Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty elevates the bar for Soulslike combat to such an extent that it deserves to break free from that descriptor entirely, in favor of something entirely different. FromSoftware’s more contemplative formula is complemented by an exhilarating arcade alternative that provides deeply intricate combat and an exhilarating arcade experience.
There are around 40 battlefields in the game (both major and minor), and each one has recesses that function like checkpoints or bonfires. A flag in one replenishes your stock of reusable Estus potions (called Dragon’s Cure Pots), but does not respawn any enemies you have fought. Moreover, it will boost your Fortitude level, which together with Morale makes you more powerful, but only on a specific battlefield. You raise Morale by defeating enemies, using certain items, and raising Battle Flags. Every enemy has their own Morale level, and you can lower it map-wide by defeating specific foes. Your own will decrease when you die, but never lower than your current Fortitude level.
Getting the perfect drop after a particularly tough encounter is an undeniable thrill. Despite the fact that it’s randomised (being even more granular than everything else), it suits the game’s system. Wo Long’s progression system allows for plenty of build variety. Since every attribute is linked to an element of wood, fire, earth, and metal and a classical Chinese virtue. Another twist on the tried and true formula is that magic is tied to your Spirit, which is also your stamina. Instead of watching an MP pool or having a set number of casts of a spell, you will need to decide whether you can afford to cast anything, as you may not have enough Spirit to dodge as well. Additionally, spells have a Morale requirement. You can’t use your best abilities until you raise it on a given battlefield.
In the game, you’ll encounter legendary figures such as Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. The AI is surprisingly competent. As you defeat enemies, your relationship deepens, resulting in replicas of their legendary weapons and armour. The environments in Wo Long are designed for epic battles. Providing the system can handle it, slicing through Wo Long’s various battlefields would be a blast with some trusted blades at your disposal.
Boss fights in Wo Long are extremely challenging. It takes us a long time to get through one of them. A doozy boss fight, which we had a hard time getting through right from the start of the game. Although the game’s difficulty level is high, it is not for the faint of heart. There is nothing more invigorating than knowing you are playing a Soulslike game with a relatively easy difficulty. And if that thought is causing an involuntary and irrational pang of fear deep within a deep and sacred recess of your heart, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty might not only be your Game of the Year, but it’s probably your spirit animal as well.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty offers a unique take on the Soulsike formula. Putting it in a class of its own with its complex and deeply satisfying combat system, . Most people will bounce off it after just a few hours. But those who are willing to master it might find it useful. It’s fast, frenetic, and hits like a truck, with one of the most mesmeric combat systems. It might scare off more casual players, but those looking for a challenge, well — you can stop looking.
