Board 8 > Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Review Zone

(+) Yeah! (+)

Team Ninja's follow up to the Nioh games is here! This time set in China during the Three Kingdoms era, it's a slightly more open and exploration based than the more linear Nioh games, but not quite just straight up open world like Elden Ring. The parry-centric combat is as good as ever although it sounds like the 2nd half of the game isn't as strong as the 1st half with repetitive enemy types and the game loses its challenge over time compared to Souls games.

So far we're at an 82% through 78 reviews. Looks like I forgot that I preordered this like 6 months ago so I guess I'll already have it tomorrow XD

GamingTrend - 10/10
Wo Long: Fall Dynasty is a near flawless game and what I hope is just an intro to this fantastic world. Team Ninja have crafted a game that takes the basic structure of Nioh and other Souls-likes and creates their own unique, rewarding, and brutally challenging experience. In its almost forty hour campaign I was constantly surprised by the amount of new locations, creative boss fights, and sheer ambition of the game. It may be early in the year, but Id be surprised if any game beats Wo Long for the top of my year-end list.

Hardcore Gamer - 9/10
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a dark fantasy take on the Three Kingdoms. The difficulty is high, almost seeming insurmountable at first, but part of what makes Wo Long great is how the difficulty isnt unfair. The gameplay is structured where players are rewarded for learning the fighting style of their enemies and using their mastery of their own skills against them. It can be frustrating and requires patience to master, but its such a great feeling to finally overcome a strong adversary. Challenge alone does not make a game great, but Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty excels in every area from artistic design to gameplay mechanics. Watching nameless warrior execute their different moves is akin to a ballet of brutality. The gameplay mechanics are are smooth and responsive as the game is challenging, making it a joy to invest the time in mastering the battle system. This isnt the Three Kingdoms setting we were expecting, but it is the Three Kingdoms game we needed.

Noisy Pixel - 8.5/10
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is unlike any other action game. Its unique battle system encourages high-level character customization to make the action approachable no matter your history with the genre. It's terrifyingly brilliant as it tests your understanding of enemy attacks through a rhythm-based deflect feature making each encounter as enjoyable as it is difficult, especially in its online modes. Although messy enemy placement and cheesy maneuvers can slow the pacing, the Three Kingdoms story has never looked better.

IGN - 8/10
Wo Long: Fallen Dynastys combat plays very differently from Team Ninjas own Nioh games more in the mold of Sekiro than Dark Souls and yet it manages to excel and falter in just about the same areas. When it comes to the clashing of melee weapons, Wo Long is among the best in the genre, full stop. Its action is fast and thrilling, the options for taking down its ferocious enemies are many and immensely rewarding to master, and its deflection-heavy combat is one of the most satisfying since Sekiro. All of those strengths outweigh an overbearing loot system, poor storytelling, and even a disappointing lack of variety in enemies. If not for that, Wo Long mightve been one of Team Ninjas greatest achievements as it is, its simply a great one.

Dualshockers - 6.8/10
No matter how disappointed I am with the game and myself after each "Crushing Defeat," I find myself wanting to go back and play again, even if it's just to build up relationships with Liu Bei and Sun Jian, unlock their armor sets and weapons, grind for levels and new spells and, maybe some day, finally get to use that wizard's house key. It doesn't excuse the faults, and I will die (quickly and repeatedly) on the hill that it would be vastly improved by adding difficulty settings, but if you're a fan of the Three Kingdoms and (not or) extreme difficulty, Wo Long may be a good fit for you. And if it's not, Hell, there's always Dynasty Warriors.

I never got much into Nioh but this game looks really damn fun

I played the demo for this, but something just felt really off. I'm not sure if I can nail down what.

I also think Nioh feels off, though.

I guess I'm just to locked into FromSoft.

That might be my problem too, I've never been able to enjoy a souls-like game. Any time I try one it just makes me wanna go back and replay a true Souls game.

Three Kingdoms soulslike is almost a tailormade game for me

but the demo wont launch on my pc so :(

Demo definitely locked me in on expecting this to be an awesome game. It does immediately seem significantly easier than Nioh, but I think a big part of that - aside from the generally simplified combat compared to Nioh - is that I've played Sekiro 6 times so parry centric combat is like an old friend at this point. Glad to finally have another game that looks to scratch that itch!

https://twitter.com/PatStaresAt/status/1631498708977332226?s=19

My opinions tend to either completely align with Pat or I think he's got the dumbest takes around, it's always one or the other.

Which means....it's one or the other.

That doesn't help lol.

RikkuAlmighty posted...

Three Kingdoms soulslike is almost a tailormade game for me

This. I had no idea this was 3 kingdoms. The previous trailers didn't really indicate that.

Wait, I was thinking of Wu Kong. Less interested in this game, but it's on game pass so might as well try.