Summary
Fans of Soulslikes are undoubtedly eating well at the moment.Elden Ring’s DLC is right around the corner, and there is a slew of upcoming releases that will look to push the boundaries of the action-RPG soulslike sub-genre over the coming months. One of these,Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, seems totake specific inspiration from the likes ofSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and will no doubt be looking to differentiate itself to avoid direct comparisons with 2019’s Game of the Year. The game is described as a dark retelling of the Ming Dynasty period and will feature real historical characters. With a tentative release window of 2025, developer Leenzee has plenty of time to establish some key differences for its debut title.
After it was officially unveiled back in 2021, until this recent trailer,Wuchang: Fallen Feathershad somewhat fallen by the wayside, due to the increasing number of Soulslikes being released in quick succession. One such game isBlack Myth Wukong, which releases in August. Featuring Soulslike mechanics, similarly fantastical boss fights, and steeped in Ancient Chinese history,Wukongwill likely be compared toWuchang, even though the art styles are quite different. Indeed,Wuchang’s tone and aesthetic seem more similar to the likes of Team Ninja’s critically acclaimedNiohseries.
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Wuchang’s Similarities and Differences Compared to Sekiro and Black Myth Wukong
Wuchang: Fallen Featherstells the story of Bai Wuchang, a warrior with no memory who is battling a mysterious illness known as Ornithropy.Sekiro’s protagonist, Wolf, is also prone to contracting an illness known as Dragonrot. However, while Ornithropy is slowly morphing Wuchang into a monster, on the flip side, it is also granting her access to immense power. The game is described as non-linear but stops short of calling itself an open-world game, so it’s likely it will adopt a similar semi-open-world structure that is used in bothSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and the upcomingBlack Myth: Wukong.
Black Myth: Wukong’s main differentiatorappears to be the sheer power of its protagonist, the Monkey King, and his unique suite of abilities, including being able to morph into various other forms. This, along with some of the weapon skills that have already been displayed, appears to giveBlack Mytha unique identity among the other Soulslikes. On the surface,Wuchang: Fallen Feathersappears to have much more in common withSekiro, which, if executed correctly, shouldn’t harm its chances of success at all.
Wuchang Still Has Plenty of Time to Hone Its Craft
Ornithropy grantsWuchangplayers access to a variety of magic and techniques, and this can be tailored to specific playstyles by pairing it with a weapon type of the player’s choice from the numerous ones on offer. Build variety is becoming more paramount in Soulslikes than ever before, so it’s great to seeWuchang: Fallen Feathershas players covered in this regard.Boss fights are one of the most important Soulslike staples, and here, they are promised to feature multi-phases and be as challenging as expected. The entire game is being built using Unreal Engine 5, which should ensure crisp, clean visuals to capture the lightning-fast action on screen.
With so many of its direct competitors releasing over the next four months or so, having a release window of 2025 will likely work inWuchang: Fallen Feathers' favor. This will give the title room to breathe and should allow the dust to settle on all of its rivals before it unleashes itself. Being available on PS5, PC, and also as aday-one Xbox Game Pass titlewill give it a great chance for success, so if Leenzee can stick the landing with the game’s mechanics and settings,Wuchang: Fallen Featherscould be one of 2025’s sleeper hits.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
WHERE TO PLAY
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathersis a soulslike, action RPG set in the land of Shu during the dark and tumultuous late Ming Dynasty, plagued with warring factions and a mysterious illness spawning monstrous creatures.Become Wuchang, a skilled pirate warrior struck by amnesia, who must navigate the uncertainties of her mysterious past while afflicted by the horrific Feathering disease. Explore the depths of Shu, enhancing your arsenal and mastering new skills harvested from fallen foes. Evolve your fighting style by sacrificing elusive Red Mercury and further develop new techniques obtained throughout your action-packed journey. Augment the weapons in your repertoire with powerful enchantments, allowing for a unique approach to combat and strategy that suits your personal style.Battle against grotesque abominations, drawing on ancient lore to challenge the creeping darkness that threatens the humanity that remains. Your quest for truth will take you through forgotten temples, overgrown ruins, and shadowed paths fraught with peril. As you piece together Wuchang’s lost memories, your choices will lead you to one of several endings—each determined by the choices made, secrets unearthed and the allies you choose to trust.Immerse yourself in a rich storyline, dynamic combat system, and breathtaking visuals that offer an unforgettable adventure through lands veiled in chaos and death. Will you reveal the truths of Wuchang’s curse and bring peace to Shu, or will you succumb to the encroaching horrors? The fate of the land rests in your hands.
