I’m not going to deceive you, people. Once I hear the phrase “soulslike,” my eyes begin to glaze over, and I think about the candy launch of demise. It’s the identical manner I really feel when somebody says “metroidvania,” or “roguelike.” There’s nothing inherently flawed with soulslikes, metroidvanias, or roguelikes, for the file. There’s simply an terrible lot of them. I like a good steak, however you may’t eat fillet mignon daily. Typically you want some sushi, a taco plate, hell, even simply a burger. A bit of selection goes a great distance. So once I acquired requested whether or not I wished a one or two-hour appointment with Wuchang, I solely signed up for an hour. However I used to be allowed to play for 2, and I’m actually, actually glad I did. Wuchang could also be a soulslike, nevertheless it’s acquired distinctive concepts, and by the point I put down my controller, I knew I wished to see extra of what it has to supply.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers units itself aside from the bounce with its distinctive artwork and setting. It takes place within the land of Shu through the latter a part of the Ming Dynasty. That single alternative units what I performed of Wuchang aside from nearly each different soulslike. Most video games on this style aren’t shy about their darkish fantasy aspirations. In idea, that ought to imply all the things appears to be like a little completely different. In actuality, meaning most video games appear to be Darkish Souls, which signifies that most video games actually appear to be Berserk. I like Berserk, nevertheless it’s not nice when all the things appears to be like prefer it stepped out of considered one of Kentaro Miura’s panels. Wuchang’s darkish fantasy, make no mistake, however its setting means a lot of what I noticed appears to be like and feels distinctive (and colourful).
The story’s acquired an attention-grabbing setup, too. You play as Wuchang, a pirate with a nasty bout of amnesia. In my demo, she awoke with out understanding who she was or what was occurring. Sadly for her, amnesia may be the least of her issues. You see, Wuchang has contracted a illness referred to as the Feathering. It begins small; feathers kind in your limbs. However because the illness progresses, you lose your recollections, go mad, and bear a “monstrous transformation.”
There’s no recognized remedy, however that doesn’t imply our lady is simply going to lie down. She’s more healthy than most, so she’s going to search for a remedy. The issue is, as soon as most individuals understand you’ve contracted the Feathering, they’ll assault you on sight. It’s a neat purpose for why nearly everybody in Wuchang (although not all; there are many folks keen that will help you) will assault you as quickly as they see you. And the Feathering isn’t completely a curse; it additionally offers Wuchang entry to very highly effective magic. In contrast to most different Souls video games, you don’t should equip or spec into magic for it to be helpful. It simply is. That’s fairly slick.
The opposite large factor Wuchang does is make every of its weapons distinctive. Each is completely different in very delicate methods. The greataxe in my demo may block, however parrying was a approach that was primarily reserved for a longsword. Different weapons didn’t have both capacity, opting as a substitute for assault expertise to put on the damage. And you may’t simply fireplace off these expertise anytime, both. Utilizing them (except for block and parry, which you at all times have offered you’ve outfitted a weapon with them) take costs, which you construct by pulling off excellent dodges or parries. Nailing excellent dodges and parries additionally costs your magic.
Wuchang isn’t fairly as quick as Bloodborne, nevertheless it’s quicker than most souslikes and encourages you to be aggressive to construct these costs. The dance remains to be right here towards bosses, and you shouldn’t cost in blindly, however Wuchang is much less about ready for enemies to whiff an assault and punishing them and extra about forcing them to swing at you, constructing these costs, and then cashing in for giant injury, both via weapon skills, magic, or assaults that deal injury whereas switching to your different outfitted weapons. It’s a good change of tempo from conventional soulslike, and forces you to take dangers to get entry to your finest stuff.
Even leveling up is its personal factor. As a substitute of dumping factors into your core stats, you fill out a ability tree for all the things out of your weapons to upgrading your flasks. In order for you particular stats, you’ll get them via the armor you equip. There’s no scarcity of outfits in Wuchang, from the standard to the risqué (and there isn’t any scarcity of fanservice in Wuchang), however you’re not simply taking part in Vogue Souls or taking a look at core stats right here. You at all times wish to make certain you’re choosing the right resistances. If you happen to’re shedding to enemies with swords, you may want some slashing resistance. Getting smashed by a large hammer? Bludgeoning resistance is the way in which to go. Magic acquired you down? Get some magic resistance in you. These selections matter, and I recognize that your gear issues, even when I may have finished with out a number of the fan service.
There are nonetheless bonfires (right here, they’re shrines) and resting at them, which in Wuchang is called “coming into the Dream,” nonetheless respawns any enemies you’ve defeated. Even that, although, isn’t essentially secure. The primary time I entered the dream in my demo, I used to be attacked by a massive, bird-like boss. I misplaced the battle that adopted, however once I went again to the dream, the boss wasn’t there. I couldn’t let you know what the deal with that was, nevertheless it was attention-grabbing, and I saved questioning when (or if) I might get one other shot at him. I didn’t, however I’m inquisitive about getting one other crack at him and determining what all that stuff is about.
Talking of bosses, I did get to sq. off with three of them throughout my time with Wuchang, and none of them corresponded to the “Massive Dude in Armor” stereotype. From Software program acquired that proper with Artorias the Abysswalker, and they (and many others) have leaned on related variations of that battle since. Usually imitated, by no means duplicated, because the saying goes. Wuchang isn’t inquisitive about sitting down at that desk, although.
As a substitute, each one felt very completely different. The primary was a masked man with a halberd. He positively had a vary benefit on my longsword and greataxe combo, however that was superb with me. I wished him to swing at me so I may construct costs and then use my greataxe to put down the legislation. This boss took me fairly a few makes an attempt, largely as a result of I’d assume I had a gap once I actually didn’t, and get cooked for attempting to assault when it wasn’t truly my flip. As soon as I acquired his patterns down, although, I used to be constructing costs and spending them effectively, dodging via his assaults and touchdown large swings of my very own. And once I wanted to again off? I may cowl myself with magic.
The second battle was towards somebody who appeared to have been reworked by the feathering. This was extra acrobatic. The boss would leap into the air and assault from vary, forcing me to time my dodges to keep away from projectiles and preserve from committing till I completely needed to. I didn’t discover it practically as exhausting as the primary (it took me simply s couple tries), however I did recognize the change of tempo.
The final battle… whew, that final battle. Just one particular person on the whole occasion beat the ultimate battle within the Wuchang demo, and I’m unhappy to say it wasn’t me. Whereas the opposite two fights have been all about dodging, this one (towards a lady wielding a sword), pressured me to parry. Even with the proper weapon and good timing, she was a exhausting battle: extremely quick, aggressive, and damaging. Each time I attempted to again off to heal, she was in my face. Even once I parried her efficiently, I needed to be cautious; I typically solely had time for a single counterattack earlier than she’d hit me once more. It was a brutal battle, and I didn’t win, however I appreciated how exhausting it was, and how I’d needed to change my technique for every boss. I can’t wait for an additional crack at her from the consolation of my sofa.
And that sums up my emotions with Wuchang as a complete, actually. I acquired a ton of time with it, excess of the rest I performed at Summer time Sport Fest, and I left happy with what I’d seen. However I used to be additionally excited to see extra. Not unhealthy for a souslike, proper?