Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Review – Beautiful and Deadly

Over the past ten years, a genre similar to First-Person Shooter games has exploded in popularity, much like the soulslike genre. It’s not hard to understand why developers are drawn to it, given the success of FromSoftware. However, only a small number of titles manage to reach the same level of quality as their originals. Previously, I believed that Lies of P was the sole game that encapsulated what makes these games so distinctive, with some delightful extras. Now, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has entered the fray as one of the top non-FromSoftware soulslikes available, offering the familiar formula we’ve come to love, along with numerous new features that enhance its appeal at times.

A Warrior’s Journey

To be frank, I’m eager to delve into the storyline of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, but one thing this game does particularly well within its genre is maintaining an air of mystery. Now, you might think that’s a negative aspect, but it’s not uncommon for games in the Soulslike category to struggle with storytelling. A more recent exception that delivers a clear narrative is Lies of P. This game offers a straightforward plot along with the environmental storytelling that Soulslikes are known for. In contrast, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers tends to rely heavily on its environment and leaves crucial lore details scattered across items and ambiguous dialogues. However, it’s important to note that there is indeed a story present in the game; it just requires a bit more exploration and interpretation.

The narrative commences with Wuchang, a captivating yet lethal lead character, finding herself in an amnesiac state within a cave. She subsequently ventures into a fictional depiction of Shu during the Ming dynasty’s late period. Notably, a malady called Feathering is ravaging the region, metamorphosing inhabitants into grotesque, avian-like beings. This journey leads our heroine through some stunning landscapes reminiscent of soulslike games, as she delves into her past and seeks answers about the disease’s origins.

Despite its vague aspects, I found the storyline fascinating at times. It carries an aura of enigma, guiding you from one location to another, and eventually, you understand why the Feathering took place. To fully comprehend the history behind it, you’ll need to delve into the details of various items and piece together notes strewn across the map. Although it may not be a revolutionary storyline, I found it engaging. My appreciation grew as I completed some of the quests assigned by different NPCs. However, there were certain aspects of my initial 37-hour adventure that I wasn’t overly fond of.

As you encounter fresh characters in the game, you’ll find yourself with numerous tasks, similar to other soulslike games where progress is made by defeating a boss or discovering a new location. However, advancing some of these quests was a bit challenging due to the scarcity of guidance. To clarify, I appreciate that soulslike games don’t hold my hand, allowing me to fully immerse myself in their worlds and navigate without a quest marker. The problem lies in the fact that I missed several quests because one zone indicated there was an NPC waiting for conversation, yet despite thoroughly exploring the entire area, I never found them, leading to the failure of those particular quests upon defeating a new boss.

As a gamer, I found the absence of a map in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers quite intriguing, but it would be fantastic if there was a way to track Non-Player Characters (NPCs) to enhance the questing experience. From a lore enthusiast’s perspective, an encyclopedia or glossary of terms and characters would make the game more immersive and the plot easier to follow for players like me who are bombarded with numerous complex terms throughout the game. This feature could potentially make the storyline feel less overwhelming and more digestible. All in all, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers was a thrilling adventure, and although I’m still unsure of how I obtained my first ending, I can’t wait to uncover the rest to see how unique they are!

One of the Deadliest Soulslikes Of Recent Memory

Typically, it’s not the narrative that draws us to soulslike games; instead, we crave the thrill of battling tough opponents and engaging them in numerous rematches until we emerge victorious. However, crafting formidable enemies and iconic boss battles is a feat not all games can achieve. In this respect, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers truly excels.

In the realm of games within this genre, I’ve found myself immersed in the captivating world of “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers”. This game boasts an array of adversaries, from common foot soldiers to pesky dogs, grotesque zombie-like creatures, six-legged poison spitting monstrosities, two-headed women with magical abilities, and more. While the diversity is impressive, it’s not just the quantity that makes this game shine, but the quality of each enemy. Even the simplest adversary can turn your day sour if you don’t learn their tactics. Many foes possess erratic attacks reminiscent of certain enemies in “Bloodborne”, with delayed actions that catch you off guard. Naturally, there are some frustrating ones I try to steer clear of. However, the overall combat design is exceptional.

Beyond doubt, the boss battles are exceptional in terms of design and functionality. Compared to recent soulslikes, some have been excessively tough. Take The First Berserker: Khazan, for instance; there were instances where victory was nearly impossible unless you had a specific character setup or were willing to invest three hours battling the same boss. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers remains quite difficult, and I’d place it in the league of challenging as Lies of P. However, it manages to stay engaging because it offers numerous ways to counteract the bosses.

In the game, there’s one big bandit leader. The tutorial indicates that certain enemies have unique vulnerabilities. Typically, human adversaries wearing metal armor are vulnerable to lightning attacks. To tackle this battle, I switched out all my spells for ones that dealt lightning damage, and amazingly enough, I managed to end the confrontation more swiftly. This was after getting defeated by the enemy a dozen times, but the key takeaway is that I emerged victorious. The same approach worked with bosses who applied different status effects as well.

In Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, for the first time in my gaming experience, I’m motivated to experiment with various armor combinations to boost my resistance levels, enabling me to endure combat effectively. Unlike other games where this was mostly optional, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers acknowledges and remunerates the importance of strategic preparation and tactical execution during encounters.

A Plethora of Systems

So far, I’ve discussed elements that are found in many other souls-like games. However, what sets Wuchang: Fallen Feathers apart is not just one, but several distinctive features. Initially, the systems can seem complex and a bit perplexing. But as you become accustomed to them, you’ll appreciate the intricacy of the combat system in all its glory.

The standout aspect of the game is the ability called Skyborn Might. By successfully executing moves like a precise dodge or striking an opponent a certain number of times, you accumulate stacks of Skyborn Might. This resource empowers Wuchang to use both weapon skills and spells, which was my preferred gameplay mechanic. Unlike traditional magic systems that require refilling with potions or similar items, the magic in this game is employed through active play. I particularly enjoyed this because it demanded aggressive gameplay. Using a hybrid build that combined melee attacks with spells, I could seamlessly execute various strategies. I would typically attack an enemy between two to four times to accrue Skyborn Might and then cast spells from a distance. In reality, this build felt somewhat overpowered towards the end, but not so much as to make most challenges trivial.

To fully exploit the combat in Skyborn Might, players should also familiarize themselves with various mechanics beyond just the gimmick. For example, each weapon possesses unique characteristics during battle. Take dual blades for instance; they utilize a Clashing system that decreases an enemy’s attack damage if you strike them concurrently. Spears produce a distinct resource which can then be transformed into Skyborn Might. Shortswords generate Skyborn Might gradually, and so forth.

If you believed that was the full story, you’d be mistaken. Wuchang has the ability to imbue her weapons with special items, bestowing them with temporary effects like fire damage or draining attacks. Furthermore, you can arm yourself with stone-like artifacts known as Benedictions, which offer passive advantages. In some cases, these artifacts are sold in sets of three, and using all three will grant you an enhanced bonus.

Talking more about the game’s systems might ruin the experience for you. However, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is consistently satisfying, whether it’s a new spell, armor set, or weapon – each one feels significant. In fact, I found myself employing various in-game items, like throwing daggers, which isn’t common in other soulslikes. My main complaint is that some of the systems can be perplexing initially. Although you can learn about them in the game’s tutorial section, the terminology may initially confuse some players, but only briefly.

Customization at Its Finest

In the game “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers,” I noticed an unprecedented level of customization, something I often struggle with in games similar to “Elden Ring,” causing what I call ‘restartitis.’ The multitude of build options leaves me compelled to frequently restart my character. Yet, this freedom comes with its drawbacks – you must acquire new armor, upgrade weapons, and so forth. What sets “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” apart is its user-friendly approach, as it eliminates the cost of respec’ing a skill tree and integrates stat and weapon enhancements within the skill tree itself.

In this game, if you prefer specializing in longswords, you can allocate your skill points to enhance attributes like Strength and Agility within the skill tree. You won’t need to visit a blacksmith or any NPC for improving a specific longsword. However, if you wish to try out other weapons or use multiple ones, you can simply adjust your skill tree by reclaiming the points you invested earlier. This flexibility extends to weapon upgrades as well – no need to worry about losing materials when experimenting with different types of swords! I believe this feature encourages experimentation and is something more games should consider incorporating. The idea that players can tinker without fear of wasting resources is quite appealing.

In terms of gameplay adjustments, the fashion element in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is exceptional and even matches that of Stellar Blade in certain areas. If you’re a fan of alternative armor sets, the game offers a variety. Moreover, it provides an outfit customization feature that allows you to alter the appearance of each armor piece without modifying the actual protective gear. This means you can wear the heaviest armor in the game but make it appear as Wuchang’s signature outfit or something completely different. What’s more, this customization can be done instantly without requiring a trip to a shrine for alterations. For those who prefer less fan service, there’s an option to minimize any suggestive designs.

An Immersive Approach to Exploration

One additional point worth noting is the map layout of the game Wuchang: Fallen Feathers.

Upon completing the initial vast region, another area beneath the surface becomes accessible. As you progress, you discover a temple dedicated to vertical navigation. Subsequently, you’re plunged into an expansive forest where getting lost is commonplace. Since there are no guides or maps within the game, players must rely on mental landmarks or leave trail markers to help navigate. Truth be told, I frequently found myself lost and missed a few bosses and objectives along the way. Yet, this challenge is part of the appeal for me in the soulslike genre. A well-designed map in these games can be deceptively small but reveals multiple optional paths leading to additional routes or hidden bosses.

Regrettably, the stunning visuals come with a catch – uneven performance. Despite my PC meeting and surpassing the required specifications, I encountered noticeable lags in the frame rate. At times, I’d achieve consistent 100 FPS, only for it to plummet to 40 and oscillate between that and 70, before returning to 100 again. This fluctuation was quite bothersome. The game was undeniably breathtaking in every scene, but my PC struggled to maintain a consistent frame rate, and its fans worked hard even at medium settings. A major update during the review period alleviated some of these issues, yet I had to cap the frame rate at 60 for improved stability. The bright side is that, even with the settings on low, the game still looks stunningly beautiful. However, it requires some fine-tuning to ensure a smoother experience as intended.

As a gamer, let me share my thoughts on a minor yet significant aspect that adds up in games like ours – the placement of shrines and bosses. I don’t mind shrines or safe zones being spread out across the map; it encourages careful gameplay. But when it comes to boss arenas, having the shrine outside the arena can be a game-changer.

In numerous instances, reaching the last checkpoint often involves a long elevator ride or navigating through vast open areas before facing the boss again. For games where you battle the boss just a few times, this might not matter much. But in a Soulslike game where we tirelessly attempt to conquer a boss, having the checkpoint outside of the boss room makes the experience more pleasurable and less tedious.

A Cut Above the Rest

To sum it up, “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” was an unexpected gem of 2025 in the soulslike genre, standing out as the best of the year. However, it wasn’t flawless. The immersive, open-ended exploration was a highlight, but it could be frustrating when you might accidentally fail quests without understanding why. Also, on PC, there were some performance issues that needed addressing to ensure smooth gameplay. Apart from these technical hiccups, I encountered no bugs or glitches during my approximately 40-hour initial playthrough.

In the realm of the genre, FromSoftware continues to set the standard, and it’s delightful when a game like “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” comes along that grasps the formula and infuses its own distinctive elements.

Review copy provided by the Publisher.

2025-07-23 06:06