Wuchang Fallen Feathers - Level 1 Run - Part 2
57(and probably without using any spells as well) Please read description box!
What does Level 1 mean in this game?
This game doesn't have a traditional leveling system, but a skill tree which includes upgrades to stats and weapon upgrades. Whenever you purchase a level with mercury (this game's version of souls) you gain a level. However, skill points acquired out in the world will not raise your level. So a level 1 run means that you can only get upgrades from the skill tree from the limited amount of skill points found in the world itself. These are acquired from such things like red-eye elite enemies, beating the tutorial boss and solving certain secrets.
How do weapon upgrades work in this game?
You upgrade through the skill tree, but not with skill points but with various types of red feathers. You upgrade a weapon CATEGORY, not individual weapons. And since skill points can be reset at any point... as long as you have the upgrade materials, you can reallocate this to any weapon you please, as long as you can reach the required nodes in the skill tree.
How many skill points can be found in the world?
To my knowledge there are 30 spread out throughout the world. Fortunately, quite a few of those can be acquired early game. So Level 1 is not nearly as restrictive as it would initially seem to be. However, since you can also get these free skill points in any playthrough where you do level up, the farther you get in the game, the more noticeable the gap in skill points is going to be.
If you're not using any spells, why do you have a spell equipped?
It's an easier to see indication that I have a charge of skyborn might.
What is "Skyborn might"
It's this game's version of FP. It's the energy required for using weapon skills and spells. You acquire it from I-framing through enemy attacks or from certain perks from the skill tree
What is "Madness"?
Whenever you die or kill humans, your madness increases. At 90% your damage output increases but your defense decreases. When you die at full madness, a hostile inner demon will spawn. However, this demon is also hostile to enemies, so can be used to your advantage as well.
What is "tempering"?
You can acquire bone needles from the skill tree which allow you to buff your weapon with elements or status effects using an item that replenishes at a shrine. You automatically fire buff, so that will for the most part be my only weapon buff in this run. You can also acquire stone needles from inner demons that spawn at specific locations in the game. These boosts your stats or the power and duration of your weapon buffs.
What are "poise break" and "paralysis"?
These are weird terms in this game. Poise break does NOT refer to stance breaking an enemy. Poise break is a status effect similar to bleed in dark souls (yeah... what the hell...). Paralysis is a status effect that lowers attack power. Despair is this game's version of curse, which insta-kills you.
How long is this game?
For reference, my blind playthrough of Sekiro took 21 hours. My blind playthrough of Wuchang took 35 hours (which includes rushing my way through the 5th chapter) So... it's a lengthy game.
Is this game worth playing
Absolutely it is. Very solid Souls-like
Are there also things you dislike about this game?
My only true complaint is the lack of weapon variety. You already are limited to 5 categories and the weapons within the same category are very similar. Other than that, there are some nuisances that I wish weren't in the game, like manually having to rest at shrines; so many attacks that knock you down on the ground which leaves you way too vulnerable; enemies being immune to backstabs during some arbitrary animations; and some awkward charge attack animations from certain weapons that complicates backstabbing even further.