That particular monster will gain that Morale boost, making it harder to take down. However, if you die, then you lose a portion of your Morale, and the only way to get it back is to kill the monster that killed you. Image used with permission by copyright holder A higher Morale Ranking results in enemies dropping better loot, increasing your damage, and giving you access to more powerful magic spells. As you make your way through and kill enemies, Morale increases. As you enter new areas, your Morale ranking starts at 0. That’s especially apparent in its Morale Rank system. While that’s a boilerplate explanation that could be applied to most Souls games, Wo Long does differentiate itself in a number of ways. There’s an overwhelming sense of satisfaction when you finally take them down. Players will surely die dozens of times, but like any Souls game, it’s all about learning a boss’s particular attack patterns and understanding how to deal with them. It’s an action RPG where players traverse different areas, fight enemies along the way, and eventually reach a brutally difficult boss fight at the end of each level. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty‘s core gameplay loop will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the genre. With the studio’s historical expertise guiding the journey, Wo Long engages with hits historical subject matter in a meaningful way that sets it apart from other Soulslike games. The studio is widely known for its hack-and-slash Dynasty Warriors franchise, which is based entirely on the Three Kingdoms period of China. This also isn’t Koei Tecmo’s first foray into Chinese mythology. The game’s story, characters, enemies, and lore all take inspiration from China’s rich history. Wo Long’s Chinese setting isn’t a simple backdrop or skin that goes over the typical Dark Souls formula. They include a giant tusked creature reminiscent of Horizon Forbidden West’s Tremortusk and a voluptuous snake lady based on the Chinese mother goddess, Nuwa. The game’s creatures and bosses are based on Chinese mythology, and the development team took those ideas to create some wildly memorable designs, especially for bosses. There’s a huge diversity of different monsters to fight, from huge, ferocious tigers to imposing ogres. It’s a little touch that helps Team Ninja stay true to its setting. In particular, I appreciate the English dub as the voice actors correctly pronounce the characters’ Chinese names with their appropriate tones. It’s aslo heartening to see the other options handled with a bit of sensitivity as well. Wo Long features Japanese and English voice-over options, but the Chinese dub gives the game an added layer of authenticity that immersed me in the setting more naturally. All of the main characters and warlords interact with each other, creating a real sense of camaraderie between them on a high-stakes journey. Unlike the cryptic storytelling of Dark Souls and Elden Ring, the dialogue in Wo Long is much more straightforward, and as a result, it’s easy to follow what’s happening. Taking some creative liberties with Chinese history, Team Ninja infuses the time period’s political backdrop with magic and demons. It’s a fun approach to historical fiction - similar to Like a Dragon: Ishin! - featuring characters inspired by real-life figures such as Chinese military warlords Cao Cao and Sun Jian. The player character is a militia member who becomes entangled with the Taoist’s plans and has to put an end to his rampage by fighting demons and monsters along the way. A mysterious, but evil Taoist will stop at nothing to create the most potent Elixer to become immortal. A substance called Elixer has been sought by the rulers throughout the land because it is said to grant eternal life. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty takes place in China during the Later Han Dynasty. Though it may not revolutionize the genre and comes with its own technical frustrations, it’s clear that Team Ninja gets what makes a great Soulslike and isn’t just copying another studio’s homework. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty has all of the hallmarks of the genre, with a blistering difficulty curve and rewarding combat. Wo Long gives the studio a chance to hone its craft further, sharpening its approach to a genre that’s dominated by one big boss. Considering that it’s one of the more well-received non-FromSoftware Soulslikes, it makes sense that Team Ninja would want to continue down that well. That trend took a notable turn in 2017 when Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja released Nioh, a Soulslike game that followed Irish sailor William Adams, who was inspired by the real-life figure.
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