Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an action RPG developed by Team NINJA, the creators of Nioh, and published by KOEI TECMO GAMES. The game is set in a dark fantasy version of the Three Kingdoms period of China, where demons and supernatural forces have invaded the land. The player takes on the role of a militia soldier who must fight for survival and uncover the secrets behind the chaos.

Combat: Fast-paced and Challenging

One of the main highlights of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is its combat system, which is inspired by Chinese martial arts and swordplay. The game plays very differently from Team Ninja’s own Nioh games – more in the mold of Sekiro than Dark Souls – and yet it manages to excel and falter in just about equal measure1.

The player can use various weapons such as swords, spears, axes, bows, and daggers to attack enemies with different combos and skills. The player can also switch between four battle styles based on the “Five Phases” theory of Chinese philosophy: Wood (fast but weak), Fire (strong but slow), Earth (balanced), and Metal (defensive). Each style has its own advantages and disadvantages against different enemies and situations.

The combat is fast-paced and challenging, requiring precise timing, positioning, and strategy. The player can dodge, block, parry, counterattack, or use special moves to gain an edge over foes. The game also features a morale system that affects both allies and enemies. By defeating powerful enemies or performing well in combat, the player can boost their own morale or lower their enemies’ morale. This can affect their performance in battle as well as unlock new abilities.

Another aspect of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty that stands out is its graphics. The game boasts stunning visuals that showcase a richly detailed world with diverse environments such as forests, mountains, cities, temples, and caves. The game also features dynamic weather effects, day-night cycles, and realistic lighting and shadows. The character models are well-designed and animated, and the cutscenes are cinematic and immersive.

Story: Intriguing but Confusing

The last aspect of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty that we will discuss is its story. The game follows an original story that fuses fantasy elements into the Han Dynasty, the narrative vividly tells the tale of a single militia soldier’s strenuous fight for survival during a Three Kingdoms period infested with demons. Along the way, the player will encounter historical figures such as Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Sun Quan, Zhuge Liang, Lu Bu, and more. Some of them will be allies while others will be enemies.

The story is intriguing but confusing at times. The game tries to balance historical accuracy with creative freedom but sometimes fails to do so convincingly. Some of the historical events are altered or omitted for narrative purposes while some of the fantasy elements are poorly explained or inconsistent with the lore. The game also suffers from poor pacing and weak characterization. Some of the characters are bland or clichéd while others are underdeveloped or irrelevant.

Review: 6.5/10

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a mixed bag that offers both highs and lows for fans of action RPGs and dark fantasy settings. It has a lot of potential but also a lot of flaws that prevent it from being a masterpiece.

If you enjoyed games like Sekiro or Nioh but want to experience a different cultureand history, you might enjoy Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty but be prepared to face some challenges and frustrations along the way.

Pros:

• Fast-paced and challenging combat system
• Stunning graphics and atmosphere
• Intriguing premise and setting

Cons:

• Uneven and sometimes unfair difficulty curve
• Limited enemy variety and camera angles
• Confusing story and weak characterization
• Frequent bugs and glitches

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is one of the most awesome looking games that is coming to PC and console next year! I have been excited for this one since I saw the first trailer and the mixing of real history with dark fantasy is something that has me very excited for this game. It is also being brought to us by a publisher/developer combination that I am a massive fan of. I have no doubt in my mind that this game is going to be absolutely fantastic!

Romance Of The Three Kingdoms!

Perhaps the coolest aspect that Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has going for it is the story and the setting. This game is based on the classic, Romance of the Three Kingdoms story which has been done to death in video games by this point. However, this version is not just another retelling of that classic book as there is something much darker and more sinister at play here and that is what has attracted me to the game.

Getting Real Dark!

Instead of just being based on that classic story and while it does retain some of the more well known elements of it. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a dark fantasy story where demons and monsters have invaded and it is these dark forces that you are going to have to be fighting off. This looks so awesome and the game is certainly going to keep you on your toes. What I am reading into it is that we have a kind of regular warriors who become real heroes and leader’s thing going on with the story.

The Dream Team

This game is the work of Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja and they have done some great work together before. The Steam page of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty actually references Nioh and that is awesome. The gameplay is that of a 3rd person action-RPG. You are hacking and slashing your way across Later Han Dynasty China as you slay demon after demon. I will say that as I write this we do not actually know a great deal about the gameplay, but from what we have seen in the previews so far, it is very much your classic Team Ninja style of game and that is very cool.

Dark, Mystical, And Awesome

The presentation of the game is something I am really digging. I have played games based around the whole Romance of the Three Kingdoms story before and they always have a more realistic look to them. What I am loving about Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is that it still has that look to it, but the dark fantasy coating of paint they have given everything truly makes it look epic. One thing I am very hopeful for is that they do take the reigns of a tad and let us explore this awesome world that they have created in this game.

Pros:

• The dark fantasy take on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms story is awesome
• I am a huge fan of both Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja
• If you love hack and slash gameplay, you will love this
• It is one of the coolest looking games to be released in 2023!

Cons:

• If hack and slash games are not your thing, this may not win you over
• It may be a tad “dark” for some people