Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Reviews: Flexible Builds, Unbalanced Bosses

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Debuts to Mixed Critical Reception

The highly anticipated action RPG, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, is set to launch tomorrow, and the embargo on reviews has now lifted, giving players a first look at what critics think. Developed by Chinese studio Leenzee Games, the game enters a competitive landscape, with many wondering if it can replicate the success of fellow Chinese title Black Myth: Wukong or if it will settle into the mid-tier.

As of writing, the PlayStation 5 version of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers holds a Metacritic score of 75, while OpenCritic shows a score of 78, with 78% of critics recommending the game.

What Critics Are Praising

Reviewers have highlighted several positive aspects of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. These include its unique mechanics, dynamic combat, and extensive build-crafting opportunities, which offer players significant freedom in character progression. The game also received praise for its impressive level design, engaging boss encounters (overall), and intriguing setting.

Areas for Improvement

However, the game isn't without its criticisms. The narrative is often described as uninspired, and the sprint speed feels noticeably slow. Navigating certain segments of the semi-open world can be challenging, and the game's pacing occasionally falters. Some combat mechanics, such as backstabs, are considered overpowered. A significant point of contention is the inconsistent balance in boss battles, with some encounters being remarkably easy while others are frustratingly difficult.

Kaan Serin from Eurogamer notes that while Wuchang: Fallen Feathers fits squarely into the soulslike genre, it doesn't significantly innovate on the established formula. “Wuchang feels familiar,” Serin writes. “It's good, but you've tried this dish before. You know what to expect, what ingredients you'll taste, and even the order they'll unfold. It's unlikely to deliver an unexpected punch to your taste buds. How much you enjoy Wuchang: Fallen Feathers depends on how often you're willing to return to your favorite comfort food before craving something new.”

Technical Observations

Beyond gameplay, some reviewers reported technical issues. While character, enemy, and environmental models are highly detailed, certain textures appear blurry and unclean. On the Steam Deck, the game struggles to maintain a stable 30 frames per second. Valve has not yet given the game an official compatibility rating, suggesting further optimization may be needed.

Review Highlights

• DualShockers (90/100): “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers falls short of FromSoftware's heights, but it comes damn close. This is arguably the best traditional soulslike from a non-FromSoftware developer I've ever played. It's a must-play for all fans of the genre.” The reviewer praised the game's challenging action and rich build variety, stating that while some difficulties can be mitigated, the game remains engaging, especially for melee enthusiasts.
• IGN (80/100): “With fast and dynamic combat, and a best-in-class progression system that opens up a huge amount of build experimentation, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is an incredibly impressive soulslike debut for Leenzee Games.” Despite some late-game bosses lacking counter-play and frustrating “surprise! you're dead” moments, these issues don't prevent the game from soaring among the best in the genre.
• GamesRadar+ (70/100): “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a solid soulslike with unique mechanics that help it stand out from its competitors. Its combat is flashy and enjoyable, even if some movement mechanics and boss fights can disappoint. Still, its stunning game world and excellently crafted dungeon crawling make Wuchang: Fallen Feathers worth your attention.”
• PC Gamer (49/100): “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers contributes almost nothing to the soulslike genre. Across its 40+ hours of fighting monsters and strange NPCs, the game only weakly copies the best parts of far better FromSoftware action games. It's especially disappointing given the game could have approached the level of Black Myth: Wukong – a similar blend of soulslike elements but with a focus on martial arts and Chinese mythology. Wuchang is too derivative, and its rare successes drown in a boundless sea of forgotten imitators in the genre.”

What This Means for Players

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers launches on July 24th for PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, including Game Pass. Russian subtitles are supported. The reviews paint a picture of a game that offers a familiar, yet often enjoyable, soulslike experience with standout build customization and level design. However, potential players should be prepared for some frustrating boss encounters and technical hiccups. Whether Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will resonate with you largely depends on your appetite for a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry into the soulslike genre.