[PlayStation 5] Review of WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers

Sure, here’s a rewired version of that article:

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You ever find yourself lost in a game world, like, really lost? That’s kinda what happens in WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers. So, picture this: you’re in the late Ming Dynasty, in a place called Shu. Or at least, some alternate version of it. It’s all mysterious and eerie and makes you feel a bit like you’ve stumbled into a fever dream. I didn’t even know I had an interest in the Ming Dynasty until I was smack dab in the middle of this game. Go figure.

Anyway, you’re Bai Wuchang, a lady pirate with amnesia – yeah, classic, right? – and you’ve got this crazy Feathering disease. Everyone who gets it goes bonkers or turns into terrifying beasts. Sounds fun, huh? There’s something strangely captivating about a world where everyone might suddenly change into something else entirely.

Controls are pretty standard if you’ve been around Soulslike block a few times. Left stick, right stick, you know the drill. The Circle button lets you dodge, and trust me, you’ll be dodging a lot unless you enjoy getting your digital face restructured by creepy monsters.

Oh, and the game’s got voice acting. Actual people talking to you, which I always appreciate, though I sometimes wonder if they’re secretly judging me as I, once again, run face-first into oblivion.

Moving along, the D-Pad’s your friend here, letting you switch through all sorts of gear. Gotta love a good D-Pad. Anyway — wait, nope, what was I saying? Oh yes, weapons! There’s swords, axes, spears – pretty much an armory at your fingertips if you play your cards right.

And then there are the spells. Magic, right? Super cool stuff, but you gotta watch your Skyborn Might – whatever that means. I was supposed to keep track of how much I had, but then something shiny and deadly usually distracted me. You get the idea.

Stuff drops when you defeat enemies. If you’re like me and forget to pick it up sometimes, no worries, it ends up in this Donation Box thing. Honestly, it’s like a mystical lost and found.

Red Mercury is a big deal for leveling up and buying new stuff. Don’t ask me what it really is – sounds like a space-age supplement, right? Not that I’d drink it. You upgrade stats like vitality, which means more health, and all those other things that make you, well, better. Grab all the Red Mercury and turn it into something called Red Mercury Essence, then go wild unlocking nodes. Because why not?

There’s also Madness! Kind of like how I felt halfway through last night’s gaming session – and no, I’m not talking about losing sanity, but in-game Madness that ties into your death loop. Die at max Madness and a demon appears. Fight it to get back your precious Red Mercury, assuming you don’t get distracted fighting something else.

Trophies. Gotta mention those. The game has a full list, and yes, there’s a Platinum trophy if you’re the completionist type. Involves collecting stuff, beating bosses, unlocking endings – the usual suspects for trophy hunting.

Last bit, and I promise I’m almost done – just gotta mention graphics. You can tweak them if your setup is fancy. There’s motion blur, HDR, whatever those mean. I tweak it until it looks pretty, then stop touching it before something explodes.

So, you in? Out tomorrow on PS5 for $49.99, or $59.99 for the whole shebang, extra costumes, the works. I’m probably going to grab it. Or maybe I won’t. Can’t decide. Anyway, really need some sleep.

Disclaimer: Yeah, they gave me a PlayStation 5 copy to check it out. Lucky me, right?