The Soulslike genre has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years, with countless Indie games and even a few AAA titles adopting FromSoftware’s methodical formula, but Team Ninja did it before it was cool. A developer with a surprisingly rich history, Team Ninja has been around since the mid-1990s, and it has the back catalog to prove it. FromDead or AlivetoNinja Gaiden, Team Ninja has helped shape the genres it’s adopted, and nowhere is that more true than with the Soulslike genre. Beginning withNiohback in 2017, Team Ninja has taken FromSoft’s beloved formula and has tried to further innovate on it, and that’s exactly whatWo Long: Fallen Dynastyis trying to do.
Officially revealed in June 2022,Wo Long: Fallen DynastyisTeam Ninja’s latest go at the Soulslike genre, but rather than take direct inspiration fromDark Souls, this title seems to borrow more fromSekiro, albeit with some unique twists. Along with a posture system and an emphasis on deflecting oncoming attacks,Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyis introducing a “Divine Beasts” system, which not only adds more complexity to the gameplay but also ties in perfectly with the game’s chosen mythology.
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How Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s Divine Beasts Work
Much like Team Ninja’s previous Soulslike ventures,Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyis set against a historical backdrop.Wo Longis a loose adaptation of the 14th-century historical novel,Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which is set during the titularThree Kingdoms period, when China was divided into three segments, each being ruled by a different leader. But while this historical setting paintsWo Long’s backdrop, the game doesn’t seem afraid to dip into some more fantastical elements.
DuringWo Long: Fallen Dynasty, players will be able to unlock a series of Divine Beasts. Each of these beasts is based on a different creature from Chinese mythology. Players can use these Divine Beasts in two distinct ways: Summoning, and Resonation. Summoning a Divine Beast will spawn the creature in front of the player, and make them carry out some form of special attack. Resonation refers to when the player uses the power of a Divine Beast to imbue themselves or their weapon with a certain trait.
At the time of writing, only five Divine Beasts have been confirmed so far, though their abilities are sure tohelp players againstWo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s tough foes. Each of the five confirmed Divine Beasts come straight from Chinese mythology, and each one represents a different element. The first Divine Beast available is Qilin, the embodiment of the Earth element that takes the appearance of a horse. Qilin’s Summon ability, “Qilin’s Earthquake,” sees it pull a series of stone pillars from the ground, pushing away and damaging any enemies caught in their radius. The amount of stone pillars increases when the player increases their own Morale Rank by 10. Qilin’s Resonation ability reduces the damage taken while increasing the HP restores upon deflecting a critical hit.
Baihu is the next Divine Beast. The embodiment of metal, Baihu appears as a white tiger. Summoning Baihu lets the tiger fight alongside the player for a short duration, which can be extended with higher Morale Rank levels. Baihu’s Resonation ability greatly increases the player’s Spirit attack damage, which are essentiallyWo Long’s special moves. Qinqlong, the dragon embodiment of wood seems like the perfectDivine Beast for co-op players, with its Summon ability restoring nearby allies' HP, and even reviving downed allies if the player’s Morale Rank is at least 10. Qinglong’s Resonation reduces oncoming Spirit damage. Zhuque, the fire-powered Phoenix engulfs the surrounding area in flames when it’s summoned, and can increase the player’s martial arts damage. Finally, Wuanwu, the turtle-snake hybrid embodiment of water sends a continuous wave of frost toward opponents when Summoned, and can greatly increase Fatal Strike damage.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynastywill release on July 25, 2025 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
