Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Review – Ain’t Nuthing Ta Pluck With

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Throughout much of my life, I’ve been deeply immersed in art, and it’s no small praise when I say that Chinese landscape paintings rank among the most stunning works I’ve encountered. While this could be said about almost any piece of art, there’s something uniquely powerful about these landscapes from various dynasties – Tang, Song, Yuan, or Ming. They have a remarkable talent for encapsulating the history, politics, and philosophical essence of a people and land marked by resilience.

Much like imperial seals frequently adorning these paintings signify the flow and shift of wealth and power throughout China’s storied past, the content within these artworks often serves as a metaphor, offering insights into the fears, values, and culture of a people I might otherwise remain unfamiliar with.

One painting I particularly admire from this collection is “Dancing and Singing (Peasants Returning From Work)” by Ma Yuan. Not only is it visually stunning, but it skillfully demonstrates Ma Yuan’s expertise as a professionally trained, fourth-generation artist, and the personal touch that would later earn him recognition as one of the foundational artists in China’s Ma-Xia school. In this artwork, sturdy trees give way to delicate branches; a fog that seems to advance from the foothills blankets the landscape; towering mountains overshadow temple rooftops; and deft brushstrokes, almost miraculously, sculpt mountains out of silk. It’s an unforgettable piece, and I consider it a sincere compliment when I say that Wuchang: Fallen Feathers evokes similar feelings in me.

One aspect that greatly contributes to the appeal of “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” is its stunning visuals. Over the course of approximately 30 hours spent playing, I never grew tired of marveling at its twisted trees, mist-covered mountains, decaying temples, and intricate pathways that guided me through them all. However, it’s not just about aesthetics. The game effectively blends elements from numerous generations of soulslike games while injecting its unique style, and offers a glimpse into the Ming Dynasty’s history, even though much of it is fictional.

The combat feels exhilarating, the level design stimulates curiosity, the artistic direction is exceptional, and the game offers a wide range of systems and customization options that ensure versatility – all these elements make “Wuchang” stand out. While the overall experience may not be revolutionary, and the game experiences abrupt changes in difficulty, the gameplay moments generally make it an enjoyable experience and an easy recommendation for fans of soulslike games.

In the backdrop of China’s Ming dynasty, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers skillfully blends history, mythology, and dark fantasy, resulting in an engaging narrative that propels the game forward. The game centers around Bai Wuchang, a past pirate who ends up stranded on the shore with amnesia. Interestingly, her memory loss is not her biggest concern, as she also grapples with Feathering – a condition previously believed to be incurable.

In a fortunate turn of events, it appears Wuchang’s affliction is less aggressive than those surrounding her, who are rapidly falling prey to a disease that mutates them into terrifying beasts. Despite this, the pirate embarks on a quest to discover a remedy for her ailment and possibly recover lost memories during her journey. While a game featuring a madness-like epidemic sweeping through society isn’t entirely novel, Wuchang effectively keeps the story compelling, delicately addressing the fears and apprehensions that arise when faced with a pandemic. I found this exploration of the subject matter intriguing, though it may seem somewhat superficial at times. One aspect I appreciated was the portrayal of Wuchang as a woman transforming into a monster, making some of her adversaries people who believe she is already dangerous. If Wuchang slays these human foes, her madness escalates, offering an intriguing twist that showcases how the illness influences her perception of both her own humanity and humankind in general.

As a gamer diving into Wuchang, I found that this game might not be as complex in its storytelling compared to From Software’s offerings, which some players might find refreshing. The game offers enough context through numerous NPCs and cutscenes, making the overall plot relatively easy to follow. However, during my playtime, I was somewhat underwhelmed by Bai Wuchang’s role in the storyline. I had hoped for a more intricate connection between her character and the game’s narrative, or perhaps a stronger emphasis on her pirate background. Instead, she sometimes felt like an added element rather than a central figure. In this instance, Leenzee chose to give us control over a pre-existing character instead of allowing character creation, which I thought might have resulted in a deeper narrative integration for Bai Wuchang.

It’s worth mentioning that some parts of the game’s story may not be immediately understandable for someone who isn’t well-versed in Chinese history and mythology. The more knowledgeable you are about these subjects, the richer your gaming experience will likely be, as it seems there are numerous links to these themes throughout interactions, enemies, naming patterns, and so on, based on my preliminary investigation.

An engaging tale isn’t absolutely necessary for Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, given its exceptional gameplay. In the realm of soulslikes, combat that is rewarding is crucial for a fulfilling adventure, and thankfully, Wuchang delivers with smooth, enjoyable, and crucially, adaptable gameplay. A significant part of this success can be attributed to the game’s various systems, which, although initially complex and potentially overwhelming, soon become intuitive, interconnect, and establish a unique identity centered around precision and control.

The heart of all these features revolves around the Impetus Repository, Wuchang’s term for their skill progression system, similar to other soulslikes. Elevating your character requires a resource, Red Mercury, which you acquire by defeating opponents. Unlike other games in this genre, you don’t lose all your Red Mercury when you die; instead, you forfeit approximately half of it, making the game more forgiving and a refreshing change.

Upon opening the Impetus Repository and glancing through its extensive branches, a game that sprang to mind was Final Fantasy X. It may seem an unusual comparison, yet the Repository mirrors FFX’s Sphere Grid in many ways. One branch of the tree focuses mainly on health, potions, and overall game mechanics enhancements, while the other five branches correspond to the game’s weapon styles: dual blades, spear, axe, long sword, and one-handed sword. As you unlock nodes, the branches start to expand even more, suggesting that it would be challenging to fully fill out this tree. On a positive note, if you enjoy experimenting with various weapons, you can easily reset your skill tree at no cost whenever you wish.

To truly master the game, it’s essential to experiment with various weapons since they each function uniquely and demand a specific playstyle. For instance, one-handed swords prioritize evasion and magic, while dual-blades incorporate a “clash” mechanic enabling you to counter enemy attacks. However, every weapon proves effective in its own right, and different players may excel with diverse options – a reflection of the game’s commitment to versatility.

Although I personally find the game seems to favor one-handed sword and longsword users, this might simply be due to my familiarity with them. It’s odd that while longswords and dual-blades are heavily focused on parrying, not all weapons can perform this action at all. In certain combat scenarios, this can lead to significant frustration.

Despite various strategies, such as blocking, evading, and performing actions based on your skill set, all contribute towards accumulating Skyborn Might. This empowerment enables you to cast spells and deliver stronger attacks. One delightful aspect of the game’s spells is that most are earned upon overcoming an adversary, providing a satisfying feeling of triumph when you upgrade a spell that was initially used against you in unexpected encounters. Additional features include Benedictions, which enable weapon upgrades by socketing them, and Temperance, which offers temporary stat boosts when using a specific item in the game world, much like activating a rune in Elden Ring.

As a gamer, here’s my take on it: Lastly, there’s one more gameplay aspect that could either make or break you – Madness. With each enemy I slay as Bai Wuchang and each time she meets her demise, this meter builds up. Once it reaches its peak, an inner demon of Wuchang emerges, ready to clash with me at the spot where I’ve stashed my Red Mercury. This twisted version of Wuchang is not only fiercely combat-ready but also possesses a frustrating ability to recover health.

If you’re up for some mischief, you might attempt to manipulate this malicious entity into attacking nearby adversaries, thus earning you some complimentary Red Mercury and gradually depleting her health without lifting a finger yourself. However, the true tactical aspect lies in the gamble that Madness presents. When Wuchang falls under the influence of madness, she not only inflicts but also absorbs more damage. This can be incredibly beneficial for defeating a boss quicker, but it heightens the necessity to dodge enemy attacks until you can locate your demon and eliminate it.

Among all aspects of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers that caught my attention, its level design stands out as particularly noteworthy. In many ways, it recalls Bloodborne’s design, which is high praise indeed if you know me. The game masterfully balances making the main path clear while avoiding a rigid or linear feel. Players are granted some freedom to explore, yet there are clever methods in place to guide them back on track when needed.

The game’s shrines, similar to Dark Souls’ bonfires or Lies of P’s stargazers, appear at opportune moments and facilitate effortless travel between areas.

Despite appearing vast, the war-scarred lands of Shu are intricately linked due to Leenzee’s ingenious methods of intertwining locations, which enhances my feeling of being there and offers enjoyable “aha” moments as I rediscover familiar spots or glimpse them from afar. Contrary to expectations, Wuchang doesn’t feel confined or underpopulated, even though it deviates significantly from the concept of an open-world game; it does not strive to be one, but instead manages to create a believable and engaging environment.

Indeed, among the inhabitants, there are some formidable adversaries that Bai Wuchang encounters during her journey for enlightenment and recovery. Leenzee excels in designing these adversaries, creating striking battlefields and horrifying yet intriguing aberrations. They can be repulsive, captivating, and at times, a little…seductive – but if you’ve seen Bai Wuchang’s diverse outfits, you’re probably aware that the game has a bit of an alluring edge, which I personally find appealing. Returning to the subject, every opponent I faced was impressive and unique, even though they generally fall into two categories: monstrous entities or warriors who must demonstrate their superiority on multiple occasions before a victory can be achieved. However, not all adversaries are equal in strength or fairness.

In the initial stages of gameplay (approximately 10 hours), Wuchang: Fallen Feathers appears to be a user-friendly soulslike title that occasionally delivers powerful blows. The narrative is straightforward, and the mechanics offer more adaptability compared to other games in the genre. Unlike Elden Ring, it might not entice players to repeatedly leave, grind, and return for better stats, but it does provide the option to do so, as well as allowing you to customize Bai’s abilities to suit specific encounters and playing styles.

While delving into the initial game areas and clashing with cannibals, priests, tree-like creatures, and a repulsive, venom-spitting centipede, I experienced difficulty, yet not harshness. Each boss fell within four or five attempts, and although these confrontations were intense and awe-inspiring, every tactic they employed seemed manageable – they all adhered to patterns that I could grasp. However, I encountered a specific boss who proved an insurmountable obstacle for me.

In simpler terms, I convinced myself it was just a test of ability, and eventually, I came out on top – palms clammy yet mental stability mostly preserved. And then, everything seemed manageable once more… until I encountered another hurdle. This constant fluctuation messed with my feeling of advancement and improvement, and after numerous fights that sometimes felt unjust, it also became clear that the game’s weapons – though designed to be diverse and equally effective – actually have significant variations in practice.

To successfully navigate this game, it’s almost essential to learn and enhance a few skills or weapons. Although I deeply cherish my single-handed sword, it’s important to acknowledge its limitations since it can’t parry, block, or clash. In all honesty, I must boast that my reflexes and dodging abilities have significantly improved – this was crucial in earning Skyborn Might and casting spells. However, these bosses had such narrow windows of opportunity for error that missing a dodge usually resulted in getting trapped in a combo that drained a significant portion of my health, and finding an opportunity to heal became extremely difficult.

Although Wuchang adopts essential elements from soulslikes, particularly in level design, it tends to make its levels excessively challenging just for the sake of being hard. While I appreciate that difficulty is often crucial in soulslikes, the best ones create experiences where players feel like they’ve grown by overcoming challenges instead of just feeling frustrated. Unfortunately, many Wuchang bosses cause more annoyance than enlightenment or empowerment. Furthermore, Wuchang’s strong resemblance to From Software games sometimes makes it seem less original, with some enemies appearing similar to those in these titles. This can weaken Wuchang’s emerging identity and authenticity.

Although some issues may slightly diminish the enjoyment, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers remains an exceptional game offering numerous rewarding battles over frustrating ones, innovative concepts, and breathtaking landscapes. Given that this is Leenzee’s first release, I am eagerly optimistic about the studio’s forthcoming projects, including potential improvements to Wuchang itself. Despite its current imperfections, it is a game I confidently recommend to fans of souls-like genres, provided they are willing to work up a sweat.

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2025-07-24 03:40