Saying “this is the run” makes me excited for a Soulslike game. I got to play WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers at Summer Game Fest Play Days. It kicked my ass. I visited the booth periodically to see if there was an open slot to do a few more attempts at the boss I was stuck on. We’re a few weeks away from it releasing on Thursday, July 24th, so I’ll finally get to have my revenge.
I was already a massive fan of 505 Games – I love Control, Terraria, and the Eiyuden Chronicle series. I could go on and on about their catalog, but it’s safe to say that when I heard they were putting out a Soulslike game, I knew it’d be worth a look. I’m by no means an expert Soulsborne player, but I love the genre. Since my time was limited, I was given the reader’s digest of the story for WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers. My goals were to get a feel for the combat, controls, and take a crack at as many bosses as I could.
The Feathering sounds gnarly
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers has you play as Bai Wuchang, a pirate warrior in the Ming Dynasty. She’s afflicted by a condition known as the Feathering. This is causing her to sprout either avian or angelic feathers. It reminded me of the Petrification Disease from Lies of P. She has amnesia, and there are all sorts of monsters about. I assume they’re what happens when the Feathering completely takes someone over. The boss I fought was fairly human, but the later ones will likely become progressively more grotesque-looking.
I love the horror aspect of Soulslike games, so I was sold. It also helped that the demo was gorgeous. I raced through mountain paths and temples, dodging enemies, while I frantically searched for the boss arena.
A Welcome Twist on the Genre
The combat was fluid. I liked that you have a two-weapon loadout and you’re able to switch between the weapons mid-combo. That stood out immediately compared to other Soulslike games. My loadout for the boss was a sword and a heavy axe.
I don’t know if the game will introduce parry mechanics as you progress further, but the demo emphasized perfect dodges. Dodges would fill up a meter to allow you to either cast spells or use your skills. The hallmark of this genre is that you’re going to die. A LOT. Wuchang added an interesting mechanic where each death will increase your attack power at the expense of your defense. The First Berserker: Khazan and Bloodborne are my favorite games in the genre, and WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers feels like it’ll also reward playing very aggressively.
Instead of the traditional, find a bonfire or save point to level up your stats, there was a skill tree that would allow you to unlock new skills and powers. Each unlock also gave a stat boost. Since time was of the essence, I only gave it a quick skim, but it looked to be pretty in-depth. It made me curious to see what the character’s build will look like when the game releases.
The Boss Fights Are Going to Be Highlights
The 505 Games crew mentioned that they had three bosses for the demo. Roughly one person per day managed to vanquish all three. I managed to get through the regular enemies and a mini-boss without much issue. The first boss was challenging but a lot of fun. There were two phases, and it reminded me of the Rellana, Twin Moon Knight fight from Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. It’s hard to cover this genre without drawing comparisons to other games, but that’s one of my favorite fights, so this is high praise.
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is available on July 24th, 2025. It’s coming out on PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and PC (Steam, EPIC, and Win Store). You can pre-order it now at the official website.
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