From the very first time footage ofWo Long: Fallen Dynastywas released, many remarked how it looked to be a spiritual successor toNioh, the beloved Team Ninja series that many feel is the next best thing toDark Souls.However, pre-launch interviews revealed theWo Long: Fallen Dynastydevelopers were quick to put some distance between this original IP based on the Three Kingdoms period in Ancient China andNioh, which is set against the backdrop of feudal Japan. Now released, the game does share several similarities with its older brother, but also sets itself apart in a couple of important ways.
On the surface, the two titles appear very similar. BothWo Long: Fallen Dynastyand theNiohgamesare tough third-person action-RPGs pitting the player against soldiers, monsters, and supernatural entities. The combat in both games is some of the finest in the genre. Fluid, robust systems are apparent in both, with close and far-ranged melee combat combined with a range of spells used to either damage enemies or protect the player.
RELATED:Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Gives Other Soulslike Games a Run For Their Money
Wo Long and Nioh have Similarities and Differences in Equal Measure
As well as the usual array of blocks, dodges and counters,Nioh’s combat offers a unique take on the stamina management system which has become a staple of the Soulslike genre.Referred to in the game as ‘Ki’,Niohoffers players the opportunity to win some of this stamina backby pressing a button at the correct time. It’s a clever little nuance that is highly satisfying to execute and ensures the quick pace of battles is sustained.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyuses a different mechanic called the spirit gauge, abolishing stamina management completely. This spirit gauge effectively dictates which moves players are able to use during combat. Both blocking, and to a lesser extent, dodging, are still viable defensive options, butWo Longleans much more towards parrying, demanding players use this technique to counter many of the strong moves that are used on them throughout the game. Both systems are fun, fluid, and addictive, with personal preference likely to dictate which one players prefer using.
Wo LongandNioh’s mission structure is very similar. Both see players operating from a menu list of available missions before they select which one they want to tackle next and are whisked away to that particular map.Wo Long’s missions are far bigger, though, both in terms of square inches and in sheer verticality.Wo Longunashamedly asks players to use its double jump feature regularly, and this can be put to great effect in order to get the drop on unsuspecting enemies.Nioh’s missionscan get a little claustrophobic at times, and they don’t tend to transition from indoors to outdoors within the same one. In contrast,Wo Longregularly moves players from indoor structures to outdoors, and through sewers and castles sometimes all within the same mission.
The checkpoints in both games work broadly the same, but Wo Long’s flags allow the player to teleport to a different level completely, and return to the same flag whenever they wish without needing to restart the level. Both games feature a good variety of enemies with some impressive boss fights, but theNiohseries is probably a little more diverse thanWo Longin that regard. With no sign of aNioh 3on the horizon, andTeam Ninja working on the bigger project,Rise of the Roninnext, it will be interesting to see ifWo Long: Fallen Dynastygets a sequel at some stage.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
