WuChang: Fallen Feathers Review (PS5, Xbox Series X/S & PC)

At first glance, WuChang: Fallen Feathers looks like another Soulslike RPG trying to cash in on a familiar formula. But after about 50 hours, it becomes clear that this one’s doing more than just copying its predecessors. It’s cryptic and often confusing but also captivating, stylish, and surprisingly fun. 

You play as WuChang, a warrior cursed by a strange feathered disease. Her journey takes you through a plague-ridden world packed with deadly enemies, strange gods, and hidden secrets. The combat is fast and brutal, and that’s exactly what makes it so exciting. Every fight keeps players on their toes, and learning the rhythm between attack and dodge feels incredibly satisfying. Now, let’s jump into the details and break down what makes WuChang: Fallen Feathers worth your time.

A Pirate With No Past

In this action RPG, you wake up as Bai WuChang. She is a pirate warrior with no memory, a creepy feathered arm, and a disease called “feathering” that’s turning people into monsters. Classic case of amnesia, sure, but the twist here is that the world knows exactly who you are, even if you don’t.

Feathering is more than just a cool power-up. It’s spreading across the land like a curse, twisting people into these horrifying feathered beasts. From the very first steps, you can feel it: something’s deeply wrong in this place, and it’s not getting better anytime soon. But what makes it really work is how the story is told. This isn’t a game that spoon-feeds you lore with long cutscenes or dialogue trees. Instead, players pick up scraps of info from weird NPCs, old letters, and item descriptions. 

At first, none of it makes sense, but then it starts to click. Maybe that sword you found used to belong to a fallen hero. Perhaps that old woman you helped has ties to one of the endings. It’s the kind of storytelling that doesn’t tell you what’s happening. Instead, you discover it yourself. The more you dig, the more the world opens up. 

Feathers and Fury

Combat in WuChang: Fallen Feathers is fast and intense. If you’ve played Bloodborne, you’ll feel right at home, only this time, it’s mixed with a splash of martial arts style. Dodging is quick, hits land with real weight, and even regular enemies can ruin your day if you get sloppy. You can’t zone out. You’ve got to stay locked in.

What makes it stand out is the feather system. As you fight, WuChang builds up, and you can spend these on flashy special moves. Some feel like magical attacks. Others look like ancient martial arts finishers. Either way, they hit hard and look awesome. It pushes players to stay aggressive and rewards good timing.

You’ve got five main weapon types: swords, daggers, axes, spears, and one-handers. Each has a few unique weapons, but not a huge selection overall. The long sword with the extendable blade is a standout; it’s strong, has great reach, and feels amazing to use. Once you start upgrading weapons, even the weaker ones become fun to experiment with.

If you’re hoping for wild builds like in other Soulslike action games, this one plays it safe. There’s a skill tree, and you can lean into certain playstyles, maybe faster moves, stronger hits, or better feather skills. Notably, you’re not going to turn WuChang into a spellcaster or a heavy tank. It’s all about melee. Ultimately, the combat has a solid rhythm, and when everything clicks, dodging, landing combos, and unleashing a feather finisher feels amazing.

One-on-One Duels With the Bosses

Boss fights are the heart of any Soulslike, and WuChang: Fallen Feathers doesn’t disappoint, especially when it’s just you and another sword-wielding enemy in a tight duel. These one-on-one fights are where the game really shines. They’re fast, intense, and packed with adrenaline. Timing your dodge perfectly, landing a clean hit, and staggering the enemy, it just feels amazing every time.

However, not every boss hits that same level. Some of the bigger, monster-style bosses aren’t as strong. A few have clunky animations or weird hitboxes that make them feel more frustrating than fun. And if you hate being knocked down and hit again before you can get up, WuChang does that a lot. Some fights rely a bit too much on roll-catch combos that can be frustrating, especially when the boss spams them.

Even so, there’s a good variety overall. Some bosses are forgettable, sure, but others are so well designed you’ll want to fight them again just for the fun of it. The best ones really push you to learn their patterns and improve your timing. And here’s something cool: not all the best bosses are on the main path. Some of the most rewarding and challenging fights are hidden in secret areas. You have to go out of your way to find them, but when you do, it’s totally worth it. These hidden duels often have better pacing, better arenas, and more creative designs.

All in all, WuChang’s bosses deliver where it counts. When it sticks to fast-paced duels, it’s easily becoming one of the best in the genre. And even the less polished fights don’t drag the experience down too much, and that is a good thing.

Looks Great, But Not All the Time

WuChang: Fallen Feathers has some serious visual highs and a few rough lows. There are moments where the game just nails it. With mist rolling through a broken temple, lanterns glowing in the dark, and feathers floating through the air, it’s creepy and, honestly, pretty stunning. But then, you’ll walk into the next zone, and it looks unfinished. Some textures are flat, lighting gets weird, and shadows can look muddy and awkward. It’s a little all over the place. One minute it feels like a next-gen game, the next it looks more like something from a few years ago.

Performance-wise, it runs mostly smoothly on PS5. You’ll get 60 frames per second most of the time, with only a few dips here and there when loading into new areas. No major crashes or game-breaking bugs so far, which is great. But the menus? That’s a different story.

Some important systems, like upgrading your healing flask or applying buffs, aren’t explained well. You can miss them completely if you’re not digging through the menus or reading every little note. A simple tutorial or icon prompt would’ve helped a lot. 

Sound design is fine. Weapon hits feel heavy, enemy growls echo in spooky ways, and the world feels alive, in a haunted kind of way. Furthermore, voice acting is hit or miss; some characters deliver their lines with real emotion, while others sound like they’re just reading from a script. As for the story, don’t expect flashy cutscenes. Most of the lore is tucked away in item descriptions or dropped through strange NPC dialogue. It takes effort to piece it all together.

Shortcuts and Secrets

Now, this is where WuChang: Fallen Feathers truly shines, just walking around and getting lost in its world. Exploration feels rewarding. Every corner hides something: a hidden boss, a weird NPC, a shrine that reacts when you do the right gesture. It never feels like you’re just running through empty space. If you pay attention and poke around, the game really opens up.

That classic Soulslike moment, where you unlock a shortcut and realize you’ve looped back to an earlier area, is here, and it’s satisfying. Each zone has its own mood and surprises, and the game does a great job of encouraging players to explore off the main path.

When it comes to style, WuChang lets players change their armor’s look without giving up its stats. That means you can look cool and stay strong. It’s a small touch, but it makes a difference, especially for players who want their character to feel unique. There’s even more reason to explore when you realize your choices can affect how this action RPG ends. There are multiple endings, depending on what players do and whom they help. So if you’re into replaying games or digging into every detail, this one has you covered.

Verdict

So, is it worth playing? Absolutely. Of course, WuChang: Fallen Feathers doesn’t change the Soulslike formula, but it adds just enough of its own style to stand out. The setting is cool, the combat feels great, and the upgrade system gives players room to try different things.

It’s dark and mysterious, but not overwhelming. If you already enjoy Soulslike action RPGs, this one’s an easy recommendation. And even if you’re new to the genre, it’s a pretty good place to jump in. The game gives players chances to adjust their build and try new things without starting over. Of course, there are some rough spots. A few bosses feel off, and some animations look a little stiff. But the overall experience still shines. Ultimately, WuChang does it well enough to be worth your time.