REVIEW – Team Ninja’s latest action-RPG takes us into a dark fantasy version of Chinese history, where an anonymous soldier struggles to stay alive and discover the secret to eternal life. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty delivers a thrilling and spectacular gameplay experience that will appeal to fans of the Soulslike genre.

 

 

The story of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is based on Luo Guanzhong’s 14th century novel The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and is set in a fictional version of China during the Late Han Dynasty. In this period, cruel demons and a mysterious elixir, believed to be the key to eternal life, bring chaos and destruction to the land.1 The protagonist is an unnamed militia soldier who survives a demonic attack and joins Cao Cao’s army as a member of a resistance group. Throughout the game, we face off against various enemies and bosses as we develop our characters and explore this epic world.

 

 

Speed and style hand-in-hand

 

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s combat system is very different from Team Ninja’s own Nioh games – I’d compare it more to Sekiro than Dark Souls – yet it manages to stand out and also to fail3. Combat is based on speed and style: you can block, dodge, counter and use special abilities. The game offers a choice of three weapon types: sword (speed), mace (power) or spear (range). Each weapon has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on the type of enemy. During combat, you can also take advantage of the environment: for example, you can push opponents into chasms or blow up barrels next to them.

The most exciting parts of the battle, however, are the boss battles: they are very varied and challenging even for experienced players. Bosses are not only strong and fast, but they also have unique attacks and tricks that we must learn to avoid or exploit. The game also has a Morale system1 that affects the strength of the player and the enemy. If you have a high Morale, you deal more damage and can use martial arts, spells and spirit attacks2. If you have a low Morale, you deal less damage and can be more easily dizzy by enemy attacks2. You can increase your Morale by defeating enemies or by using certain attacks1. When fighting bosses, it is important to pay attention to your Morale, because it can decide whether you win or lose.

The combat system in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty requires not only speed and style, but also strategy and adaptability. The combat is dynamic and exciting, but can also be frustrating at times. The game shows no mercy for your mistakes, but the greater the sense of satisfaction when you defeat a difficult boss.

 

 

Living-breathing medieval China

 

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a graphically stunning game. The world is detailed and vividly rendered. The light and shadow effects are a great representation of the changing weather and the mood of the seasons. Character models are also of high quality: both human and demonic figures are convincing and richly detailed. The world is detailed and vividly depicted. The light and shadow effects brilliantly reflect the changing weather and the mood of the seasons. The character models are also of high quality: both human and demonic figures are convincing and richly detailed.

The game takes you to a wide variety of locations: mountains, forests, villages, cities and palaces. The scenery combines elements of Chinese culture and art with a dark fantasy atmosphere. The game supports ray tracing technology1, which makes lighting effects and reflections even more realistic2. The game runs optimally at 4K resolution at 60 fps or 1080p resolution at 120 fps3, depending on the graphics setting you choose4. The game’s beauty is further enhanced by animations and fight choreography that keep your eyes constantly engaged.

So Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a real visual treat that will leave players spellbound. The game’s graphical performance is worthy of exploiting the capabilities of the latest hardware5. The game not only has a beautiful exterior, but also a deep and rich interior.

 

 

“You are sitting in the grave of an unknown soldier” (URH)

 

The story of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is gripping and twisty. There are plenty of side characters to meet, chat with and quests to complete. You can make several decisions in the game that will influence the story and the ending. The game offers many surprises and secrets, such as discovering the origin and effects of elixir and confronting an evil Taoist master. The story of the game is deeply rooted in Chinese history and mythology.

The game’s protagonist is an anonymous militia soldier who wants to survive in a dark fantasy version of the Late Han Dynasty, where demons are ravaging the Three Kingdoms. The term “Wo Long” refers to a lurking dragon, but it also means a hero or great man whose real name is not yet known. Throughout his journey, the protagonist encounters friends and foes who help or hinder him in solving the mystery of the elixir and defeating his enemies. The protagonist’s personality and fate will depend in part on the choices he or she makes throughout the game3.

 

 

Adventure, battles, intrigue, mystery

 

So Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty tells us a thrilling and dramatic story full of adventure, combat, intrigue and mystery. The game is not just a simple hack and slash action game, but also an immersive narrative experience.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is also a great action-RPG game that is high quality in every way. The combat system demands speed and style from the player, the graphics are an impressive representation of this epic world, and the story is dramatic and twisty. The game is not only recommended for fans of the Soulslike genre, but for anyone who loves action-packed and spectacular games.

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Publisher: Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.

Developer: Team Ninja

Style: Action RPG

Release: March 3, 2023.