Yeah Nioh is Dark Soulsso Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. I know, that may sound a bit complicated at first, but I promise it will make more sense throughout this review. Especially if you’re familiar with the popular “Soulslike” genre, those action RPGs that are infamous for their extreme (but satisfying) difficulty levels.
This video game that was developed by Team Ninja and distributed by Koei Tecmo had been released in March 2023. However, due to the recent departure of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition, a new special edition that comes with all the downloadable content, we had the opportunity to try it to tell you if Team Ninja’s new proposal is worth it. After all, this team has experience with soulslikes due to the success of Nioh and its sequel. However, this game is something completely different that will take even those most experienced in the genre by surprise.
The historical plot of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
The title of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is very appropriate, as this game tells the story of the fall of the Han Dynasty in China. Only this is a fictional version in which the three brothers Zhang They are enhanced through a mysterious elixir that gives them powers and allows them to create demons. Besides that, it’s your typical plot set in China with famous historical figures from the country, such as Cao Cao either Lu Bu. Truth be told, the story of this game is pretty forgettable and extremely basic, it left a lot to be desired. The worst part is that, unlike other “Soulslikes”, there is no deeper lore hidden around the world.
As if that weren’t enough, the characters aren’t a big deal either. Although there are some that are quite nice, none stand out as being especially memorable. All of this is made worse by the very poor voice acting of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. The work of all the voice actors involved is greatly appreciated, but all the characters sound strange and uncomfortable, none of them sound natural. The narrative of this game is quite mediocre, but, luckily, it is nothing that ruins the experience, since at least it gives it an interesting setting that fans of Chinese history and culture will appreciate.
Wo Long is a difficult game, but beautiful
As for the graphics, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty really surprised me. The character models are quite detailed, with complex armor and sharp weapons, the demons look disgusting & terrifying and the environments are amazing: Levels like the bamboo forest are beautiful, while others like the numerous battlefields are dark and intimidating. Each location has an ideal setting for the occasion.
In my case, I played Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty on the PlayStation 5 and it ran perfectly to me 60fps without any frame drops. There are quite a few loading screens (Especially when you die over and over again) but none of them last more than 10 seconds. It’s a fast game that stays fast all the time without many problems. The music is also excellent, since it fits very well with the Chinese cultural setting that this adventure proposes. It’s relaxed when you’re in safe places, it’s intimidating when you’re in areas with enemies around every corner, and it’s dynamic and epic in combat situations. The soundtrack is well adapted to each specific situation.
What makes Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty different from Nioh?
As I mentioned previously, this is a “soulslike”: a challenging action RPG. But it is evident that he gained a lot of influence from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicesince it proposes a much more dynamic combat system focused on blocking attacks compared to older titles of the genre, such as the saga Nioh, the “soulslike” that Team Ninja had previously developed. This was a great idea, as it made Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s combat much faster and more fluid, but it doesn’t mean it’s extremely difficult.
The combat system of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has two types of attacks: basic and spiritual. Luckily, unlike other “soulslikes” the spirit bar It is not affected by basic attacks, giving the player more freedom to attack. However, actions such as dodging, using spiritual attacks and using magic do lower the spirit bar, so you have to be very careful when executing each one.
But the most important mechanic in all of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is the blocking. When enemies glow red, there is a very small and immediate space in which the player can block the attack to execute a counterattack. Whether against enemies or bosses, perfecting this technique is what will allow the player to emerge victorious from most fights. It’s something that can be overwhelming and difficult to do well at first, but as you continue playing, you’ll be able to get the hang of it and eventually become experts.
Luckily Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty presents a huge variety of options for the player. As to melee weapons, there are swords, double swords, spears, maces, fists, etc. And that’s not all, because each weapon has its own series of special moves called “Martial Arts” to choose from, so the player can try all the weapons he finds to discover which is his favorite configuration. Especially because you can have up to two weapons equipped at the same time and change them quickly at any time.
On the other hand, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty also offers long range weapons, such as crossbows, bows, kunai, bombs, etc. These are not made to deal a lot of damage, but rather to keep projectile-using enemies in check or to draw the attention of those who are in inconvenient places.
Another notable element of the gameplay is the Magic: The player will be able to level up and learn numerous spells from different elements, such as fire, water, earth, etc. Truth be told, Wo Long’s magic ends up being pretty insignificant. Since it consumes spirit, there are times when using magic is too risky, especially since most spells don’t do much damage to enemies. It is best to leave these mechanics to the experts who know exactly what each one does and when to use them effectively. But it is not recommended for beginners.
All of these mechanics end up combining in an incredible way to form fast-paced combat that feels great. Although of course, like the other exponents of the genre, it is a very challenging title. Most enemies are just as strong as the player, so it is important to be careful and know when to attack, when to dodge and when to block. The best moments of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty are definitely the epics boss fights. They are very difficult and sometimes frustrating, but once the player learns all their moves, beating them is incredibly satisfying.
Because of all this, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty feels like the next evolution of the genre that Team Ninja carried out from what they had built with Nioh and Nioh 2. But if there is something that this game has in common with its predecessors It is the structure of its levels. Due to the war nature of the story, this adventure is divided into linear levels, rather than a world of interconnected levels or a huge open world. This may be a negative point for some, but I don’t think it’s a problem because the game is designed around this mode and it helps it never feel confusing or overwhelming.
What does the Complete Edition of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty bring?
Due to the success of this game, Team Ninja soon developed three downloadable packs that expand the story, characters, and gameplay. These are Battle of Zhongyuan, Jiangdong Conqueror and Revolt in Jingxiang. Luckily, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition contains all three of these excellent DLCs in one place, making it an ideal offering for players who haven’t tried the game yet.
On top of that, this edition contains some special armor sets to celebrate the occasion, such as the Xuanwu Armor and many others that can be downloaded as soon as the adventure begins, so they will be of great help during the first levels. Another interesting aspect is that Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition also includes armor, weapons and other elements that are references to other similar video games, such as Lies of P, Nioh 2 and Naraka Bladepoint. These are clever collaborations that any fan of these video games will appreciate. It is important to clarify that the Complete Edition is only available through digital stores and, for the moment, it will not have a physical release.
I was never the biggest fan or expert of soulslikes, but Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty still managed to surprise and capture me. Its combat system is fluid and satisfying, its huge variety of weapons and powers encourages experimentation, its challenging bosses are some of the best in the genre, its graphics are beautiful, and its excellent music fits the bill perfectly. Although the story is quite forgettable, the voice acting is a bit stiff and some gameplay elements don’t contribute much to the experience, none of this affects the quality of this great video game.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty It’s the closest thing there is to a sequel to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, so it’s highly recommended for fans of that game who are looking for something similar. On the other hand, Nioh fans who are looking forward to seeing the evolution of Team Ninja in the “soulslike” genre you will also have a lot of fun, because it feels like the team took the best of those games and used it to their advantage to create an even more dynamic, fun and challenging adventure. And thanks to the Complete Edition that includes all the entry-level DLCs, this is a great win-win deal.