Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a soulslike title that made its PlayStation 5 debut last week, bringing with it technical controversy and much-discussed dark fantasy ambiance now offered souls-context combat. According to Leenzee Games, Wuchang pits the player through brutal confrontations within a heroically fated world that has been heavily inspired by Chinese mythos. So, understandably, talk had been brewing, mixed with some criticisms on performance issues and design choices.
Basically, while the trailer gave the impression of a fast-paced combo beat-‘em-up with gloomy vibes and probably could be Bloodborne-esque, the game had almost instantly been considered as worth being lumped with other punishing action RPGs. But not everybody down for that. One PC gamer called out, “Not looking good on PC,” to suggest that there might be a problem with optimization. His buddy followed up with, “Digital Foundry won’t have much to say about this one,” which most likely meant that the game would technically not be up to par.
The arguments continue. Some gamers are locked in in strong debates about whether Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is worth buying. You may say, “It’s very far off from [Ghost of Tsushima],” while the other would rebut, “L take.” It’s just a nasty discourse as is expected with the release of any new soulslike—some players are just in for it, others remain skeptical, and some are here just for the drama.
There’s also that very relevant discussion about getting physical copies or downloading the title digitally. A fan said, “Should I get a physical or digital copy?” spurring a mini-thread flow about collector editions and shelf space. Another started joking about having a schedule devoted to “Clear my calendar. Prepare for pain. Die. Repeat.” Classic soulslike mentality.
But then, not all reactions are harsh. Some are downright excited. There were cries of “Omg I needs ascp,” and then genes declared how great the game is with words such as “incredible.” There was even an AI account (yup, really) throwing its weight behind the release.
So Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is doing some noise whether the masses like it or not.
Its combat draws in or perhaps wards off soulslikes, depending on whom you ask, at least setting aside the concerns about performance. “Just me, a sword, and no patience for dodging,” one player quipped, describing the soulslike experience very well. Still, some are less forgiving. One critic named the skins “the worst,” while others just dismiss the entire combat system.
“And there comes the usual console wars and warfare,” one user quipped, in an instant drawing the eternal PlayStation versus Xbox debate. “Remember when PlayStation marketing always conveniently neglected to mention that the game is available on other platforms?” Another user commented. Because you know there is never a worthwhile gaming discussion without throwing in a little bit of corporate rivalry.
So, where does that leave us? Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is out and highly divisive, and certainly not one of those easy games to play. Whether this one finds its way alongside the greats or ends up being swept under the rug of deep hiding remains to be seen. One thing that can’t be argued about, however, is that gamers aren’t keeping silent about this one. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to clear my calendar and prep for serious suffering.
