REVIEW
WUCHANG: FALLEN FEATHERS
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is one of the best-looking games on the PS5. It is also one of the hardest games in the role-playing (RPG)/hack and slash and action-adventure genres. The setting is beautiful, filled with forests and mountains, and combined with solid audio and wonderful graphics, the game looks and sounds top-notch.
GAMEPLAY
The game offers a variety of weapons. However, one thing I think it severely lacks is a shield. The core gameplay heavily revolves around dodging, while parrying and blocking can be unlocked via weapon skill upgrades and discipline skills. There is also weapon clashing, but you cannot deflect or clash certain attacks, such as punches or kicks. Players can wield longswords, axes, spears, one-handed swords, and dual blades. The player can also use various spells that can be filled up via perfect dodging. Weapons have various types of damage that include Slash, Blunt, Stab, Feathering, Magic, Fire, and Lightning. Various armors provide resistance against various status build-ups such as Blight, Poise Break, Burn, Frostbite, Corruption, Despair, and Paralysis. I found armor choice not so important when it comes to the plain defense factor. There are armors for defense against specific types of attacks, such as blunt damage or slash damage, but overall, the differences hardly matter when it comes to negating melee damage. The enemy variety is decent, and just when it starts feeling repetitive, you see newer enemies.
GRAPHICS & AUDIO
Graphically, the art style is excellent. The level design is gorgeous, and all zones have multiple pathways that connect incredibly well. The lighting of each map is superbly done. The beautiful mountain pathways that are surrounded by trees give the feel that the place is surrounded by a deep forest setting. Mountains, mines, forests, snowy pathways, and more are designed in a distinct artistic style. Levels are very well interconnected.
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The audio is excellent. There is a different theme for each region, and it never feels repetitive as the audio flows very well. Right from the title screen, the game's audio gives a grandiose impression. Boss themes are great. The audio reminds me of the Uncharted series; one of the little audio bits seems a bit too similar to Uncharted.
STORY
The main character wakes up with a disease called feathering and has no recall of her past; thus, she is also suffering from amnesia. The player soon faces human foes, both infected and non-infected, and animals and monsters. Then you basically fight various enemies and a boss level after level. There are side requests to do, and the most important items require careful exploration on the player's part. Each zone/level is uniquely made. Exploration is worthwhile, as you can often find items that increase experience. There are some difficult encounters at various levels, which make exploration not an easy task. The regular enemies in the game are somewhat easy, but they are often in groups with a few tougher enemies around the corners.
SIDE-QUESTS
The side-quests in the game are not really straightforward forward, but neither too complex either. However, the rewards may seem lackluster. There are valuable quest items that can be obtained via side-quests, including armor as well as required items for multiple endings of the game.
OVERALL
The game is tough. Certain bosses have swift attacks that can be very hard to avoid. Combine that with little to no cool-down in later bosses, and it makes the game very difficult. The game needs a little more balancing, and the addition of difficulty options would make the game much better. Because the game has some of the best audio/visual offerings, and with a little polish in the gameplay section, it will get the universal ratings it rightly deserves.