
In right now’s gaming local weather, releasing a free demo is emblematic of a developer’s utmost confidence — much more so on PC, a platform that has constantly obtained the brief finish of the stick by way of optimisation. Workforce Ninja’s newest, Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty, exhibits some promise — a theatrical dark-fantasy getaway that looks like a lovechild born of Nioh and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The brief demo provides us a peek into its China-set lore, its flashy fight, and showcases new options that ease your journey within the intimidating Souls-like title. Nevertheless, for a recreation that is merely days away from launch, it additionally exposes some microstutters and a significant concern with keyboard and mouse controls.
Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty Demo impressions: PC controls and digital camera
As a Koei Tecmo-published title, management points on PC had been considerably anticipated, however I commend Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s format for being far easier than these of the Nioh sequence of video games, from which it feels descended. Keyboard + mouse button prompts may be enabled, which is a significant step up from 2021’s Nioh 2 PC port, which solely confirmed controller button icons it doesn’t matter what scheme you used. Positive, this was mounted in a patch, however till that occurred, gamers had been compelled to spend time acquainting themselves with the mapping.
Digicam controls within the Wo Long demo additionally aren’t as much as par, and fail to reply properly when utilizing a mouse. Even after maxing the in-game sensitivity setting, I could not shake the sensation of transferring via sludge, because the digital camera would decelerate at factors after which a sudden jerk would flip it round. This was pretty frequent with vertical motion and when operating across the map. Switching to a DualSense controller made the expertise easy and snappy. As somebody who has performed each Souls-like on a KB+M setup, the swap wasn’t straightforward, so I always swapped between high and low mouse DPI settings primarily based on the state of affairs. Fortunately, this did not pose an enormous drawback throughout fight, as I might merely lock on to enemies.
Elden Ring’s First Major Expansion ‘Shadow of the Erdtree’ Announced: All Details
Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty Demo impressions: Premise and character creation
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty throws you right into a fictionalised model of the later Han Dynasty in China, plagued with demonic forces. In the meantime, a mysterious Taoist in Black clings to the best of the Elixir — a uncommon substance that seemingly grants immortality. Amidst the insanity and everlasting bloodshed of the instances, a hero rises, who we construct within the character creation display screen. I might counsel going all-out with the customisation right here since free demo progress carries over to the total recreation. You would possibly as properly save your self a while after launch. The creation choices right here, whereas in-depth, are refined, so any main adjustments to your character’s look will not be evident except you drag a slider to its excessive ends. In contrast to Dark Souls, you’ll be able to’t actually fiddle with loopy pores and skin color to create a pasty inexperienced Grinch or a blue Smurf, both. Essentially the most you will get is a light-weight olive tone.
After deciding on a base determine — male or feminine — you’ll be able to fiddle with their facial construction, coiffure, and make-up; even together with some dashing scars. Every eye may be edited to look a definite color, with changes to pupil dimensions and shapes. You’ll be able to even stretch ears to resemble these of an elf. Choose an excellent physique, embellish your physique with tattoos, add an elongated neck for impact — these are simply a few of your choices. None of this has any impact in your stats, although.
There is a restrict to how absurdly artistic you will get along with your characters
Picture Credit score: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar
You begin out as a anonymous soldier combating the Yellow Turban Revolt and finally develop right into a legend. Should you’re brief on time, decide a mannequin from the quite a few character templates, considered one of whom is a spitting picture of William Adams, the protagonist from Nioh. Cool easter egg!
Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty Demo impressions: Gameplay and fight
The most recent free demo consists of two key Chapters, the primary of which locations you in a village engulfed in flames with sparks flying about. The framerate is slightly tough and uneven right here, partly due to smoke and particle results, although these remained constant even in fight, in my expertise. Enabling V-sync and movement blur barely had an impact on efficiency, which was disappointing. Issues received smoother within the boss space and past, however I can see this opening section leaving a foul impression on many individuals. The second space ran close to buttery easy at a constant 60fps, however with minor hiccups.
Sekiro veterans will really feel proper at residence right here, as Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty’s gameplay depends on completely timed parries. You’ll be able to attempt evading or blocking enemy assaults, however that can lead result in needlessly lengthy and drawn-out fights. Foes are smarter right here, so they’ll keep en garde so long as you retain spamming assaults. And so, you stay affected person. You wait till the final second — after they’re nearly to hit you — after which rapidly deflect the assault, throwing them off steadiness to get a few strikes in. Repeat the method as soon as the enemy reassumes their defensive stance, and you’ve got mainly mastered the core gameplay loop. Nevertheless, depleting their well being bars is not the one option to obtain victory.
‘Hesitation is defeat,’ a quote from Sekiro, suits completely within the context of Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty’s fight
Picture Credit score: Koei Tecmo
“Hesitation is defeat” is a quote from Sekiro that matches completely on this context. You see, the sport has a Spirit Gauge that fills up as you efficiently land hits or deflect incoming ones, granting you the power to make use of martial arts, Spirit (heavy) assaults, and Wizardry Spells. The one manner to make sure that its degree stays up is to play aggressively, however beware, as getting hit by an enemy not solely reduces your Spirit, however your well being too. That stated, it really works the identical manner with baddies, so you may unload a barrage of assaults till their Spirit Gauges are drained, basically staggering them and leaving them open to a deadly blow. It is the identical posture bar mechanic that Sekiro has, the place your adversaries can have 100% well being, however when you break their stance, it is GGs.
There is a steep studying curve to this fight model, particularly when combating demons with flailing movesets. However as soon as it clicks, you realise that each struggle is a dance, with the metallic clang of weapons serving as beats. There’s a particular rhythm to it that it’s essential discover.
The boss Zhang Liang has a terrifying second section the place he grows a flailing demonic arm
Picture Credit score: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar
Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty Demo Impressions: Exploration and looting
In comparison with the Nioh video games, exploration is extra open, with a deal with verticality. You’ll be able to bounce onto huts to find a gap within the roof that leads inside or seek for loot elsewhere on this planet. Who is aware of? You would possibly come throughout useful shortcuts alongside the best way. Should you’re fortunate sufficient, you’ll be able to purchase higher weapons, every catering to a special playstyle. The Polearm Podao that I discovered early within the recreation helped create a ways between myself and foes, while dealing swift piercing injury. Alternatively, the Nice Membership of Polaris, which I earned by defeating the primary boss, Zhang Liang, dealt excessive injury numbers however was too heavy and gradual for my liking. When you can beat the sport with a single weapon, switching them primarily based on enemy assault patterns is the best option to go. Moreover, if combating a gaggle head-on feels scary, merely whip out your bow and arrow, and shoot them from afar — one after the other.
Weapons cater to totally different playstyles and scale with particular attributes
Picture Credit score: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar
Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty Demo Impressions: Morale system
Issue in Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty ties right into a Morale system, which is indicated by a floating quantity above every enemy’s head, serving to you gauge whether or not it is secure to interact them in fight or not. Consider it as a secondary levelling, so the upper your Morale rank, the stronger you’re. Nevertheless, for those who die to an opponent, you lose the XP you collected all through your run, and your Morale resets. Loss of life leads to the enemy stealing your Morale, and the one option to get it again is to kill the being who beat you final time — solely now, they’re manner stronger. Nonetheless, it is nothing just a few completely timed deflects cannot resolve.
A few of this resetting may be mitigated by way of Fortitude, which may be raised by putting flags at designated posts, stopping your Morale from ever dropping to absolute zero. As an example, for those who collected 8 Fortitude, regardless of what number of instances you die, your Morale won’t fall beneath 8. This ensures you have got a greater probability at redemption. The free Wo Lengthy demo additionally features a quality-of-life indicator within the top-right nook — a radar of kinds and icons that denote any remaining flagposts you’ll be able to accumulate.
Morale is indicated by a floating quantity above the enemy’s heads
Picture Credit score: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar
Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty Demo impressions: Levelling
Flagposts additionally function checkpoints — or bonfires, as they’re known as in Darkish Souls — for levelling up your character and resetting illnesses. These are divided into 5 phases or virtues. Wooden impacts your HP, Fireplace determines Spirit build-up when attacking, and Earth signifies your gear weight restrict. The Steel attribute lessens Spirit consumption when casting spells, and Water helps with stealth. Within the early levels of this recreation, Wooden would possibly appear to be the only option, however when you grasp the artwork of deflection, you will realise how way more potent the opposite phases are. A few of these assist with weapon scaling, granting bonus injury relying on what armament you are wielding. Moreover, these posts additionally allow you to fast-travel to different checkpoints, summon AI or gamers on-line for co-op, and even be taught Wizardry Spells.
You’ll be able to degree up your character at Flagposts
Picture Credit score: Screenshot/ Rahul Chettiyar
Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty Demo impressions: Wizardry Spells
All spells within the Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty demo align straight with the 5 aforementioned parts. Fireplace is extra offence-based, letting you hurl fireballs, summon pillars of flame, or imbue weapons with momentary buffs. Alternatively, choosing water-based magic can briefly flip you invisible, ship out a blinding fog, teleport you brief distances, and even allow you to throw sharp icicles that freeze and decelerate enemies. Poison or curse purists can dump their factors into the Steel class, whereas lighting assaults and the power to heal your self align with Wooden. There’s loads to experiment with right here.
You’ll be able to solely maintain 4 Wizardry Spells at a time, which I personally assume is ample. On keyboard, they’re assigned to the 1–4 quantity keys for fast entry — no unnecessarily lengthy combos. My solely gripe with spells is the casting time, which could possibly be diminished. You may as well summon Divine Beasts to return in and deal harmful injury, if you’re in a pickle.
By studying Wizardry Spells, you’ll be able to summon bolts of lightning to rain down on enemies
Picture Credit score: Koei Tecmo
Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty Demo impressions: Closing ideas
The PC demo for Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty, very similar to different Koei Tecmo releases, actually has points with optimisation and keyboard + mouse controls. Nevertheless, when you look previous that, it affords a hard-to-master but rewarding fight system, versatile exploration in an in any other case linear world, and instruments to ease your playthrough. As an extension of the punishingly tough Nioh video games, the studio is clearly catering to a bigger viewers with its newest launch, and this free demo serves as a terrific showcase to see if it fits you. Beneath all of the mythology-inspired visible glamour, I think the narrative will contain some well-worn tropes, however as a online game, it exhibits deep promise. Plus, this recreation will likely be out there without spending a dime to Xbox Game Pass members, which is at all times a optimistic!
Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty releases March 3 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Collection S/X. The demo is now out there to obtain without spending a dime throughout all platforms, with progress carrying over to the total launch.
Ending the demo grants entry to a Crouching Dragon Helmet DLC.
Catch the most recent from the Shopper Electronics Present on Devices 360, at our CES 2025 hub.