Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

About

"Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition" is an action RPG set in the dark Three Kingdoms era, featuring the base game and three DLCs: "Battle of Zhongyuan," "Conqueror of Jiangdong," and "Upheaval in Jingxiang." These expansions offer new weapons, scenarios, characters, and Divine Beasts, as well as bonus items like the "Qinglong Armor." Immerse yourself in this intense world of strategic combat and historical lore.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,422 reviews

story358 positive mentions

optimization882 negative mentions

Engaging and fluid combat system that emphasizes parrying and deflecting, making battles feel dynamic and rewarding.
Rich setting based on the Three Kingdoms era, with interesting character designs and a variety of weapons and spells to choose from.
Improved performance and stability in recent patches, making the game more enjoyable for players with decent hardware.

Poor optimization at launch, leading to significant performance issues, crashes, and stuttering, especially on PC.
Lack of enemy variety and repetitive level design, which can make gameplay feel stale over time.
The morale system can be frustrating, as it punishes players for dying and requires exploration to maintain an advantage in combat.

optimization
3,038 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
60%
29%
The optimization of "Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty" has received mixed feedback from players. Many users reported significant performance issues at launch, including stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, particularly on PC. However, subsequent patches have improved performance for some players, allowing for smoother gameplay, especially when using a controller and adjusting settings. Despite these improvements, many still find the game poorly optimized compared to its predecessors, with ongoing issues that can hinder the overall experience.
- “After putting the game into performance mode and capping the framerate to 60 to avoid slowdowns (even while above 60) the game was a relatively smooth experience.”
- “Held off on buying it because of the performance issues the game launched with but after tweaking the graphics I can do 120fps consistently on high settings and the game runs beautifully.”
- “Performance issues have been fixed, but you have to mess with some settings... I'm getting 110 -120 fps in 1440p resolution on a 4070.”
- “It's really not a bad action RPG but doesn't live up to the standard that Nioh 2 set and is really dragged down by some pretty nasty performance issues on the PC.”
- “One of the worst optimized games in the world, this could list in top ten.”
- “The performance is still not good over a year after release.”
story
2,432 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
77%
8%
The story of "Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it disjointed and lacking depth. While fans of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" may appreciate the familiar characters and settings, newcomers often struggle to follow the plot due to insufficient context and abrupt transitions. Overall, the narrative is seen as a weak point in the game, overshadowed by its engaging combat and gameplay mechanics.
- “Getting to play through the same story beats with the same familiar characters is something that hits an unexpected chord for me that has kept me joyfully engaged in the story in a way that people unfamiliar with the three kingdoms tales are likely to experience.”
- “All the story beats are there, with some slight variations, in an only slightly less campy rendition of the story and characters.”
- “The game represents the real story really well with excellent character models and cutscenes and a lot of cool references, but it does not deeply explain it.”
- “The story is complete nonsense unless you are familiar with the three kingdoms.”
- “The story feels meaningless as you never get any real time to be around a single character long enough to care about them but it's not like they have personalities that you would want to be around for long anyway.”
- “The story is very silly and the overworld map needs work - it's not immediately apparent how the map differentiates between missions you've completed and missions you haven't.”
gameplay
2,196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
64%
6%
The gameplay of "Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its fast-paced combat and satisfying parry mechanic, which is reminiscent of "Sekiro." However, some criticize the game for its over-reliance on this mechanic, leading to repetitive combat and a lack of depth compared to "Nioh." Additionally, performance issues and a lack of enemy variety have been noted as detractors from the overall experience, though the game still offers engaging mechanics and a rewarding gameplay loop for those who enjoy mastering its systems.
- “The deflect mechanic is so satisfying.”
- “Wo long's parry mechanic is second to none, easily the greatest implementation of the feature in any game, and your player character is a badass ninja-warrior that beats the crap out of men, monsters, and demons.”
- “The gameplay is refreshing and I wish I could play more, but honestly if you have a mid spec PC you should leave this one on the shelf (like me) until it's had more fixes.”
- “The gameplay just felt lackluster, especially as a huge fan of Nioh 2, so I thought I'd wait for more patches.”
- “The over-reliance on perfect parries, lack of other viable options, and just general feel of the gameplay make it a deep, deep sale purchase if not an outright pass.”
- “The game forces you to rely on the parry mechanic to do any meaningful damage to anything, especially if you do not have morale.”
graphics
1,066 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
72%
9%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the art style and character designs are appealing, the overall visual quality feels dated and lacks polish, often comparing it unfavorably to previous titles like Nioh 2. Performance issues, including stuttering and frame rate drops, are common, particularly on lower-end hardware, and many users have reported that graphical settings do not save properly, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, while some players appreciate the aesthetic and environmental design, the technical execution leaves much to be desired, making it a less visually impressive offering in 2023.
- “Held off on buying it because of the performance issues the game launched with but after tweaking the graphics I can do 120fps consistently on high settings and the game runs beautifully.”
- “The graphics and sound design are top-notch, adding to the overall atmosphere.”
- “The graphics are great and I have not experienced a wuxia style game quite like this before.”
- “However the quality of graphics are quite low on this PC port.”
- “The graphics look a lot older than modern date as well.”
- “The graphics are outdated and it is poorly optimized at the top of it.”
stability
294 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
74%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant improvements post-launch, while others still experience frequent bugs, crashes, and performance issues. Some users have noted that the game runs smoothly on their systems, particularly after patches, while others continue to encounter graphical glitches and stuttering, especially during cutscenes. Overall, it appears that stability varies widely depending on individual hardware and whether players have waited for updates before playing.
- “I have had zero issues with this game after about 40 hours; it runs great.”
- “The game had a rough start on PC but runs great now.”
- “A solid game that runs great and feels good to play!”
- “Tried the game at release and it was very buggy performance/optimization wise.”
- “This game is just a buggy mess it seems.”
- “The game itself isn't bad, but the constant performance issues and graphic glitches make it unplayable at times.”
music
238 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The music in "Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its fitting ambiance and traditional Chinese influences, particularly during boss fights. However, several reviewers noted that the soundtrack lacks memorability and originality, often feeling repetitive and reminiscent of the "Nioh" series. Overall, while the music enhances the game's atmosphere, it does not stand out as exceptional, earning a general rating around 6.5/10.
- “The audio experience in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is truly exceptional, with a soundtrack that rivals even the acclaimed Nioh series.”
- “As a devoted fan of Nioh 2, I must say that the Chinese historic background themes present in Wo Long's music are truly captivating.”
- “Without a doubt, the music is the game's strongest aspect and a testament to the careful attention paid to audio design.”
- “The soundtrack is painfully generic.”
- “The music is nothing to write home about, especially since it reuses songs in every level which was a bit of a letdown.”
- “The game starts off pretty fun while it's novel but it gets stale very fast given how bad the music (also very repetitive, over-reused), story, itemization is.”
grinding
236 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
3%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly in relation to farming for gear and morale. While some appreciate the improvements over previous titles like Nioh, noting that the gear system is less oppressive, others feel that the requirement to grind for specific items and morale can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, players suggest that while grinding is a significant part of the experience, it can often feel like a chore rather than a rewarding challenge.
- “Game flow - there is no grinding needed to clear the game unless you really want to max out/perfect your gears.”
- “The enemies' stamina gauge isn't too tedious to drain in this game.”
- “Farming/grind...if you ever wanted a second job where you do not get paid, then games like this and Nioh are for you.”
- “The morale system while on paper sounds like a fun new twist on the regular combat, in reality turns the game into a farming simulator.”
- “If Nioh grinding was a pain, then grinding in this game is torture; out of so many set varieties, only 2-3 of them create impact.”
replayability
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
60%
18%
"Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty" offers a mixed bag in terms of replayability. While many players appreciate the depth provided by its level design, companion system, and build variety, others find the grind of New Game Plus (NG+) and the repetitive nature of certain modes, like the "Thousand-Mile Journey," detract from long-term engagement. Overall, the game has replay value, particularly for those who enjoy experimenting with builds, but it may not reach the replayability levels of similar titles like "Nioh 2."
- “Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is an action RPG that blends challenging combat with intricate level design, creating a dynamic experience that offers both depth and replayability.”
- “There is plenty of replayability and experimentation with different builds to be had here, and unlike other games, Wo Long allows you to save tons of stat/build loadouts to be swapped on the fly.”
- “Very fun game with lots of replayability in NG+.”
- “If you are looking for another Team Ninja game with a massive amount of end-game replayability, this game falls short of the mark a little, due to the incredible repetitiveness of the thousand-mile journey combined with janky multiplayer support.”
- “Replayability of it all though is where it will drop off heavily with me rating it possibly a 2 or 3 at best.”
- “70 euros for a 20-hour long game that is filled with bugs, crashes, terrible FPS, unplayable multiplayer, with no memorable bosses, bad map design, repetitive basic enemies, no replay value, all weapons and builds feel the same.”
humor
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, stemming from poor voice acting, frustrating bugs, and bizarre gameplay mechanics that lead to laughable moments. Players find themselves chuckling at the game's shortcomings, such as bad netcode and awkward NPC behavior, creating a "B-movie" experience that is both entertaining and frustrating. Overall, while the game has its serious challenges, the comedic elements provide a unique charm that keeps players engaged.
- “The voice acting in English is hilariously bad.”
- “It's a wild and weird experience, definitely fun with a friend, but in like a 'B movie', 'laughing at how bad it is', 'rolling with the punches' kind of way.”
- “Even with the coop lag that sometimes happens, it's hilarious.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The atmosphere of the game is frequently praised for its depth, enhanced by top-notch graphics and exceptional sound design, creating a thick, immersive environment. However, some players feel that despite the strong atmospheric elements, the game lacks emotional engagement and character depth, leading to a disconnect in immersion. Overall, while the atmosphere is a highlight, opinions vary on its effectiveness in enhancing the overall experience.
- “The graphics and sound design are top-notch, adding to the overall atmosphere.”
- “Awesome atmosphere and lore helped by well-crafted cinematics and character design.”
- “The level design is just right in scale and atmosphere, and the enemy design and encounters are some of the best in the business.”
- “It has all the trappings of emotional build-up and investment (the music, the stage revisit after time passed, the atmosphere) but falls embarrassingly flat for obvious reasons that I can't believe they actually tried to pass off.”
- “- 0 atmosphere, 0 feelings.”
- “However, they still lack atmosphere and character.”
character development
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
Character development in the game is highlighted by impressive character designs and a versatile customization system that allows players to tailor their characters to their playstyle. However, some players feel that the narrative and depth of character development are lacking, with side characters often feeling underutilized. Overall, while the aesthetic appeal is strong, the game may fall short in delivering a more engaging and meaningful character progression experience.
- “The game’s character development system is also well thought out.”
- “The game’s character development system allows players to tailor their characters to their playstyle and preferences.”
- “Awesome atmosphere and lore helped by well-crafted cinematics and character design.”
- “Some random dudes just popped up in side missions and have their own signature equipment, and that's all for them - a waste of character development.”
- “Love the main characters' and NPCs' designs, but it's just sad that in the late stages I can't find any gear that is better than what I already have.”
- “Game runs totally fine but seriously looks like a mess; it's disappointingly stripped down mechanically from Nioh, and I'm sort of disappointed they just copied all of the character design from Dynasty Warriors.”
emotional
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players feeling a deep sense of heartbreak due to the disconnect between the director's intentions and the game's reception. While elements like music and atmosphere initially build emotional investment, many reviewers feel that the execution ultimately falls flat, leading to frustration and a lack of genuine emotional engagement. Overall, the game evokes a sense of disappointment rather than the profound connection experienced in previous titles, leaving players feeling unfulfilled.
- “It's heartbreaking seeing the appreciative and heartfelt messages from the director juxtaposed with the hate this game seems to receive daily.”
- “This game is more heartbreaking than any girlfriend I've ever had.”
- “Time has come for yours truly to provide a small, yet much needed morale boost for Wo Long, since the current 'mostly negative' consensus going around is truly heartbreaking.”
monetization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
5%
90%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling that the pricing is unjustified given the game's performance issues and lack of innovation. The absence of microtransactions is noted positively, but the DLC is viewed as exploitative, contributing to an overall sense of disappointment in the game's value compared to previous titles from the developer.
- “No microtransactions at all!”
- “This game felt like a cash grab compared to prior titles.”
- “DLC is a cash grab and overall the game lacks the passion that Team Ninja has shown in other projects.”
- “70 euros not including DLC for a buggy, stuttery cash grab.”