As a Soulslike,Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyis almost obliged to contain boss battles that are both challenging and memorable. Pitting the player against numerous Chinese warlords from the Three Kingdoms period, as well as supernatural entities of varying shapes and sizes,Wo Long: Fallen Dynastydoesn’t disappoint in this regard. In terms of standout fights though, there is certainly one that sticks in the memory: the showdown with the imperious Lu Bu.
Those familiar withKoei Tecmo’s long-runningDynasty Warriorsserieswill be fully aware of Lu Bu and his impressive reputation. Known as the strongest warrior in all the Three Kingdoms, his very name sparks fear and panic among opposition soldiers. Usually riding atop his crimson horse Red Hare, Lu Bu is a dominant force to be reckoned with. Thankfully, his appearance inWo Long: Fallen Dynastydoes him justice, and the first fight he has with the player is probably the most engaging and epic boss encounter in the entire game.
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The Lu Bu Fight is Suitably Memorable
Over the years, developer FromSoftware has garnered a reputation for creating some of the most visually impressive, challenging and innovative boss fights ever seen in video games. Equally commendable is the sheer variety of battles on offer, with bosses ranging from one-on-one duels against skilled human-sized enemies, such asBloodborne’s epic battle against Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktoweror taking on giant monsters and other fiends such as the huge Tower Knight inDemon’s Souls. Many Soulslike games have attempted to replicate some of these challenges, to varying degrees of success.
Team Ninja’s ownNiohtitles themselves contain some impressive boss encounters, but none really left a lasting impression in the same way that some of FromSoftware’s finest do.Wo Long: Fallen Dynastycontains a large number of its own bosses, big and small, and the player must battle some imposing warlords on their way through the campaign. Of these warlords; none is as fearsome or intimidating as Lu Bu, whose mere inclusion in the game almost demanded a memorable battle to match his reputation. Thankfully,Wo Longdelivers on this, and the initial battle proves to be every bit as memorable as fans would’ve hoped.
Taking place in a circular arena; players come face to face withLu Bu mounted on Red Hare, and he is in no mood for parlay. The battle begins at a lightning pace, and players will immediately be thrown onto the back foot as he gallops around the battlefield, sporadically charging the player using his huge halberd. Players must attempt to parry his blows, slowly depleting his spirit gauge until he eventually dismounts Red Hare, who continues to stride around unsaddled. Fighting on foot is no easier, and players will find themselves engaged in a fast and furious battle where parrying is crucial, with one wrong move possibly signaling the end. Studying Lu Bu’s attack patterns and waiting for openings is crucial to victory.
Boss fights such as this one epitomize everything that is great about the Soulslike genre, and the fight may remind fans of some of the morememorableDark Soulsencounters, including the showdown with Knight Artorias the Abysswalkerfrom the first game of the trilogy. While not every boss fight inWo Long: Fallen Dynastyis anywhere near as epic as the Lu Bu encounter, Team Ninja successfully managed to give fans a showdown to remember with one of the mightiest warlords in ancient history.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynastyis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
