Wuchang: Fallen Feathers – Everything You Need to Know

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As a gaming enthusiast, I’m genuinely excited about the numerous game releases coming up in July, and beyond. However, one title that has caught my eye is Leenzee’s “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers,” set to launch on July 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, with Game Pass subscribers getting early access. Priced at $49.99, this game promises a rich, immersive experience.

What sets “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” apart is its innovative approach to combat, exploration, and storytelling, drawing inspiration from various other games while carving out its unique niche. Here are 15 things you can anticipate before diving into this captivating world.

What is Wuchang?

Fundamentally, the game titled “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers” is a role-playing game with action elements that resembles games from the Souls series. In this game, actions like attacking and dodging deplete your stamina, and dying results in losing some of your currency. Dodging frequently can often be crucial for survival, although it’s not the only method to stay alive. There are clear similarities with Team Ninja’s Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, particularly when it comes to dealing critical blows on enemies that have been staggered. However, unlike these games, there’s a stronger focus on customizing your character’s build, but the rewards for doing so may not be as plentiful as in other games of its genre. This aspect will be discussed further soon.

Who is Wuchang?

Absolutely, “Wuchang” isn’t merely the title of the game; it’s also the central character, Bai Wuchang, who finds herself in the Land of Shu during the final years of the Ming Dynasty. This setting is an imaginative reinterpretation where recognizable characters exist and historical conflicts have led to the emergence of the Feathering disease. Bai Wuchang is a pirate who has lost her memory, unaware of how she contracted the disease (or how to treat it, or what the enigmatic Chisel entails). Despite this, many inhabitants of Shu seek her demise, and the disease possesses significant, albeit not entirely beneficial, side effects.

Shifted to Unreal Engine 5

Initially, Wuchang wasn’t met with overwhelmingly favorable responses due to its visuals and overall quality (it should be noted that it was still in its early stages of development). Surprisingly, despite working on Unreal Engine 4 initially, Leenzee decided to switch to Unreal Engine 5 instead. This change was made because Unreal Engine 5 offers physics-based effects and superior lighting, as stated by director Xia Siyuan. Additionally, the new engine provides a more robust foundation for enhancing the project’s quality.

World Design

Siyuan Xia, the game director, has discussed the team’s strategy for environmental design, aiming to create a hub reminiscent of Dark Souls 1 with interconnected zones and shortcuts. From various interviews, it appears that this game will encompass five expansive levels, some of which might require several hours to fully complete. Contrary to Elden Ring’s open-world setting, the development team seems to have focused on providing an open environment to motivate players to explore extensively.

Choices and Consequences

In the tale, Leenzee subtly suggests that there are multiple paths and outcomes based on the decisions made. These “Chessmasters,” as TechRadar’s preview terms them, are influencing the story’s progression. Regardless of whether you choose to support the store or eliminate all characters, the consequences of your choices will shape Wuchang’s destiny (and the ending). Furthermore, it is advisable to delve into the world and accomplish side missions as well, since they too will impact the story in numerous ways.

Combat

In the setting of Wuchang, fight sequences will resonate strongly with fans of Souls-like games. However, Leenzee has incorporated unique aspects such as precise dodging that accumulates Skyborn Power to unleash potent abilities. It’s advisable to grow accustomed to this mechanic since you’ll be evading frequently in the initial stages. While parrying is an option, not all weapons support it – some must be unlocked through the skill tree first.

Weapon Types

In this game, there are five distinct categories of weapons, each containing 25 unique options. These range from one-handed and two-handed swords to dual blades, two-handed axes, spears, and war clubs. You can simultaneously wield two weapons without worrying about weight restrictions. By using the ability called Skyborn Might, you can effortlessly switch between weapons and keep up a combo sequence.

Abilities

Each weapon boasts a distinct power, such as Colossal Smash that inflicts poise damage and even halts certain enemy attacks, or Blade Dance, referred to by the PlayStation Blog as “a spinning attack that cleaves through enemies.” Vortex Thrust is particularly effective for spear users due to its ability to strike multiple opponents with its shockwaves. Additionally, you can upgrade each power through the skill tree and further enhance them using Red Mercury.

Armor for Resistances and Stats

The fascinating aspect of armor lies in its ability to offer various statistics, as suggested by IGN’s preview. One key motivation for customizing armor pieces is the variation in damage resistances. Depending on the locations you explore, it might be advantageous to switch out resistances from slashing and bludgeoning damage, and instead focus on magic defense. Notably, a transmog function exists to prioritize aesthetics while preserving your preferred stats.

Spells

Spellcasting provides powerful and damaging abilities, although limited to 40 options, you have a variety of choices. For example, the Lotus Soulflame unleashes extensive elemental damage (as stated in PlayStation Blog), while Echo of Liu Cheng’en summons an icy surge that knocks down enemies. We’ve witnessed lightning bolts, flames that leap across the ground, a lotus that releases projectiles around Wuchang, and many other effects, all of which can be combined with weapon attacks, ensuring multiple ways to defeat your opponents.

Madness

In Wuchang’s gameplay, Feathering, or as we might call it, Madness, offers multiple strategies, but the captivating aspect is its manifestation called Madness. Characters afflicted with this condition become insane, yet Wuchang can regulate the pace at which she becomes more insane to inflict greater damage and acquire new abilities. However, a drawback is that as Madness escalates to specific levels, Wuchang sustains increased damage; overextend, and death summons a spectral entity, whom you must vanquish to recover any lost currency. The allure of Madness lies in the fact that it increases through taking damage, dying, or using certain items, creating an engaging risk versus reward system for experienced players.

The Massive Skill Tree

Upgrading in this game is intriguing as it deviates from the usual method of spending currency to boost stats. Instead, you earn skill points that can be utilized on a vast skill chart. This feature offers the opportunity to unlock additional weapon capabilities, defensive strategies, healing options, and much more (including stats, surprisingly). The complete scope of the skill tree is yet to be unveiled, but 505 Games hints at numerous choices available.

Bosses

It’s hardly unexpected news, but here it goes: Bosses will indeed be part of the game, some even having multiple stages (which could mean more than two). Interestingly enough, 505 Games has announced that you can defeat these bosses in a non-sequential order. The variety of bosses is quite diverse, ranging from nimble and swift humanoid threats to creatures corrupted by the Feathering, featuring wings and other unusual appendages, promising an exciting journey throughout.

Playtime

Despite being priced at just $50 and launching on Game Pass, the game “Wuchang” offers a surprisingly rich gaming experience that typically takes around 40 to 60 hours to finish. You have the opportunity to unlock various endings and tinker with diverse character builds, although specifics about additional side content or a New Game Plus feature have not been extensively detailed by Leenzee.

DLSS 4 and Frame Generation Support

At its release, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will incorporate Nvidia DLSS 4 technology. Moreover, Multi Frame Generation can be activated for optimal performance at 4K resolution on the highest settings, although it seems that an RTX 5090 is needed to enable this feature. Additionally, the game supports Super Resolution, Frame Generation, and Reflex technologies.

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2025-07-14 13:44