Having gone hands-on with Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, I’m locked in to play more

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Occasionally, it can be challenging to gauge a game’s progress based on previews, as these aren’t always reliable indicators of a game’s final quality, and this is particularly relevant when it comes to role-playing games (RPGs). This observation applies equally well to the upcoming game Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, as it does to many other titles we’ve previewed before their launch.

As a gamer, I’ve grown quite fond of the “soulslike Action RPG” genre over the past decade. However, Studio Leenzee is a developer that’s relatively unfamiliar to me, being based overseas. They did release a VR project in 2018, but Wuchang is their first title making its way across the sea. Frankly, I often worry when a developer takes on high-energy action projects because they can be quite challenging to pull off. Games like Nioh and Sekiro are among my favorites, but it’s no easy task for developers to create a satisfying combat system that lives up to those standards.

Initially, Leenzee’s game Wuchang impresses with its unique approach. The heart of the battle system is centered around responsiveness, offering a level of interaction that I haven’t encountered in games comparable to it. Instead of using an MP gauge for spells, Wuchang grants players access to spells and special attacks by accumulating and utilizing what I call “skill points”, though they may very well be referred to as something else within the game itself.

In this game, I earn points in a straightforward manner – timing my dodges and parries just right awards me these points, which I can save up for later usage. It’s great because it encourages both offensive and defensive playstyles, as demonstrated during boss fights where players are rewarded equally for their aggression and caution.

During one particularly challenging boss encounter, I discovered that a spell capable of firing homing energy bolts, causing poison if used correctly at a distance, came in handy. Given the game’s fast-paced combat, I also found immense satisfaction in parrying an attack and quickly following up with a riposte using one of my spear’s weapon skills.

The design of the level held my attention, yet there was a peculiarity: initially, I found myself exploring all other areas of the level except for the boss arena. Somehow, I moved in a large loop around it without realizing it. This isn’t necessarily a flaw – the game saved at a checkpoint right in the middle of the area, so it might not be an issue when played through at a normal pace.

From a visual perspective, the game appears breathtakingly beautiful. Despite playing it on a potent PC, the fact that it was running smoothly on an AMD graphics card offers optimism for the console versions’ quality once they are fully developed. Given the overall high-quality experience we had, I expect the console versions to be satisfactory.

In simple terms, Wuchang, a game that appeals to those who love soulslikes, manages to captivate me with its initial tests, leaving me eagerly anticipating what other features it might offer. The storyline and RPG mechanics will have to wait for us to discuss later this year. However, after my first play session, I’m definitely looking forward to playing more when it releases later in 2021 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC (Steam). Keep an eye out for our review as we approach the game’s launch date.

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2025-03-21 22:56