There was not a single moment, while I was playing this game, that I felt uniqueness. In fact, I felt like I was playing its older cousin, Nioh 2, all over again, from the character creation to the visuals. And yet, there was something about this game that caught my attention. It was not the polish, cuz there is little, or the story, which… if you played any “SoulsLike” game you already know it is not important… AT ALL. I thought about the soundtrack, cuz it’s GORGEOUS… but no. It was not that. I think it was the glimpses of Nioh 2 challenging, but fun combat (though with very bad tutorials. Trust, go on reddit and see how many people died on the first boss not due to its challenge, but because the game mechanics are just horribly explained in decisive parts of the beginning. Honestly, it is just one of the many issues plaguing this raw diamond called “Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty”.
For starters, it is impossible not to call it “Chinese Nioh.” Everything is so similar… visually and combat-wise. Oh, and also story-wise: Nameless soldier that finds a mysterious person who helps them with a mysterious power that can help bring peace to the kingdom due to a mysterious substance called “Elixir” and its mysterious effects that bring about… demons I guess. Honestly, the story is all over the place, but the soundtrack is so beautiful that you might feel inclined to embark on this generic journey… and have fun with it.
Yes, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a fun game. The combat is intricate and absolutely juicy. So many weapons to choose, so many different builds to try out. This is the game’s strongest aspect. The type of player you are will dictate the flow of the combat, and not necessarily otherwise. I remember playing Code Vein, another souls-like game, and, although I loved it (A because of the plot and B because of the character customization), I felt the combat was stiff, just like in Dark Souls. Wo Long lets you live your House of the Flying Daggers fantasy. I am a sucker for martial arts movies, and I felt like I was part of a Zhang Yimou movie. from the artistry in animation to the nuanced soundtrack, another very strong aspect of the game. I dare say this game wouldn’t be that good if it wasn’t for its powerful, layered and potent soundtrack. Well done, Kenichiro Suehiro.
Now, for the bad part, or parts. THE. LOADING. TIME. IS. INCREDIBLY. LONG. OH. MY. GOD. WHAT. A. PAIN. And this game lost -1 point with me due to crashing right after one of its many painfully hard bosses, so it’s never gonna get a 10. SPOILER ALERT. I also feel its very, very much like a chinese version of Nioh 2, to the point where it assumes you’ve played Nioh enough to remember its controls. If you search online you will find so many threads of people having difficulties on the first boss, not because the boss per say, but because the tutorials simply do not explain what to do, what buttons to press to end that freaking fight. The lack of explanation permeates the game, and although the game is available from the get go for the GamePass, MY TIME IS PRECIOUS ENOUGH to be spent with bad tutorials. Trust, the game’s difficulty, though not as frustratingly difficult as Nioh 2 in most parts, is frustratingly difficult enough without us being sabotaged by its own tutorials. Also, the camera is erratic in many instances, to the point where it gets a bit frustrating at times, especially because it is a kung fu game, so leaps and cartwheels happen at every nanosecond, so there is that.
Overall, I’d say that Wo Long Fallen Dynasty is a rough gem that needs polish, and when and if it gets, it will blind us with its brilliance. I assure you, the atmosphere is one of the best in the genre, the combat and soundtrack will make you want to watch or rewatch most martial arts movies and will make you fall in love with China’s Han Dynasty. But it needs polish, and its not up to debate. IT NEEDS IT. DEVELOPERS, GIVE THIS GAME MORE POLISH, PLEASE! It is brimming with potential to become a very interesting kung-fu series. And I don’t know about you, but I love me some Chinese mythology.
With that being said, I give Wo Long a 8,5.
- My review with images on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juIncItr1c8&t=1s