How Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Combines Sekiro and Nioh in a Chinese Setting

Dunia Game - How Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Combines Sekiro and Nioh in a Chinese Setting. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a new Souls-like game from Team Ninja that blends the combat of Sekiro with the loot and customization of Nioh in a historical Chinese setting.

Read our review to find out if it's worth playing.

Fallen Dynasty Combines Sekiro and Nioh in a Chinese Setting

Souls-like games are a popular genre that challenge players with tough but rewarding combat, exploration, and progression. Team Ninja, the developer behind Ninja Gaiden and Nioh, has created its own take on the genre with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, a game that draws inspiration from both Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Nioh, as well as Chinese history and mythology.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is set in the final days of the Han Dynasty, where a nameless warrior gets involved in a war between rival kingdoms and their quest for an elixir of immortality.

Along the way, the warrior encounters famous historical figures, such as Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Lu Bu, as well as supernatural enemies and bosses.

The game features fast-paced and parry-focused combat, a variety of weapons and skills, and a deep loot and customization system. But does Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty live up to its influences, or does it fall short of greatness? Let's find out in our review.

Combat: A Dance of Deflections

The core of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is its combat, which is heavily influenced by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The game relies on a system of deflections, where the player has to time their blocks to parry incoming attacks and break the enemy's stance. Unlike Sekiro, however, the game also has a Spirit meter, which acts as both stamina and guard.

The player has to manage their Spirit carefully, as running out of it will leave them vulnerable to damage and guard breaks. The game also features unblockable attacks, which have to be parried with a different button, adding another layer of complexity and challenge.

The combat in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is satisfying and fluid, rewarding skill and timing over brute force. The game offers a range of weapons to choose from, such as swords, spears, axes, and daggers, each with their own movesets and advantages.

The player can also equip different skills, such as magic, buffs, and special attacks, to enhance their combat abilities and suit their playstyle

The game also has a stealth system, which allows the player to sneak up on enemies and perform assassinations, although it is not as refined or essential as in Sekiro.

The game's combat is not without its flaws, however. The game suffers from some balance issues, especially in the early game, where the first boss is much harder than the subsequent ones.

The game also has some difficulty spikes, where some enemies and bosses can feel unfair or frustrating. The game's camera can also be problematic, especially in tight spaces or when fighting large enemies.

The game's lock-on system can also be unreliable, sometimes switching targets randomly or losing track of enemies.

Progression: A Loot and Customization Paradise

Another aspect of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty that sets it apart from other Souls-like games is its loot and customization system, which is similar to Nioh.

The game has a generous amount of loot to collect, ranging from weapons and armor to accessories and consumables. The loot has different rarities, stats, and effects, allowing the player to mix and match their gear to optimize their performance. The game also has a crafting and upgrading system, which lets the player create new items or improve their existing ones.

The game also has a transmogrification system, which lets the player change the appearance of their gear without affecting its stats.

The game's loot and customization system is a delight for players who enjoy tinkering with their equipment and experimenting with different builds. The game offers a lot of options and flexibility, allowing the player to tailor their character to their preferences and needs.

The game also has a lot of replay value, as the loot and enemies scale with the player's level and difficulty. The game also has a New Game Plus mode, which lets the player carry over their progress and items to a new playthrough with increased challenge and rewards.

The game's loot and customization system is not perfect, however. The game can be overwhelming with the amount of loot it throws at the player, making it hard to keep track of what is useful and what is not.

The game also has some tedious and confusing mechanics, such as the Soul Binding system, which lets the player transfer the effects of one item to another, but at a cost of losing the original item. The game also has some bugs and glitches, such as items disappearing from the inventory or not working as intended.

Presentation: A Historical and Mythical Journey

The game's presentation is another highlight of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, as it showcases a rich and diverse historical and mythical Chinese setting. The game's graphics are impressive, with detailed environments, character models, and effects.

The game's art direction is also commendable, as it captures the atmosphere and aesthetics of the Three Kingdoms era, as well as the fantasy elements of the game's story.

The game's sound design is also immersive, with realistic sounds of weapons, enemies, and nature. The game's music is also fitting, with epic and dramatic tracks that suit the mood and tone of the game.

The game's presentation is not flawless, however. The game has some performance issues, such as framerate drops, stuttering, and loading times. The game also has some graphical glitches, such as clipping, pop-in, and texture issues.

The game's voice acting is also inconsistent, with some characters sounding good and others sounding bad. The game's story is also weak, with poorly written dialogue, bland characters, and a lack of coherence and direction.

Conclusion

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a solid and enjoyable Souls-like game that combines the best elements of Sekiro and Nioh in a unique and captivating Chinese setting.

The game's combat is challenging and rewarding, the game's loot and customization system is deep and varied, and the game's presentation is stunning and immersive. The game is not without its flaws, however, as it suffers from some balance, difficulty, camera, performance, and story issues.

The game is also not very original, as it borrows heavily from its influences, without adding much of its own identity. Nonetheless, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a game that fans of the genre should not miss, as it offers a lot of fun and value for their money.