which is given by activating an item. But at the shrine, you’re able to tailor what buffs you would like. Such as boosting a stat or increasing element build-up. Additionally, later in the skill tree, you’re able to unlock elements that will trigger when using Tempering. Now, Benediction’s effect applies directly to the weapon by adding stones to three slots. The stones themselves are found throughout the world or purchased from merchants. A good one I used increased the power of my counterattacks.
New magic
Magic in WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers works a little differently compared to other games. They’ve made it much easier to incorporate into your combat through their mechanic, Skyborn Might. As I mentioned in my preview, Skyborn Might allows you to use weapon arts/disciplines and magic. In doing so, you’re able to create better combat styles that make up for where you might be weakest. For example, my preferred play style is strength, but dodging, I fall a bit short. Thankfully, certain spell types save me, with some having a passive ability called Alclarity.
What Alclarity does is, when the user is casting a spell and is attacked, they become intangible for a split second while still being able to use the spell. Other magic types that fall into the “Other” section help the player with buffs. Buff your next attack or gain invisibility while evading. The player will gain spells through merchants, beating bosses, and exploring. Each spell will have a different feather requirement. You can earn Skyborn Might through combat, but some items will replenish it as well.
Can madness benefit you?
A major gameplay feature is the use of madness, which acts as a kind of risk and reward system. Madness can benefit the player by letting them earn more Red Mercury, at the risk of taking more damage. Other ways Madness comes in hand are via the skill tree. Some skills offer additional buffs if over a specific Madness threshold. Such as getting Skyborn Might when deflecting attacks.
There are some cons to having high Madness, however. Such as taking more damage from enemies, and on death, a demon will appear where you last died. The player will know when they are over 50% when Wuchang’s eyes turn red. If you wish to remove your Madness, you can offer up a Divine Gift to the statue in the Shu Temple. Another way is by killing the demon that spawns.
Beating old bosses and learning to Git Gud
The bosses I encountered in the preview were among the first I fought against. So I knew roughly what to expect. The warrioress whom I faced on a lake still gave me a run for my money, while the centipede was a lot easier. But both have now been killed. But I’m not scared to say when I’m bested, so congrats to WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers for making me swap my gear and stats to better counter them. I’ve never done that with any other game in the Souls-like genre.
Some of the later bosses really showed me that Leenzee wasn’t going to hold back on the challenge. Where sometimes, and I’ll say this with bitterness. They felt like they had very cheap attacks. Take Mistress of the Night – Huang Yan, she was absolutely relentless with her attacks. She performed various kicks at close range that keep you on the floor, all while launching a large variety of spells with various effects. You’d think that for a slim build character, you’d be able to get up quicker.
The hills have eyes, and teeth, and… oh look, a trap!
To say WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers world isn’t dangerous would be a terrible mistake. As there is so much in the game that wants to kill you, that’s thanks to the large number of traps and ambushes. I don’t want to reveal too much about it because why would I want to save you from suffering? I don’t want to ruin the full experience. Outside of bosses, I have probably died to traps and status effects than I have to actual monsters. This doesn’t mean there aren’t any difficult mobs; I just died to the environment more.
Status effects play a vital role in the world of WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, since nearly all monsters use them. I’d say the biggest effect to be a pain in my neck was Despair. Some of you will remember Frenzy from Bloodborne. Well, Despair is that status’s angry, roided-up cousin. It would be okay if it were in only some areas, nope, it appears rather frequently. Some of the newer effects I experienced, which weren’t in the preview, were Frostbite and Paralysis. Frostbite halves your stamina, which isn’t too bad, while Paralysis slows you and reduces the damage you deal. They also work the same when applied to enemies.
Graphics & Audio
I didn’t mention the graphics and audio for WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers in my preview, but now I’ve got my hands on the full game and had the chance to explore its world, I can tell you it has much to catch the eye’s attention. Environments are stunningly beautiful and quite realistic, along with small, surprising animation details. Some such details were when idle, such as Wuchang turning to face the camera, and some weapons having animations and movement. Some armour even had ongoing animation, such as the pinching of the pincers on one of the armour headpieces. Boss designs are also horrifyingly great. One such boss was a certain ‘Gluttonous’ creature, in equal parts disgusting and brilliant
Longevity
As of writing this review, I have close to 35 hours on my playthrough. And I’ve yet to beat the game. There are various sub-quests for the player to do and many NPC characters you’ll meet throughout your journey. WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers does offer multiple endings, but how you go about getting them is beyond me. I’d assume maybe by ignoring some characters while only aiding others, that’s my best guess.
Update for longevity
Turns out where I had left my save before grinding for Red Mercury was literally outside the last boss fight. So, I have now beaten my first run after 44 hours in-game and have achieved the Jar of Medicine ending. I loved the little twist on the ending I got and have already begun a new game plus for WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers. Going to put my theory about ignoring some NPCs to the test.
Final Thoughts
Well, I feel confident when I say WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers will be a great challenge for Souls-like fans. Learning combat and utilising spells was the main focus for me. I loved swapping out armour and adjusting my build so next time I won’t get one-shot by the best this time. And that has happened to me. Unlike other games, where I’d have my shield or dodging was much easier in comparison.
The level areas in WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers feel a little too mazy for my liking. With some sections feeling too much the same, although this isn’t the actual case. My best example of this is the Avarian Woods. There are a lot of slow elevators in the game, which becomes annoying, more so when trying to get back to a boss room you just lost.
This is a little bit of a rant. But! A massive problem I had was the lack of axes in the game. I have used the second axe the game gives you since I got it. And after all the bosses I’ve beaten and areas I’ve explored, there hasn’t been another damn axe. I got four long swords, five dual blades, and four spears. The DLC weapon I received is classed as one, but gameplay wise naaah, nothing.
In the end, despite the axe problem, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is an excellent game with a beautifully crafted world. Excellent combat that forces you out of your comfort zone and pushes you to try new approaches. So, to maybe no one’s surprise, I’ll be awarding it the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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