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.

Wo long fallen dynasty magic