To some extent, that’s true.
And crucially, it’s more approachable as a result.
They also have the power to corrupt, turning your shoguns and wizards into bloated demons and gangly harpies.
The story is, err… certainly present.
And Wo Long is no different, in fact, it’s largely the same.
Replace feudal Japan with Han Dynasty China, then swap out sparkly crystals for sparkly balls.
That’s correct, they are corrupted and turned into frothing fiends.
Chances are you won’t care for any of the story, really.
But then again, when the combat is so satisfying, it’s all forgiven once you enter battle.
Again, if you’re a Nioh fan, entering battle will feel familiar.
Wo Long’s combat isn’t just a joy, it’s sensational.
- deflect with a flourish.
It’s basically a stamina bar split into two halves.
Get smacked when it’s maxed out and you’ll be left gasping and vulnerable for a bit.
The more aggressive you are, the more powerful you’ll become in a fight.
If you were to slide Mana or Spirit in front of me, I’d choose Spirit every time.
Then boot Mana into the sun.
The age of Mana is over, sorry.
It’s clear that Team Ninja have thought of ways to enhance your usual bash through a mission.
At the start of each mission you’ll start at rank zero, with the maximum being 25.
To up your rank, you’ll need to slay enemies and ideally avoid death.
Although, if you manage to beat them, you’ll receive much greater loot drops.
Risk and reward tussle once again.
What Morale Rank does is add a couple of extra layers to each level.
This isn’t to say Wo Long isn’t difficult it is.
Barriers have been levelled by levelling, as well.
Then you’ve got a wide range of weapons and mwah, they are delightful.
Massive hammers with spikes on them.
Honkin' great axes.
It feels like every playstyle is catered for here.
I will say, though, that Wo Long doesn’t untangle all of Nioh’s worst offenders.
You won’t find loot streaming out of chests in a rainbow-coloured arc, anymore.
So that’s good!
Hops add some much-needed dynamism to levels previously bottlenecked by ladders and locked doors.
Finally, you’re able to bounce your way to discovery.
And that’s what will keep you coming back.
