Team Ninja has achieved significant success in the Action genre. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a testament to their expertise in creating challenging action games, and it’s a brand-new IP that showcases their exceptional skills. This game affirms their position as leaders in the field. Although Ninja Gaiden brought them fame and success initially, Team Ninja continues to demonstrate their expertise in new and distinct IPs, moving beyond their original hallmark.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition is a comprehensive package that includes the base game and all the downloadable content (DLC) released to date. The package includes the game’s three DLC packs: Battle of Zhongyuan, Conqueror of Jiangdong, and Upheaval in Jingxiang. It also introduces The Thousand-Mile Journey, new endgame content that enriches the game further. Other additions include new characters aligned with the forces of Cao Cao, Sun Ce, and Liu Bei, as well as new weapon types like the cestus, long sword, and whip, new stages, new Divine Beasts, more challenging difficulty levels, as well as quality-of-life improvements.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty was launched nearly a year ago, and since its release, the game has received several updates. These updates introduced new features and necessary improvements that were absent at its launch. While the game’s current state, particularly with the release of the Complete Edition, is considerably enhanced, it does not entirely conceal its shortcomings.
For those familiar with the Soulsborne genre, including titles like Bloodborne, Dark Souls, or Nioh, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty may evoke a sense of déjà vu. The game’s storyline unfolds in the 184th century, within a fictional universe embroiled in war and power struggles between rival factions. Drawing heavily on Chinese mythology, the game allows players to navigate a rich narrative featuring a fully customizable protagonist. The storyline kicks off with the protagonist saving a young boy during a raid on his village. This boy, who possesses a unique power, becomes a pivotal figure as the protagonist encounters and later seeks to rescue him from one of the opposing factions, led by the Zhang brothers.
Exploring the game’s world, enriched with Chinese mythological elements, presents an intriguing adventure. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is replete with mythical creatures for players to battle, each drawn from this rich mythological tapestry. The narrative, despite its engaging elements, manages to work around the absence of a central character, a trait observed in Team Ninja’s Nioh series. It aligns more closely with earlier entries in the Souls genre but lacks the open-world environment found in more contemporary titles, such as Elden Ring. This mix of familiar gameplay mechanics and thematic inspiration offers a unique, though somewhat familiar, experience for veterans of the genre.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty adheres to traditional game design in its structure, requiring players to navigate through a sequence of levels that culminate in boss battles. The game’s progression is entirely linear, with no alternative paths available to the player. This linear design is paired with a difficulty level that can be somewhat uneven. Particularly notable is the game’s first boss battle, which presents a significant challenge regardless of the player’s strategy. However, this initial challenge serves as an effective tutorial, helping players to grasp the basics of the combat system. Despite the inconsistency in difficulty, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is generally considered one of the more accessible games within its genre. Compared to Nioh, a game I recall playing at its launch, Wo Long is noticeably less challenging.
A key gameplay mechanic in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is the emphasis on blocking and deflecting enemy attacks, a technique critical to overcoming the first boss. Success in this game heavily depends on the player’s ability to parry enemy strikes; mastering this skill can significantly reduce the game’s difficulty. Boss battles typically involve learning a specific set of attack patterns through trial and error, with initial defeats being part of the learning process. As players familiarize themselves with these patterns, subsequent encounters become easier. Additionally, the game offers a range of normal attacks and special skills, the latter of which have limited use, adding strategic depth to combat.
One of the most praised aspects of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is its diverse arsenal of weapons, offering players a broad spectrum of combat styles to explore. The Complete Edition further expands this variety with additional content, enhancing the gameplay experience. While the new DLC may not significantly extend playtime, its concise and engaging nature ensures it adds value. For players who have already honed their combat skills, the endgame content introduces fresh challenges, encouraging experimentation with new tactics and strategies.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty runs smoothly on PC and is also playable on the Steam Deck without any issues. Although it may not be a visually demanding game, it fulfills its purpose. Its storyline is intriguing enough to keep you engaged until the end. Additionally, the game offers a unique challenge with its boss fights, addictive combat, and gameplay, making it a highly recommended game in the action genre.
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