Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has right now obtained a brand new patch on PC, providing improved efficiency and much-needed stability changes to tweak a few of its infuriatingly low cost issue.
Because of this, the rougher edges of the Soulslike are being smoothed out, permitting the extra distinctive parts of the sport to shine by means of.
Initially, Wuchang did not sit properly with me. I previewed the sport again on the Recreation Developer Convention however, thrown right into a demo partway by means of the sport with little rationalization of its intricacies, all of it felt intensely spinoff. I anticipated that to proceed when enjoying the sport in full, however as a substitute I have been pleasantly stunned.
A part of the problem with Wuchang is it does not clarify its finest concepts very properly. The early sport is stuffed with terminology and capabilities – skyborn would possibly, alacrity, feathering, to call three – however with little rationalization or readability. That results in frustration and at first I used to be merely enjoying this like every other Soulslike with out actually partaking in its techniques.
However there are attention-grabbing concepts right here. Take skyborn would possibly: that is an additional useful resource that is spent on particular skills and magic spells alike, and is gained by means of last-minute excellent dodges (in addition to different means later unlocked on the ability tree). That is the core of fight and, as soon as totally comprehended, lends Wuchang its personal peculiar fight rhythm. It is nearly Bayonetta-esque, with protagonist Wuchang swiftly dancing round enemies earlier than attacking with typical Soulslike heft, aided by lovely wuxia animations.
Then there’s the insanity gauge that, when full after repeatedly dying, forces the participant to battle a demonic reflection of Wuchang to regain misplaced foreign money. Certain, it is a enjoyable twist on Hole Knight, however with the ability to lure your demon to preventing different enemies for you is splendidly cheeky.
Components like this guarantee Wuchang is not simply one other spinoff Soulslike however does have its personal identification inside the typical confines of the style – the looping stage design, say, or the excessive stage of issue. Together with its a number of weapon varieties, unlockable particular strikes (disciplines), buffing weapons by means of acupuncture (tempering), and progressively increasing Wuchang’s stats on a Sphere Grid-esque ability tree, there’s a stunning quantity of depth right here as soon as gamers overcome any preliminary Soulslike fatigue. Very similar to final yr’s Stellar Blade, when you get previous all that costume fetishisation, there’s some actually sturdy fight right here.
Nevertheless it’s additionally too tough across the edges, notably relating to that issue stage. Wuchang takes an age to get off the bottom when knocked down, as an example, with enemy combos seemingly completely timed to knock you again down once more. Equally, therapeutic takes far too lengthy, turning boss battles right into a irritating lesson on when to heal, somewhat than when to assault.
Fortunately, each of those frustrations have been tweaked within the new patch: the invincibility frames of Wuchang’s get-up animation have been adjusted and her therapeutic animation sped up (and may now be cancelled with a dodge). Different tweaks embrace making it simpler for mild assaults to interrupt enemy animations, and lowering the variety of traps, whereas a future replace will enable gamers to decide on to respawn at shrines or a boss door after demise.
These are all very welcome modifications that arrive on prime of plenty of efficiency optimisations on PC. The patch notes do not point out console updates, although presumably it will comply with quickly – I have been enjoying the sport on PS5 and even now there are stutters and poor textures that mar the twisted, grotesque visuals.
It is these kinds of particulars, I feel, that separate the spinoff Soulslikes from the unique work of FromSoftware. Certain, the Darkish Souls and Elden Ring studio launched loads of post-launch patches to regulate issue ranges, however to me its video games are difficult with out feeling low cost. That is a distinction many lesser builders have not fairly mastered.
Wuchang, at occasions, has felt like a laborious slog regardless of its attention-grabbing twist on the system. Nevertheless it’s reassuring to see its developer supply tweaks to enhance the expertise – now it deserves to face alongside Lies of P as Soulslikes in a position to transcend the ever-present FromSoftware comparability.
