Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Review

By Anthony Doty Last updated Mar 16, 2023

Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty on PS5

The supply materials that’s The Romance of the Three Kingdoms has been fertile grounds for studios and builders alike in recent times, permitting the creation of worlds and experiences that not simply inform the tales in myriad methods, but in addition gameplay that covers all kinds of genres. In Koei Tecmo and Group Ninja’s Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty, it’s time for the motion roleplaying to take the highlight once more, and what an exciting trip it has turned out to be.

From the off, it’s clear that each Group Ninja and Koei Tecmo have put all of their learnings engaged on the likes of Nioh, Ninja Gaiden, and to some extent, Bloodborne, into Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty. Fairly than leaning too closely into any a type of inspirations, this sport works its personal magic through completely different methods to ship an expertise that feels distinctive and extra importantly, enjoyable.

Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty takes us again to 184 AD within the Later Han Dynasty in China, with the land overcome by chaos and destruction. When you’ve got any passing information of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms or have performed the Dynasty Warriors video games, Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty looks like an elevated and darker tackle related occasions, albeit in an unique story instructed through the attitude of assorted heroes and villains that the participant will meet as a anonymous militia soldier.

After all, because the chosen one, that is solely the beginning of your journey throughout the epic saga, with gamers on the heart of many pivotal occasions which have been barely altered to make room for the demonic slant to the story. Between combating off warring factions and the grim invasion of demonic forces, there’s loads to sink your enamel into in Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty.

Picture Supply: Koei Tecmo through Twinfinite

That mentioned, inside minutes of the opening mission, Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty teaches you the fundamentals of what can be the muse of far more complicated mechanics that may information your survival all through to the tip. Attacking and defending, the massively entertaining deflecting system, the spirit gauge, and using martial arts in addition to wizardry spells are simply the tip of the iceberg, however you can be taught all the required abilities in an accessible means.

Arrange in a construction just like the Nioh video games, the sport is damaged up into fundamental and sub-battlefields, with the previous being the essential story missions that may progress the plot. At any given time after the preliminary levels, you should have the choice to pursue the sub-missions searching for sources and battle, with loot up for grabs to make your character much more highly effective than earlier than.

As soon as gamers have jumped right into a mission, the actual leisure begins, with Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty in a position to present a fantastic mixture of platforming motion and intense fight to maintain issues shifting alongside at a gentle tempo, culminating in boss fights which are normally showstoppers.

Whereas it is very important take note of the sorts of weapons, of which there are 13, and armor you’ll be donning and upgrading alongside the best way, true mastery in Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty is available in understanding its methods and utilizing them to your benefit.

For starters, let’s speak about Morale Rank. In any given degree, you’ll begin issues off at zero, with the upper it’s, the much less injury you’ll obtain from assaults and the extra bonuses come into play. Morale Ranks may be accrued by defeating enemies, touchdown martial arts and spirit assaults, and Deadly Strikes, with it additionally appearing as an indicator of enemy menace. Any crucial blow from the enemy or loss of life will drop your Morale Rank, so suffice to say, it’s a tall job going after an enemy a number of ranks above you.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Combat Aoye — Picture Supply: Koei Tecmo through Twinfinite

The truth is, just like the Souls video games, you’ll be dropping half of your Real Qi each time you perish, the dear foreign money that can be utilized for levelling up any of the 5 virtues that govern your stats. Not solely that, being killed by an enemy sees it develop into emboldened, rising in rank and awaiting your try at revenge, which units the stage for a tricky battle forward for gamers that aren’t eager on studying the system.

And what a fight system it’s. The problem of going through formidable foes is matched with the participant’s capacity to have interaction in exhilarating fight, transitioning from offense to protection and vice versa in a flash, protecting the motion high-octane and in your management. Whereas you should utilize commonplace assaults and block to defend, the spirit gauge is the place the actual technique is at.

Just like Sekiro with its posture meter, the fight in Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty needs gamers to be proactive, with excessive spirit permitting for martial arts, wizardry spells, and spirit assaults for use with out penalty. Conversely, have your spirit too low, and you possibly can be dazed by the following enemy assault, leaving you open to extra harm. One of the best ways to extend your spirit is by maintaining the aggression and deflecting incoming blows, protecting you at all times on the centre of issues.

Deflection, specifically, is a very gratifying mechanic, staggering keen foes that may now be punished, or protecting the bosses at bay because the echoing conflict of steel sounds off with a number of profitable deflections. It turns into much more important when going through crucial blows, an unguardable assault that’s signposted by a purple glow in your opponent. Time it proper, and you’ll strike a dangerous blow to each well being and spirit. Get it mistaken, although, and also you’ll undergo vital injury in addition to a drop of Morale Rank. Evidently, studying patterns and mastering timing will assist gamers a lot in Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty.

Having proficiency on either side of fight helps maintain regular fights to a minimal fuss, and makes boss fights a spectacle. Apart from contending with bigger well being swimming pools and extra harmful assaults, it’s important to interrupt the spirit of those imposing enemies, so you’ll be able to carry out a Deadly Strike that offers excessive injury and decrease their Morale Rank to make your life simpler.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Level Up — Picture Supply: Koei Tecmo through Twinfinite

If flashy martial arts strikes and spirit assaults usually are not sufficient, Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty throws in wizardry spells aligned to the weather of the 5 Phases. So long as you’ve got sufficient spirit and the corresponding stats to make use of a spell you’ve got realized, it could actually imply turning the tide in fascinating methods. Since components can counteract one another, weaknesses may be exploited and strengths weakened, and standing results may be conferred with sufficient elemental assaults.

Add to that varied Divine Beasts that additionally boast their very own enhancements to your stats and elemental prowess, and the sensible warrior is aware of find out how to savvily use all of those mechanics to stack the chances of their favor. With the extent of menace that even the smallest of enemies can herald Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty, you’ll be able to by no means be too cautious.

Outdoors of the clashing of arms, the extent designs within the sport are additionally extremely spectacular. Totally different biomes play house to a wide range of design components, taking part in to the verticality afforded by the elevated mobility of your character. Hidden paths and secrets and techniques are aplenty, together with collectibles just like the cuddly Shitieshou creatures, whereas using shortcuts that spherical out an space at all times delivers a way of satisfaction like no different. It pays to concentrate on this sport, permitting the observant to get the drop on enemies and treasures alike.

The degrees additionally permit one other aspect of the sport to be on show with the Battle and Marking Flags system. Basically appearing as checkpoints, getting to those flags additionally raises your minimal Fortitude Rank, which serves as the bottom degree of your Morale Rank do you have to die. Discovering Marking Flags additionally heals you, whereas resting at Battle Flags does the identical whereas permitting for levelling up and calling in reinforcements from different gamers or the AI at the price of reviving your enemies.

Marking Flags are sometimes hidden round in ranges, so it’s going to check your platforming and observational abilities more often than not. As for Battle Flags, their necessary nature is obvious with Chief-type enemies defending them sometimes. These are tough foes to cope with, particularly for those who’re not selecting off their Followers first, including one other strategic layer to your strategy in Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty.

It’s a praise to the builders that all through the seven fundamental acts of the sport, there was at all times one thing to stay up for whether or not it’s a battle in opposition to a famed foe like Lu Bu, or extra secrets and techniques and lore to be found. You possibly can at all times higher your relationships with AI companions by driving into battle with them, with the candy carrot of their gear set as your reward for elevating their Oath Ranges, or go to the hidden village that serves because the hub space with different distractions in line.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Lu Bu — Picture Supply: Koei Tecmo through Twinfinite

As a sport that follows within the footsteps of different contemporaries, Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty is certainly far more accessible and forgiving, even when the intricacies of the fight system appear to point in any other case. There’s extra onus on the participant to have interaction and study, whereas the presence of the flags reduces a few of the penalties concerned with loss of life. The platforming additionally provides the choice answer of avoiding sure enemies and exploring for rewards, along with protecting issues shifting briskly.

But, it could possibly be argued that Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty is somewhat too accessible at this stage, particularly on the subject of the enemy AI. That is transparently apparent on the subject of stealth assaults, with enemies not registering the presence of AI companions whereas remaining oblivious to fast jumps as a substitute of hushed steps to get close to them. Even approaching from their sides can maintain you undetected, permitting for a straightforward kill more often than not. Though there’s a stealth stat that makes you much less straightforward to be detected, it shouldn’t be that advantageous to the participant when the fight system is the clear star.

Talking of which, the AI companions are additionally an odd bunch. Whereas it is suggested to at all times deliver two of them alongside since they can assist tremendously within the more durable fights, they don’t at all times appear eager to go on the assault even for those who’re getting pummeled. Utilizing the Encourage motion kicks them into motion, however simply remember that generally your backup shouldn’t be going to do its job.

The enemy design in Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty can be a combined bag, with the bosses clearly getting loads of love and a focus, however the poor cannon fodder doesn’t. About midway via the sport, you’d have most likely seen all of the sorts of foes that may stand in your means, save for possibly one or two extra.

Though I cherished the fight, it will have been best for extra enemies to be thrown in that stored issues contemporary and unpredictable, in order that gamers may proceed to hone their craft and be on their toes. There are additionally bosses that may really feel disappointingly weak and one-note, particularly the gargantuan demons that pop up every now and then, whose assaults had been means too straightforward to learn and make their fights extra a check of time reasonably than talent. You don’t at all times must be going up in opposition to wonderful combatants like Zhang Liao or Solar Jian on a regular basis, however some steadiness can be good.

On the finish of the day, I completely loved my time in Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty, and am raring to return for extra with an extra unlockable issue degree that has extra highly effective loot and more difficult fights awaiting. The mix of fight, RPG components, platforming, and a way more critical and fascinating narrative makes for an interesting romp via the traditional lands of China, and apart from some small AI hiccups and design selections, there actually isn’t a lot there to dampen my revitalized love for all issues Romance of the Three Kingdoms. All hail the latest and most polished Soulslike to come back out shortly.