It’s somewhat easy to regardWuchang: Fallen Feathersas just another Soulslike at a glance, especially with how crowded the genre has become lately. However, for fans ofNiohorWo Long: Fallen Dynasty, there’s something immediately familiar about it, perhaps even more so thanBlack Myth: Wukong, which it has been more relentlessly compared to. Between its setting, combat systems, and the historical folklore that makes up its world design,Wuchang: Fallen Feathersseems to be drawing from the same well that madeTeam Ninja’s gamesstand out in the first place.
That’s really whyWuchang: Fallen Feathersdeserves a closer look from fans ofNiohandWo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Even the comparisons toDark Soulsare easy, but that’s basically every Soulslike these days, and there’s arguably nothing wrong with that either. But howWuchangrewards aggressive play, build experimentation, and precision all strongly echoNioh, and its distinct East Asian atmosphere and story grounded in real-world Chinese mythology give it aWo Longpaint job and tone, allowing it to stretch its limbs beyondDark Souls.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Could Be the Soulslike That Nioh and Wo Long Fans Didn’t Know They Needed
The Combat Design Shares More DNA With Nioh Than It Might First Appear
On the surface,Wuchang: Fallen Feathersfits the traditional Soulslike mold, with many foundational mechanics that genre veterans should be able to easily slide right into. However, its combat system is actually less likeDark Soulsand evenElden Ringand instead tends to keep up more with the pacing and aggressive tempo ofNioh. There are 25 different weapon types and dozens of spells, and players can even respec their skills one-by-one for free, allowing plenty of room for experimentation without punishment. The game’s Skyborn Might and Madness mechanics also emphasize well-timed dodges and offensive momentum, which are both hallmarks of what has madeNiohthe experience that it is.
As many newSoulslike gamescontinue to strive for uniqueness in the genre, these systems are ultimately what separateWuchang: Fallen Feathersfrom the rest. The focus on weapon mastery, custom builds, and rhythmic combat effectively mirrors what many fans of Team Ninja games have come to love. Rather than it simply being about surviving, as it so often can be in a Soulslike game,Wuchangis more about mastering a preferred playstyle and keeping pressure on the enemy from start to finish.
Its Setting and Mythology Could Be Its Strongest Weapon
Then there’sWuchang: Fallen Feathers' setting and mythology, which earn it comparisons toBlack Myth: Wukong— though that could largely be due toBlack Myth: Wukong’s success, as it wasn’t the first notable game to adopt such a setting. While most Soulslikes opt for high fantasy and gothic cathedrals,Wuchang: Fallen Feathersprefers plague-ridden towns, decaying forests, and temples inspired by real Chinese history and myth. Set during the final days of the Ming Dynasty,Wuchangdraws from the lore of the Shu region and even integrates supernatural elements like the Feathering disease to build an identity that feels closer toWo Long: Fallen Dynastythan anything else, and yet distinct in its own right.
HowWuchangrewards aggressive play, build experimentation, and precision all strongly echoNioh, and its distinct East Asian atmosphere and story grounded in real-world Chinese mythology give it aWo Longpaint job and tone.
IfWuchang: Fallen Feathershad been released five years ago, it might have flown under the radar, but today, it’s stepping onto the stage thatNiohandWo Longhelped build. It’s not trying tocompete withDark Soulsbut instead shows that it understands why those Team Ninja games succeeded in the first place. ForNioh, that’s clear inWuchang’s combat, and forWo Long: Fallen Dynasty, that comes out inWuchang’s setting. For fans of these titles and even more by Team Ninja,Wuchang: Fallen Feathersshould be a worthwhile way to spend some time gaming.
