Japanese studio, Koei Tecmo are on a bit of a roll just now. Firstly by teaming up with EA for the Monster Hunter challenger, Wild Hearts. And then with a remaster of a forgotten classic, in Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse. The studio also found time to craft a new Souls-like, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty.

A title developed by Team Ninja, the team behind more than a few of the most challenging series in gaming like Nioh and Ninja Gaiden.

Which is a bit of an important point, especially when it comes to the first boss. Because if you have played the original Xbox Ninja Gaiden, you’ll have an extremely good idea of what is awaiting you here.

Or you’ll have already seen the cries of the hundred, if not thousands, online that the first boss in Wo Long is ‘too hard’. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is, after all, a no-nonsense skill-based adventure title. One that fully embraces its Souls-like’s roots. for better or worse.

To Wo Long, Thanks for Killing Me! Julie Newspawn

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty doesn’t mess around before throwing you head first into the action. You play as a nameless soldier who fell in battle, but has been given a second shot thanks to a magic item.

From there your goal is very simple; you must fight against monsters and demons in a dark twisted fantasy version of the Three Kingdoms period.

Though what this magic item is, as well as the grander story, is drip fed to you through a few cut scenes. These brief flickers exposition are dotted between you getting your backside handed to you. But beyond a framework to tell you why you are slaying your next boss, the overall tale is a messy affair.

Dynasty Warrior

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty prioritises its combat over its loosely historic tale. Combat here is fast-paced and quite demanding. Every encounter comes with real risk, especially if you don’t give your full attention to your enemies.

Reading their attack patterns is a big part of the gameplay loop, as most are very well telegraphed. And that brings in that hard edge when you fail – 99% of the time, that failure is your fault.

Weapons play a large part in the combat. You have an arsenal of 13 to pick from, with the likes of swords, hammers and ranged fare; like bows. Each being upgradeable as well depending on how you spend upgrade points, which also affect your character build too.

Each weapon also has its own move set, complete with special moves. So, it’s worth the time playing around to find one that best suits your style. Though hardcore genre fans may find the combat system lacks the depth seen elsewhere, especially on the melee front.

One-Dimension Defence

The game also has a one-button defence parry move that does make things a bit easier. It’s more timing-focused with the power to deflect even the most powerful of attacks.

Things get a bit more interesting when the magic system comes into play, which is based on five “phases” or more fittingly the five elements and adds an extra layer of strategy to the combat. As you can use it to block and counter attacks of the opposite phases.

However, most fights boil down to you holding, holding, parrying, and then beating bells out of the enemy. And then repeat. It’s a simple loop when compared to it’s sub-genre mates. But that’s easy to say here; but when you have a hulk of a man swinging a huge club at you, it’s a bit different.

Fateful Path

Levels are also on the linear side of things, where there are a few side paths and shortcuts but most levels see you fighting fodder to get to a boss. Though fighting the chaff is actually worth your time, as you can up your morale system, which makes you more powerful.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty‘s progression is a real numbers game. There are 20 different flag rally points in each level, find them all and you’ll face the boss in your stronger form. But, beware that enemies have the same system and if they are a much higher number than you, they can, and often will, one-shot you.

So, a bit of caution at the beginning of a level is advised till you get your morale number up a bit. The system could be seen as a way of adding longevity. One where you have to hunt down all the flag points to have the best odds in the boss fight.

But it’s more of a carrot on a stick. The game’s flag bonuses tease you to explore the areas rather than just rush to the boss.

Dynasty Restored

As for issues we did spot a few; one being a delay on inputs being read, which is a bit of a killer in more ways than one and the other being; getting bogged down with the games loot/gear system, which throws countless numbers and stats at you for stuff that never feels like it changes gameplay that much.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty moves list weapons

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty delivers a solid Souls-like. One that offers up a new challenge for seasoned players. But beware the game’s early run will smash the heads of newcomers into the deck; especially those who expect an easy time. Think of him as the Iudex Gundyr but meaner.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty a bit linear and that first-boss difficulty spike will see more uninstalls than continues. But, grit your teeth and put your big-boy pants on and there is a cracking Souls-like here.