Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty - The Complete Edition Review on Xbox

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty - The Complete Edition is a new dark fantasy Three Kingdoms action RPG from Team NINJA, the developers of Nioh.

The premise is you take on the role of a nameless militia soldier fighting for survival in a dark fantasy version of the Later Han Dynasty where demons plague the Three Kingdoms. You fight off deadly creatures and enemy soldiers using swordplay based on the Chinese martial arts, attempting to overcome the odds by awakening the true power from within.

The game boasts various play styles with Weapons and Wizardry Spells, 3 player co-op with real or NPC’s, varied environments, engaging story and a boost moral system. The complete edition also includes, new endgame content and all 3 dlc’s and a collection of collaborative DLC content, featuring equipment and stages from collaborations with Nioh 2, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, and Lies of P.

Accessibility

With regards to accessibility, there is no difficulty option, but instead opts for options like automatic dash, enemy targeting etc. Button re-mapping isn’t available, but it does have quite a few controller layout options. Subtitle size adjustment are available, and also options to allow for confirmation regarding purchasing, selling and upgrading equipment. Visual options for the map are available, but sound options are limited, so should you have sound issues, this game would not be for you.

Gameplay

You maybe forgiven thinking, wait wasn’t this game out last year and it was. Like others, i found myself absolutely engaged with it when It was first released and being that it was on Gamepass at launch, I and fellow gamer spent a numerous amount of time completing it. Now in this review I wont spend too much time treading over the intricacies of the game, as I’m assuming most out there will already be familiar with what Wo Long is all about. But if you are new to it, I shall be giving you the basics, but with more emphasis on what’s been improved and added since its launch. This hopefully will give you the best indication of the complete edition, if you don’t own it already, is right for you. 

For those familiar with Team Ninja’s own unique version of dark souls meets feudal Japan creation of Nioh, your be well versed in how punishing it can be. Wo long is no different regardless of its new setting and rewards those that perfect the art of battle, than just widely swinging at your enemy, hoping to power through. Many gamers were frustrated with the games first boss, a commander named Zhang Liang who’s sole purpose is to teach you, perfect parrying infused with magical spells and well times dodges. However for those that managed this, soon realised this was mere trifle when compared to the games fourth boss Lu Bu, whose punishing close quarters and equally punishing long distance attacks, had players almost rage quitting. And this is mostly down to the unique parry mechanics, unlike other games. Here you need to hold down the parry button at the right moment, not tap it.

If you want to know what Wo Longs gameplay is all about, it’s all about perfecting your patience and parrying. You start off within the games pretty robust character creation area, that allows for a vast number of tweaks and customizations of the gamers avatar. From there you are then thrown straight into games first level which teaches you the basic combat techniques alongside the games boast moral system. This determines the damage a player receives from enemies and you start each mission with a morale rank of zero. 

The rank then is gradually increased by defeating enemies and using the various attack options at your disposal alongside raising flags, which also boost it. What makes it unique, is that enemies each have their own morale rank, which is a great visual reference to help you easily work out what enemies threats are manageable at you current rank. Your morale will continue to rise the more enemies you defeat, however should you die, your morale will revert back to your current fortitude rank.

Fortitude ranks are based on battle flags being raised, and these also serve as a place to rest up, refill your dragon cure pots (estus flasks), upgrade yourself and weapons and call in reinforcements, either with NPC’s or online players with up to 3 at any one time. For NPC reinforcements, they can provide the player with extra stat buffs when selected, and the more you play with them, the higher they level up and better they fight.

Missions are a collection of main and sub battlegrounds, with you needing to compete a main mission first before the game opens up with alternative choices. These side missions often flesh out the characters within them and do a good job of providing you extra loot. You can travel to these from any battle flag you raise or your home hub.

As you progress, you will unlock a small village which will become your home hub, here you will find all your previous NPC encounters who will give more tasks and your own blacksmith. The blacksmith will be your main focal point to upgrade equipment, by allowing embedding new attributes into items. Alongside salvaging items, selling them or even buying new extra items, and allowing you to decorate your item, so it mimics another item while retaining its attributes. There is a plethora of weapons available, each with their own unique attacks and attributes. The extra DLC not only expand this further but also have collaborations with other games to ensure even more variety!

Besides the standard basic attacks and deflecting which is essential to your gameplay, you have you also have spirit attacks, martial arts, fatal strikes, and wizardry spells. Deflecting is paramount and deflecting boss critical attacks shown by a flashing red icon, will allow you to counter with some serious damage! Attacking and deflecting helps build up your spirit gauge which with enough will allow you to launch a spirit attack, wizardry spell, or a weapon’s martial art skill. Spirit attacks are buffed attacks that do more damage and reduce the enemies spirit gauge allowing them to be stunned ready for a one hit kill fatal strike.

Martial arts are special weapon abilities each has that can cause massive damage. Wizardry spells are based around the five elements which as you progress, you can level up, and can provide some impressive visually attacks such as lightening strikes to poison clouds. This isn’t just attacks thought there is some equally impressive defence skills like a bog that gives health regeneration per second within. 

Combining these will keep anyone busy in creating some truly damaging builds! DLC provides another 35 unique spells to gain, but unlike the main game, here you will need to farm these against foes and beasts, for a Tomb drop, allowing you then to utilise it. Also to accommodate the new wizardry spells, instead of 4 being available when playing, this has been increased to 8.

Finally is divine beasts, and these come from defeating a boss and taking it for your own use. They are battle tide turners and charge up as you attack, defend and kill. There are two ways to unleash a divine beast: using their one off special attack for an instant damage on your target, or use their strength to obtain various boosts for your character for a limited period. All Divine Beasts provide 3 different passives as soon as they are acquired, but can be upgraded to 4 by completing a certain mission unique to each Divine Beast. The DLC again provides another 3 divine beasts for the players to attain. 

Besides these extra elements, there is also a new system added that allows powerful effects to be activated during battle, when certain requirements to use it are met. End-game content called The ‘’Thousand-Mile Journey" as also been added, which allows players to advance further than levels 101-1000. Players choose a route for the battlefield they wish to challenge and head out on a long journey and gain rewards that can only be obtained in this mode.

Graphics

When I first played the game, it was already showing some amazing visuals and particle effects. However, since going back to it, I can say the games visuals have been further upgraded. From denser environmental modelling to improved visual lighting, I was surprised how things have changed for the better. Areas truly look visually stunning and whilst the particle affects can be abit too much sometimes, I was always pleased how games style shone. Playing on quality mode, I saw no tearing or slowdown in single player, but did see the odd enemy glitch when I was playing co-op.

Wo Long already had an huge variety of enemies, each with their own fighting styles and patterns to engage with. They range from soldiers, zombies, flying corrupted birds, mythological water creatures, to large animals, like cats and gorillas. Each area will sport a new type of enemy along with updated or tougher versions of older enemies for you to be wary of. The DLC only then further increases this with even more corrupted monstrosities, that now include plant based life and cretaceous.

However it’s the games boss battles which come in all shapes and sizes and visual uniqueness, that will captivate you the most. Each has a distinct learning curve with their patterns, that you will need to hone down before you can obtain a victory. Battle flags are normally placed near boss battles, allowing you to tackle the fight continuously, without starting the level again.

Whilst challenging, there are a variety of ways in which you can obtain help, as mentioned previously, you can recruiting online strangers, team up with a friend, or calling on NPC reinforcements. Whilst recruiting friends is no issue for the main game, please note this doesn’t work DLC and will require both parties to have purchased the extra content in abid to join.

Weapon designs are equally varied from polearms, swords, hammers, crossbows, sabres, glaives and again the DLC only increases on this further. Being able to decorate weapons and gear to visually suit your favourite weapon, is a superb touch and allows even more flexibility for the gamer.

The level missions are huge sprawling maze like areas which loop about and can be skipped over entirely depending on the shortcuts you uncover. Despite being large, the multi-tiered level design provides a good indication of where to go next, but also ensure things are hidden if you don’t fully explore. 

Most players will find themselves going off the main path to try and track down hidden treasures, difficult optional encounters, and elevated attack points for the more difficult of enemies. The DLC levels expand not only on the variety of environments but the how you engage with them. A good example is the boat level at the start of the second DLC, where fire arrows constantly rain down upon you, as you dart your way across damages boats to the shoreline.

Sound

The music is has been designed to ensure the Chinese aesthetics takes sole precedent with soft flute and choir like tones engaging you as you make your way through the game. These only then ramp up to full blown orchestral songs when boss battles take places, but still manage to elevate your senses as you take on a difficult foe.

Sound effects is what really sells the game, from its variety of weapons, to wizardry spells and divine beasts, all shining in the weightiness and reverence. Voice work is also equally impressive for the English version as it doesn’t sound dubbed and presents itself as if the game was designed solely with the English speaking gamers in mind.

My recommendation here, is a good quality headset to listen to the strikes of your weapons, going through the heart of your enemies.

Verdict

This leads me onto the rating of the game:-
Now I rate games in order of, avoid, on sale, great purchase and must own. My rating for Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty - The Complete Edition is a "Great Purchase’’.

Going back to the game after I completed it prior to its DLC releases, I was shocked how improved this game is, both visually and quality of life improvements. The fun factor jumped back on me from my previous engagement and sitting down with a friend, both of us appreciated the work that has gone into this since its launch.

The game is currently priced on Xbox at £54.99 or approx. $60 and depending on skill and patience would give you over 50+ hours worth of gameplay. Combining this with the extra dlc’s, weapons, end-game modes and increased level cap, you could easily push this to over 100+hours. The base game is also on Xbox Gamepass, should you wish to try this for free, which I recommend you should.

If you have never played Wo Long, and want to experience a different type of souls like, this would be for you. The Complete edition is not only good value for money with the extra content, but actually a good indicator of the season pass being a worth wild investment, if you already own the base game.