WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers review – A promising Soulslike stuck in the past

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It appears that “WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers” seems to be an affectionate tribute, both positively and negatively, to the roots of the Soulslike game genre.

As a devoted fan of both Dark Souls and Bloodborne, I can empathize with those who feel that the streamlining in more recent games like Elden Ring has diminished the original experience. If you’re one of those players who yearn for the gritty, challenging gameplay of the earlier titles, then you’ll find solace in the pain that this game offers. However, if you’re like me and have grown accustomed to the more streamlined mechanics of recent games in the genre, you might find the gameplay a tad cumbersome in comparison.

In the period of the late Ming Dynasty in China, the game titled WUCHANG is not devoid of worth, but I personally consider it as a largely unmemorable addition to the extensive catalog of games that draw inspiration from the style of Dark Souls.

Majestic masochism

It appears that the primary draw of “WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers” lies in its challenging gameplay that often punishes the player. Despite having played numerous soul-like games over the last two decades, I’ve never found any of them to be excessively unfair or unenjoyable from a gameplay perspective. However, “WUCHANG” managed to shatter that norm for me at certain instances.

Narratively speaking, the game offers minimal guidance, much like From Software titles, with Wuchang, the protagonist, being a pirate warrior who regains consciousness with amnesia and a strange affliction known as Feathering. This condition is lethal but also imbues her with powers. Your task is to uncover the mystery behind it all, and in doing so, you’ll find a sense of nostalgic pleasure reminiscent of games that served as WUCHANG‘s inspiration.

In the vicinity, this same ailment is spreading among people and creatures alike. Your role is to unravel the mystery behind it and determine your course of action by interacting with various non-player characters (NPCs), overcoming challenges posed by bosses, and occasionally following clues provided by birds that seem to be guiding you towards your next destination.

In this story, a non-interactive narrative style may appeal to some players, but it could be off-putting for others. This assessment is reasonable given that the game developer, Leenzee Games, characterizes the game as having a main storyline with partially open features. On one hand, I can understand why both perspectives might hold true. As for the game WUCHANG, its plot didn’t particularly stand out, which is unfortunate. However, the intrigue of delving into this specific historical period kept me engaged enough to continue playing despite any discomfort.

As you progress through the narrative in WUCHANG, certain sections mirror some of the challenging or frustrating levels found in Souls games, such as Blightown and Lost Izalith from the original Dark Souls. There’s an area around the midpoint of WUCHANG that stirred similar emotions of anger, but it seemed as though Leenzee aimed to intensify the difficulty for the sake of boasting, “Now, THIS is tough!

The region under discussion encompasses various toxic substances, numerous foes capable of immobilizing you, and even distant adversaries who can stun you with gunfire. It’s neither enjoyable nor user-friendly; it’s simply frustrating. Despite the game’s suggestion to adjust your armor based on different ailments, it doesn’t make the experience any less irritating.

Familiar, like a fever

My primary enjoyment from playing WUCHANG stems from its Skyborn Might mechanic, which essentially lets you accrue ability points by striking enemies in rapid sequence (use R1 for a light attack and R2 for a heavy attack) or evading enemy attacks. You can spend those points by activating a Discipline Attack or Weapon Skill (using L1 and L2), both of which can be customized on the diverse selection of historically accurate weapons available in the game.

The rhythm of battle, involving dodging, employing skills, striking foes multiple times, repeating the skill to maintain a combo, then retreating to restore stamina, is quite entertaining, and the game offers an original take on the soulslike formula. Successfully mastering this combat system is crucial in boss fights.

I’d prefer if Wuchang’s actions and combat felt smoother. The pace is slower than ideal, and one of the game’s drawbacks is the lack of platforming challenges. In truth, Wuchang stumbles and groans after stepping off minor platforms, occasionally losing health, which feels awkward, unrefined, and frustrating.

In another take on the genre, WUCHANG introduces corruption as a form of retribution. Each time your character dies, Wuchang’s character becomes increasingly influenced by an Internal Fiend. Once fully corrupted, a potent demon adversary will manifest at the location of your last death, aiming to obstruct you from retrieving your dropped currency, Red Mercury. This currency functions similarly to Souls, serving both for leveling up and purchasing items.

As a gamer, I must admit, the self-escalating mechanic is quite a challenge – especially when it leads to an encounter with a formidable, malevolent demon bent on making my day even more difficult. However, there’s a silver lining: this Inner Demon isn’t just out to get me; it also attacks other enemies. In theory, I can manipulate the situation by guiding it towards them, causing damage and buying myself some time. Yet, in practice, it feels like another frustrating hurdle to conquer.

Regarding the game’s performance, it had significant issues when played on PC during the review phase, however, a launch week update appears to have resolved most of the problems I encountered. I’m unsure about its console performance, but for now, I would either opt for the console version or hold off for potential PC optimization improvements in future updates, as it significantly impacted my gaming experience. As it launched on Xbox Game Pass on the first day, I can certainly recommend it without hesitation.

Inside the game WUCHANG, there’s a strong foundation for an enjoyable experience. However, it doesn’t quite reach greatness due to certain shortcomings. One such area is that the genre, being so prevalent in 2025, can seem repetitive and oversaturated. If you’re yearning for a taste of the challenging, Soulslike gameplay from the early 2010s, though, this game might strike a chord with you.

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2025-07-23 05:17