Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Review
Team Ninja has gained widespread recognition for their prowess in creating action-packed and skillful games, such as the Ninja Gaiden series and the Souls-like Nioh. Now, with their latest offering, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, they seem to be putting on a no-holds-barred performance. The fluid swordplay, outstanding boss battles, and RPG mechanics all come together seamlessly. It appears that Team Ninja is on top of their game, wouldn't you agree? However, that's not the whole picture, as this game still has its fair share of challenges. Nonetheless, regardless of the obstacles, Wo Long is poised to be one of the standout action-packed titles, simultaneously fresh and familiar, in 2023.
If you're not aware, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a historically inspired fantasy game that falls into the Souls-like genre, with similarities to Sekiro. Specifically, Wo Long is set in ancient China, more precisely, during the third century AD, drawing inspiration from the classic novel "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Players step into the shoes of an anonymous warrior traveling through a dark rendition of the Eastern Han dynasty, where various forces are vying for an elixir of immortality.
It's worth noting that this game doesn't put a strong emphasis on its narrative. If you don't have a deep love for the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, you might not find much motivation to play. However, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty takes a unique approach by using locations, weapons, and creatures from Chinese mythology and legends and blending them with history. This creates a distinct atmosphere that influences the gameplay, making the character's movements feel meticulously choreographed, conveying a sense of valor and determination in every action, much like in Chinese martial arts films.
However, it also encounters familiar issues found in Team Ninja's previous Souls-like games, including a somewhat convoluted storyline that may be challenging for newcomers. I admit that the storytelling in the game can be somewhat cumbersome, so those new to the Souls-like genre in general, or Wo Long in particular, may need some time to get into the swing of things.
Therefore, for those who have an affection for the Three Kingdoms period, they might relish the opportunity to battle with familiar and beloved characters. On the other hand, for those unfamiliar with the source material, the experience might not resonate as strongly. Generally, the game's storytelling serves the game's setting rather than providing deep character development. If you expect Wo Long to portray super cool and deeply nuanced Chinese characters, akin to Raddan or Malenia in Elden Ring by FromSoftware, you might find yourself disappointed. With its primary focus on building gameplay as the core foundation, the game's storyline is more of an appetizer.
In this regard, Team Ninja has excelled in creating a sense of authenticity in the clashing of weapons, with every strike and slash meticulously refined to convey a lifelike feel in each combat move. Furthermore, while some weapons may seem cumbersome, they also provide players with the freedom to choose their playstyle. The game features various types of elemental magic, incorporating a system of elemental strengths and weaknesses. In some special encounters, if you wish to use magic in battle, you must assess the environment and your opponent's elemental affinity before engaging. Team Ninja has executed all of these elements superbly.
The art of parrying or deflecting seems to be the decisive and most enjoyable aspect of the game, giving you a sense of playing both Warrior Orochi and Sekiro. We all know that Team Ninja is renowned for creating challenging games. Looking at what Ninja Gaiden and Nioh have delivered, it's clear that Wo Long inherits these traits. Therefore, this aspect of the game is practically what makes or breaks your playstyle. It's reminiscent of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, as it emphasizes deflecting enemy attacks and breaking their stance as the key to victory.
Hence, this game is less Souls-like and leans more towards Sekiro. Specifically, for unblockable attacks, you can deflect them with a single button press. This doesn't require complex input techniques like parrying or evasion, so it lacks depth in that regard. However, it doesn't mean deflecting is easy, as the timing varies for different types of enemies. Some foes even have delayed attacks, making the timing less predictable. For me, the challenge in timing is intriguing because the differences are there, and it's not easy to predict your opponent's move. Therefore, you might find yourself sharing my sentiment – there's nothing quite as satisfying as evading a deadly blow from your opponent and countering with a devastating fatal blow.
It has been a long time since the success of Sekiro, and very few games have delivered fast-paced, skillful combat and difficulty in each level like it. But now, with the ability to control your own created character, meet, accompany, and battle alongside legendary figures from the Three Kingdoms era, such as Liu-Quan-Zhang brothers, Cao Cao, or even Lu Bu, the game is setting itself apart. While the initial tutorial may seem like a harsh experience, once you get past it and grasp the mechanics and pace, you'll feel excited about the game's choices. Wo Long offers a wide range of characters and combat styles for you to choose from.
A new feature introduced in Wo Long is the Morale ranking system, which starts from 0 and can increase up to 25. You can level up your Morale by killing demons or using martial arts and critical attacks. Additionally, each time you die, you lose a portion of your Morale. Your foes also have Morale rankings, and higher-ranked creatures deal more damage. This feature is intriguing because it naturally increases the difficulty of each level while providing additional rewards to explore and vanquish monsters. Each level starts relatively easy, with most monsters or creatures having low Morale rankings, and only a few high-ranked enemies posing significant challenges. However, as you progress through the level, you'll face creatures with Morale rankings exceeding 20, making direct confrontations quite challenging unless you've cleared out the lower-ranked foes.
Furthermore, the game allows players to equip unique armor sets, each with special abilities and combat enhancements that affect your fighting style differently. Moreover, you can receive assistance from renowned historical figures from ancient China in battles. Wo Long also boasts a rich skill system, offering various types of skills, including long-range attacks, healing abilities, and magical spells. This skill system lets players customize their playstyle and enhance their combat capabilities in battles. There's a wealth of resources for players to collect and use in crafting items, upgrading weapons, and enhancing their armor. This system is somewhat similar to the resource system in other Souls-like games but is uniquely designed to fit Wo Long's narrative and gameplay.
Additionally, if you pay attention, Wo Long doesn't use a stamina system like the Souls games but instead employs a Spirit Gauge, which increases or decreases depending on your actions. I appreciate this creative choice because it accurately reflects the spirit of combat. It increases when you successfully strike your opponent and decreases if you block their attacks and play defensively. If it depletes completely, you'll be immobilized for a period, leaving you vulnerable to enemy attacks. This mechanic prevents you from constantly dodging your opponents and encourages you to take risks by attacking, as attacking is the only way to win. Both you and your enemies have this gauge, ensuring fairness in battles.
However, one aspect of combat that I don't like is the character progression and magic system. While introducing character upgrades based on the five elements aligns well with Chinese culture, in practice, you'll find yourself wanting to upgrade attributes like Fire, Wood, or Earth rather than Metal and Water. This is because melee combat, health boosts, and weapon weight management are more crucial.
For those who enjoy stealth and don't want to rely heavily on deflecting, upgrading the Water element may be more suitable, but it's not the most emphasized playstyle in this game. If we look for a rationale behind this system, perhaps we can see it as a way to counter enemy spells, as each element counters another, a sort of rock-paper-scissors effect. Some elements are advantageous, while others are not, and none are entirely overpowered.
This highlights a weakness in the game's magic system. In reality, the spells don't contribute significantly to Wo Long's gameplay. They may appear impressive at first glance, but the different types of spells in the game are quite similar. For example, if you use Fire magic, you shoot a fireball; if you use Earth magic, you shoot a rock. The differences are mainly in the visual effects and alignment with the enemy's elemental weaknesses. However, their damage is relatively low, and the significant mana consumption makes them less appealing to use. Proficient melee combat with precise parries and deflects remains the top choice for players. Comparatively, games like Elden Ring offer a more nuanced approach, with both melee combat and distinct magic systems, creating diverse and effective character builds. In Wo Long, Team Ninja seems to focus primarily on their expertise in melee combat, while the magic and RPG aspects receive less attention from players' perspectives.
Boss battles in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a standout feature of the game, offering a diverse range of boss designs, from close combat to ranged battles. Each boss possesses a unique moveset, making every encounter a meticulous and grand experience. Notable bosses include Zhang Rang (Trương Nhượng), Lubu (Lữ Bố), and Lưu Bị. These bosses capture the essence of Chinese martial arts films, allowing players to engage in epic showdowns.
However, while boss battles excel, other aspects of level design and exploration leave room for improvement. The game features relatively short levels with limited space and often leads players to dead ends, forcing confrontations with enemies for loot. This design choice can make the game feel somewhat constrained and lacking in exploration opportunities.
Regarding graphics and art design, the game's portrayal of the chaotic Three Kingdoms era is accurate but may not be visually stunning. The environments appear somewhat dated compared to the meticulously crafted character designs, creating a slight disconnect between the characters and the world they inhabit.
In summary, while Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty shines in boss battles and offers a unique combat experience, it falls short in terms of level design and graphical presentation. The boss fights capture the essence of martial arts films, but the overall game world and exploration aspects may leave players wanting more.
Certainly, there are still moments of beauty and grandeur in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. However, I wish the next-gen version on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S would look better, as it only runs smoother than the older console versions. Not to mention, the PC port is quite poor, and my advice would be to choose the latest console version if you want to play this game. On the other hand, the game's music is a highlight. It features grand, epic, and melodious tunes that add flavor and make the game's presentation more smooth and captivating.
VERDICT
Overall, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty shares DNA with titles like Ninja Gaiden, Nioh, or Sekiro, but it has enough uniqueness to stand on its own. It's a fast-paced game with a unique morale and spirit gauge system. These elements have made the gameplay addictive, with impressive and exciting moments when successfully deflecting attacks from enemies. However, some weaknesses in gameplay and performance have prevented Wo Long from shining brightly. Nevertheless, this game still brings a breath of fresh air to the world of Souls-like games, which have become somewhat monotonous by merely following the legendary FromSoftware formula without daring to innovate and create.