Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Review – Razor Sharp

Team Ninja’s action games are renowned for being some of their most enjoyable. It seamlessly switches between the Ninja Gaiden series of high-octane action and the Soulslike excitements of Nioh. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is the latest in a long line of games from Team Ninja. It’s a frenetic, but rewarding, showcase for freneticism. The smooth swordplay, brilliant boss fights, and novel systems further prove Team Ninja’s ability to craft unrelenting experiences. Its back is limited by the lack of enemies, but its fast duels make it one among the most satisfying titles of recent memory.

Set in a version of 2nd-century China inspired by the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, we follow an unnamed militia soldier as they’re drawn into a war over an immortality-granting elixir. Fans of the novel will enjoy the fight alongside their favourite characters, but this story does not convey their depth or nuances. The storytelling is merely set dressing.

The writing may not be remarkable, but the battles are captivating. Those familiar with Soulslikes will feel at home with Wo Long’s similar progression systems, online features, and shared brutal difficulty. More specifically, the core combat is directly influenced by Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, emphasizing parrying attacks so you can eventually break your foe’s poise and land a Fatal Strike.

There have been many titles that attempt to replicate these elements, to different degrees. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, however, evokes the same despair and joy as the original games. The duels capture a high-intensity, white-knuckled intensity, enhanced by well-planned controls and well-telegraphed attacks from the enemy. You can build Spirit by deflecting blows. This Spirit can be used to strengthen your defenses and perform strong moves.

You must deflect in order to build momentum. It’s easy to master and it is very satisfying to do. You can parry everything, from sword swings to swipes at hulking beasts and lightning bolts. Each is accompanied with a steely twang that gives you tingles. Exchanges can be deliberate as you probe for weaknesses and tactically use your Spirit, or over in the blink of an eye as you parry an unblockable Critical Blow, shatter an enemy’s poise, and demolishing them in a single exhilarating instant. This is a great action entry, especially when combined with boss fights that are intimidating and flexible levels that allow exploration.

There are some obvious drawbacks. Most glaringly, it strains against its long runtime in its last half, resulting in some tedium and stretches that aren’t challenging enough. It is too easy to repeat the same song too many times, and there are not enough enemies. A distracting loot system, technical problems such as pop-ins or framerate drops in greater areas are some other annoyances.

Although its second part failed to live up to the previous, Wo Long : Fallen Dynasty still delivers a well-honed pleasure. The action of the title is responsive and precise, with a great deal of fun learning about each opponent. Although I would prefer the back stretch to be shorter or more varied, it is an uncommon title that can induce a trance-like state of focus and exhilarating moments of victory. It may not quite reach the heights of the works that inspired it, but it’s not far off.