Team NINJA, the creators of Nioh, have developed a new action role-playing game set in a dark fantasy Three Kingdoms world. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a new Souls-Like!
In recent years, the Souls-like genre has gained immense popularity, with games like Elden Ring receiving multiple Game of the Year awards in 2022, and even Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order heavily borrowing from the genre.
Koei Tecmo has emerged as a significant player in this genre with its Nioh games. The publisher is now set to make a massive comeback to the Souls-like genre with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, a brand new IP developed by Team Ninja.
Wo Long appears to be as intense as Nioh and has the potential to be one of the most noteworthy hits of early 2023.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Key Details
You can try a demo soon, don't miss it!
ATTENTIONHow to download #WoLongFallenDynasty Demo on Feb 24th: Must have internet connectivity No online subscription or registration needed Search, find & download from your preferred gaming platform store. Play demo. Share this tweet. (Optional) pic.twitter.com/rHJgMGurEp
— Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (@WoLongOfficial) February 17, 2023
In Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, players take on the role of a nameless militia soldier fighting for survival in a dark fantasy version of the later Han Dynasty, where demons terrorize the Three Kingdoms. The game features intense action and drama, as players use Chinese martial arts-based swordplay to combat deadly creatures and enemy soldiers, while discovering their true power within.
Tips for wizardry in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty.Wood is destructive to Earth. Fire is destructive to Metal.Water is destructive to Fire. Metal is destructive to Wood.Earth is destructive to Water.Use each phase wisely.#WoLongFallenDynasty pic.twitter.com/UfquxOstCy
— Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty (@WoLongOfficial) February 16, 2023
The game's title, "Wo Long," refers to a crouching dragon and a person of greatness who is not yet known. The game's storyline follows the protagonist's ascent from being a nobody to becoming a somebody.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Gameplay
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an action game that shares many similarities with Nioh and appears to be influenced by Sekiro as well. The combat system in Wo Long is centered around Chinese martial arts.
After completing the character creation process, players will be prompted to choose their character's phase, which is the equivalent of a traditional RPG class. The phase you choose will determine the wizardry spells that are available to your character, with each of the five phases offering a unique set of abilities.
There are various weapons, spells, and Divine Beasts available to players during the game, with the latter being powerful creatures that players can summon to assist them in battle. The Deflect and Spirit system in Wo Long resembles Sekiro's Posture system , where Spirit determines the effectiveness of attacks for both players and enemies.
Players can use a Deflect move to block an enemy's attack and reduce their Spirit. Once an enemy's Spirit reaches a certain level, players can use a Fatal Strike to defeat them. Boss battles, including battles with legendary figures such as Lu Bu, will be a significant aspect of Wo Long.
In addition to the character's abilities and weapons, players in Wo Long are also aided by Divine Beasts throughout their journey. There are five different types of Divine Beasts to choose from, including Qilin, Baihu, Qinglong, Zhuque, and Xuanwu.
Summoning these beasts requires the use of a separate Divine Beast gauge, and they can fight alongside the player for a limited time or be used for "Divine Beast Resonance," which provides special effects like buffs. However, the effectiveness of these beasts may depend on the situation, and players may need to strategize their use in battle
Moral Rank
The game features a Morale rank that is one of the character's stats, indicating the strength of both the player and the enemy.
When defeating an enemy, the Morale rank of the player increases, making the character stronger. Conversely, dying causes the player to lose rank, which cannot go below a certain floor. By increasing the minimum rank, the player can ensure that the Morale rank does not drop below a certain level even when dying.
This system is also useful in determining whether to engage in a battle with a specific enemy or to avoid it. The enemy Morale rank is always displayed, allowing the player to gauge whether they can defeat the enemy or should avoid it.
Exploration
During exploration in Wo Long, players will come across Battle Flags which serve as save points. These save points allow players to respawn at the location of the flag after they die.
The game's areas have a large number of Battle Flags available, which makes it easier for players to try again after dying. The game also features level-based progression where players can use experience points, known as Genuine Qi, gained from battles to enhance their character. Players can switch between the Divine Beasts and choose different phases to try out various combinations and strategies.
The wood phase combined with Qinglong was recommended by producer Fumihiko Yasuda during an interview due to its healing abilities, which may be useful for players who need more recovery while exploring.
Control Your Character
Controlling the nameless volunteer soldier feels like controlling a ninja, as their movements are extremely nimble and reminiscent of Chinese martial arts. The character's agility allows for double jumps and wall-kicking to reach higher locations, while the presence of platforms such as rocks enables effective use of aerial attacks.
Combat involves two types of close-range attacks: basic attacks and spirit attacks. Basic attacks use the equipped weapon and fill the spirit gauge, which can be used to unleash higher-damage spirit attacks.
Players can equip up to two weapons and swap between them. The spirit gauge is also used for martial arts attacks and elemental wizardry spells, allowing control of fire, water, and other elements. Proper management of the spirit gauge is critical for success in battle.
You'll need to learn to use a combination of basic attacks, spirit attacks, and wizardry spells, as well as defensive maneuvers such as blocking, deflecting, and dodging. Dodging is performed by pressing R1 and a direction on the left stick, while blocking is done by pressing L1.
Deflection, on the other hand, is a move that allows you to deflect enemy attacks with your own weapon by pressing Circle at the right time, similar to the parry system in other action games.In addition to these basic defensive maneuvers, there are also advanced techniques such as counter-attacking and aerial combos that you can learn as you progress through the game.
Overall, the combat system feels very fluid and satisfying, and it rewards players who take the time to learn its intricacies.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty: Release Date & Platforms
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is set to release on March 3, 2023, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Additionally, the game will be available on Xbox Game Pass on the day of release.
Various editions are planned for release, including the Digital Deluxe Edition, which includes a digital art book, mini soundtrack, and Season Pass.
The Season Pass will consist of three different DLCs, though there is currently no information on when they will be released.
