Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Review – YOU NEED THIS

If the formula ain’t broken, don’t fix it. Just like Eve’s design from Stellar Blade, these eastern devs know exactly what they’re doing, ey? Though is Wuchang: Fallen Feathers actually a good game? Yeeeeep.

Sweaty Palms

The combat pace and animations feel just-a-right, with great use of sound design and subtle telegraphs from enemies that you’ll begin to pick up on sooner or later. Not to say that I didn’t scream at my computer several times because of how hard it can be… But! When you eventually figure out a boss’s tough-yet-fair moveset, it’s quite satisfying that you can straight-up stagger some of them from behind within the first ten seconds of a fight, impale them and then go to town while they eat dust… And that’s the first phase skipped entirely, ladies and gents. Woohoo!

Now, this aspect isn’t explained that well in-game, but Skyborn Might is essentially this game’s MP and skill enhancer that lets you pull off all the cool moves. Whenever you perfect dodge, parry or unlock other ways to gain it on the skill tree, main protag, Bai can kick some serious booty. That said, each of the five weapon types has its own way of accruing Skyborn Might. For example, longsworders get a dose from the 2nd and 5th hit of a combo fairly early on, so you can be proper aggressive. Even though not all weapon types can parry, you always have two weapons equipped at once that are simple to swap between.

In true Dark Souls fashion, there are plenty of winding passageways with status effects and annoying traps and enemies that can’t wait to push you off the ledge. If it happens enough, Bai’s Madness gauge will max out and any experience points you’d been saving up will suddenly turn into a spooky scary version of her that you’ll have to fight, or those precious points will be lost forever—good luck!… Honestly, she might seem challenging at first, yet considering that this monster also picks fights with other enemies, and that you’ll deal and take increased damage, she’ll go down pretty fast. I still think it’s a neat mechanic to pile on the pressure though. Funnily enough, I actually like raising Madness on purpose, because you can trade some in for handy items and increase your damage even further on the skill tree.

Sad Scenes in Shu

Speaking of, the game doesn’t punish for you trying out different paths on said tree. Anytime you wanna reset to switch things up, you can, without any silly penalty or special item. There’s also a heap of accessories, weapon modifiers and skills to try out so you can experiment until the cows come home. It’s a smart idea to fully explore each and every corner of the map. As not only do the landscapes and monster designs look awesome, but there are a bunch of goodie-goodies that can give you a huge leg-up in battle. Unlike Elden Ring, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is much more linear, meaning you can only choose from a couple of boss fights at a time. Though the five main areas are pretty packed in with a variety of diverse landscapes and freaky McFreakersons.

Like the title suggests, ancient China is suffering from a mysterious illness known as… The Feathering. Doesn’t really sound scary, I know. Yet it’s causing people to become sick and even turn on each other. Bai also gets it, though it’s turned her into a silent, caboose-kicking pirate lady instead. What’s the deal here? Well, you’ll have to find out. Though, I genuinely could not care less the more I played, since all the NPCs do is spit lore facts at you while the camera statically stares a void into your soul. The quote-unquote “rich storyline” is anything but. Yes, you can learn about the kingdom of Shu and Chinese mythology as you move along. However, it’s definitely been done and performed better before.

On the flipside, the music is implemented quite well, ramping up in tension the closer you get to slaying the big bads. In fact, it was so hype that I almost forgot about the stamina bar at times, which is no bueno. Playing on PC with a PS5 controller, the game would occasionally freeze for a few moments at points as well. Luckily, it was never in a super awkward moment, but it otherwise ran fine enough with DLSS on Quality and no frame generation.

Decision

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers doesn’t reinvent the wheel, yet still rolls up with a shiny new sports car and gets all the attention. It’s not exactly breaking new ground, but damn if it isn’t a fun ride. The combat slaps, the exploration keeps you on your toes and the progression system actively incentivises you to experiment. Sure, the story is about as compelling as an IKEA instruction manual, but let’s be real—if you’re here for the sweet satisfaction of chopping down uber-difficult bosses and trying out different weapons, you’ll get plenty of mileage out of this one. If nothing else, you’ll likely learn something about Chinese mythology… Though, let’s face it: you’ll probably forget it five minutes later anyway.

By Anthony Culinas – Reviewed on PC

Excellent

A straight-up banger where it counts, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers features riveting combat, exploration and build freedom. Just don’t expect to be blown away by the story and lore, unless you’ve got a PhD in Chinese mythology… or insomnia.

This game was reviewed using a download code provided by 505 Games. The Beta Network uses affiliate partnerships, however, this does not influence reviews or any other content published. The Beta Network may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links that are on the website.