Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja’s next big game is finally here, and it should come as no surprise that it’s a challenging one!

- Mike Crewe

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a souls-like through and through, and anyone that has played some of Team Ninja’s previous titles will know they excel in crafting brutally unforgiving videogames. But does this action RPG breathe new life into the genre, or is it best left fallen to the wayside?

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is set in 184 AD, and the once prosperous Han Dynasty is on the brink of collapse. The game begins with an army known as the Yellow Turbans attacking a small village, when your created character suffers a fatal blow trying to fend off the soldiers. After quickly being resurrected by a mysterious young man who accompanies you through the ruins of the once idyllic mountain village, the nameless hero sets out to rid the land of both demons and the Yellow Turban army set on overthrowing those in power.

That’s about the long and short of the narrative. It’s not too in-depth, and I never found myself wanting to find out what happened next. You’ll meet many characters throughout your journey, some are out for your blood, whilst others will temporarily join forces with you to assist you through a level. I never cared about any of these characters, and mainly used them to hide behind when things got rough. There are bits of lore surrounding each character that unlock as you progress, and it’s worth taking the time to read these short pieces if you want to understand more about what exactly is going on.