Wuchang: Fallen Feathers was not on my shortlist of games to play this year. But seeing as it was included at launch with my Xbox Game Pass subscription, I figured I’ll give a spin. And boy, was I hooked within the first 15 minutes.
This souls-like action RPG set in China during the late Ming dynasty is a blast from the past, and feels inspired by FromSoftware’s older Souls games (Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls). Especially its level design, which is twisty and intricate with secrets and shortcuts that are so satisfying once you find them all. One of the early hub areas, the Shu Sanctum, is particularly well-done. It’s not an open-world game, but there’s almost as much to explore.
That old-school soulslike feel is reinforced by the relatively few shrines (this game’s bonfire or site of graces) found in a level. The tension increases the further I progress in a level, as my healing items dwindle, and I start to wonder how far it is to safety (or a potential shortcut). Shou…
