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CNET
6 hours ago
- CNET
7 Tips to Follow When Starting Wuchang Fallen Feathers
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers isn't a revolutionary Soulslike title that aims to change the subgenre, but it's catching the attention of many players right now, in part because it's available on day 1 on Xbox Game Pass. Wuchang, however, does have some issues with underexplaining certain mechanics, which is giving players a little trouble. Wuchang makes some changes to the Soulslike formula established by FromSoftware, the developers of Demon's Souls and Dark Souls. Those changes aren't laid out so clearly, and unfortunately that adds a layer of difficulty to the game that doesn't need to be there. If you're struggling with Wuchang, here are some tips to help you beat the game. 505 Games Get the Sword Counter An easy tip to start with is a better explanation of the Sword Counter. It's available in the Impetus Repository (the leveling-up grid), at a shrine, and it doesn't take many levels to unlock. The Sword Counter is the game's equivalent of the parry found in other FromSoftware games. It looks like a standard block, but if you time it right, you'll parry the attack and receive no damage. But that's not all. Next to the Sword Counter node on the grid are two variants that are also worth getting. By unlocking all three, when enemies attack you, you can deflect their attacks and knock them to the ground to sneak in extra hits. Something to keep in mind is that the Sword Counter can only deflect weapon attacks, so enemy punches or kicks can't be parried. Also, with bosses, your deflects may only give you a window to get a free hit or two, but they have greater value in raising the bosses' Obliterate meter, which is a circle that increases after successive attacks. Fill this up, and the boss will be staggered, which will allow for a critical attack to deal big damage. 505 Games Unlocking the upgrades for your weapons Along with the improved attacks, new weapon abilities, and stat increases, the Impetus Repository (the game's name for its skill tree) has nodes to improve a weapon class. You need to unlock the node first and then acquire feathers to upgrade the weapon. The upgrade for a weapon class affects all weapons, so improving longswords by +3 means every longsword in the game will also be +3. You'll need specific items for these upgrades, which are usually found on tougher enemies with red eyes and can sometimes be purchased from the merchants. There are Faint, Brilliant and Radiant Red Feathers needed for upgrades, with Radiant ones being the best of the three. Respec all the time One useful mechanic in Wuchang is the option to respec, or reallocate your upgrades, at any time. If you feel like you're a little weak or there's something you haven't tried yet, make sure to respec -- don't worry, it's free and can be repeated indefinitely. On the Impetus Repository, there's the option to undo an upgrade to just one node, or you can do it for an entire path. If a weapon like the axe has been doing well against bosses but there's one boss who's just too fast to land any attacks, then it's time to respec and try another weapon. There's no shame in doing so. And who knows? The new weapon might end up being your favorite. Wear the right equipment Like in any Souslike, there are different status effects that build up over time, such as Burn or Blight, this game's name for poison. Enemies in certain areas will focus on different status effects with their attacks, like how enemies in colder climates can cause Frostbite buildup. There are consumable items you can use to remove the effect or stop the buildup, but in the case of status effects like Despair and Corruption, if your armor resistance isn't high enough, you can get killed almost immediately from the effect. If you find that happening (and you can tell it happens due to the status effect icon in the middle of the screen), then consider changing your equipment to better resist the status effects you're running into. Armor in Wuchang is very situation-based. Some will offer a lot of slash and stab protection, which is great for bosses with swords or spears, but it may offer no protection against Blight, which means you can be poisoned very quickly. In general, armor that's the best to protect against physical attacks is horrible for status effects, hence you can die almost instantly in certain areas. If you notice that happening, make sure to switch up your armor for the right occasion. 505 Games Explore, explore, explore Like any good Soulslike with quality level design, like Wuchang, there are different paths available and some are easy to overlook. So many side paths in Wuchang seemingly lead to dead ends, but you'd be surprised how many will lead to entirely new areas. Not only can you find powerful items and weapons, but there are entire sections of a map with their own bosses you might have skipped. I missed out on multiple locations as I rushed through the game on my first runs through levels. If you're having trouble with a boss, spend some time to backtrack a bit and explore every nook and cranny in an area. Another point to keep an eye out for is the teleport option at the Shrine. If there's an NPC you should talk to, there will be a small face next to the location listing. These NPCs can give you items or help out with a boss fight, but some won't be right next to the shrine. In general, places you come across with no enemies and something like a fire tend to be locations where an NPC will eventually appear. Just die if you're mad Probably the most interesting mechanic in Wuchang is the Madness effect, which increases global damage that you deal and get dealt in return. Madness can increase or decrease, depending on what enemies you kill, but it increases significantly after dying. Once Wuchang's madness reaches above 90%, the next time she dies, an orb that lies where the death happened will manifest into an Inner Demon, and if it kills you or is defeated, the Madness meter goes back to zero. This is very interesting for longtime Souls players because it acts as a punishment for players that can easily be overcome, and in a way, helps get the frustration out for dying. There is, however, a problem. If you die at the hands of a boss over and over again, the orb will be inside the boss arena and the Inner Demon won't spawn. The result is that Madness, which if above 90% will increase the damage of your attacks while also increasing the damage you take, won't go down. You can try to defeat some enemies to lower it, or make a donation to the statue at the Shu Sanctum, but the Madness meter will still shoot up if you die. If this happens to you, then you need to bite the bullet and just die somewhere else, ideally right near the shrine. When you respawn, you can head to the orb, take down the Inner Demon, and you'll be back to zero Madness. 505 Games Don't forget to emote Across the game, there will be certain shiny spots that aren't signs. It could be a statue, an urn, or a grave marker. Inspect these locations and a message will pop up with a few words in blue. Those words can be "Pay your respect" or "Tai chi." When you come across these spots, pull up the pose, or emotes, menu. You'll see multiple poses, such as worship, examine and a very obvious one, Tai Chi. Assuming the pose at the specific location will unlock a clue about Wuchang's past, or give up an item. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is out now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles for $50. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play the game as part of their subscription.
CNET
6 hours ago
- CNET
How to Beat Commander Honglan in Wuchang Fallen Feathers
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is one of the best Soulslike games released this year. It's also one of the cruelest, as players will be having a fun time with the game only to be smacked hard in the face by a punishing boss -- in my case, it was the formidable Commander Honglan who stopped me in my tracks. Located at the Lotus Pond at the Place, Commander Honglan is Wuchang's first real challenge and an obvious skill check by developer Leenzee Games. It's evident that to proceed, players need to get to a certain skill level when fighting her, and if not, they'll be in a lot of trouble, slamming themselves against this wall of a boss until they find a way forward. Here are some tips on how to defeat Commander Honglan in Wuchang. Make sure you've leveled up enough First off, make sure you're at the appropriate level to fight Commander Honglan. Yes, you can fight practically every boss at level 1 if you want to, but leave that to speedrunners. Ideally, you should have five Manna Vase charges so you have enough healing. Also, your weapons should be upgraded to plus-3 to be doing enough damage. You should also consider unlocking the Rapid Temperance node and either the Blight, Corruption or Poise Break Bone Needles, which she's weak to. Blight and Corruption will slowly deplete her health, while Poise Break will cause a big chunk of damage when it builds up to 100%. 505 Games Try a different weapon I get it -- up to now, you've probably used the axe or the war staff to run over enemies. Just forget about using the slow weapons on her. She's just too tough. Your best bet is to switch up to the longsword because... 505 Games Counter, counter, counter The Sword Counter is an unlockable ability in the longsword path of Wuchang's skill tree, and it's necessary for this fight. There's even a message before jumping into the Lotus Pond mentioning deflecting attacks, which is the game's version of parrying -- but it's not clear you need this specific skill unlocked to parry. With the Sword Counter, you'll be able to deflect her sword attacks if you've timed it right. The window isn't as tight as might be expected from a Souls game, so as long as you hit the Sword Counter button as soon as an attack starts, you'll be able to deflect. If you unlock the variant nodes connected to Sword Counter, you'll be able to land two free hits after the deflect. Take advantage of this because the parry as well as the attacks will contribute to Honglan's Obliterate meter, allowing you to make a critical hit. Bring an extra heal or two Nothing's more frustrating than being one hit away from defeating a boss only to be out of health flasks. Make sure to bring in one extra consumable healing item equipped in a quick access slot, such as a Steamed Bunny Bun, Soulgrass or Cornucopia Elixir. Keep in mind, these items won't auto-replenish, so use them as a last resort when you're a hit or two away from taking her down. Prepare your equipment before jumping in To get an advantage at the beginning of the fight, consider using some items at the start. You can use Temperance to start with an attack buff on your weapon, Lantern Fruit to reduce stamina costs for your dodges, and Soft Rush to increase your stamina recovery. Prepare your armor and equipment before heading into the fight, too. You should have two pendants to reduce the damage you receive and one pendant to increase your stamina recovery. Also, your armor should be focused on slash, stab and blunt resistance: her sword attacks impart slash and stab damage, and her kicks deal blunt. 505 Games Buy the ward from the Panda Outside the Shu Sanctum is a path that leads to a Panda. This bear is a merchant who wants only bamboo shoots. You can acquire these shoots from Bamboozlings, the little green creatures that quickly run away when you're near. Attacking one of these creatures will drop a Bamboo Shoot for special items. One of those items is the Divine Ward spell. This will reduce the physical damage you receive, and because you'll be dodging many of Honglan's attacks, you'll have plenty of Skyborn Might points available. Use this spell whenever you have a quick second to cast it because it'll help in the fight. Watch her moves When fighting Honglan, here are the moves to focus on. Lunge attack: This is the first move she makes in the fight, and it's easily counterable. Remember, after the deflect, just hit her for two attacks and don't get greedy, or else you'll run smack into her foot, which can't be parried. Punch and kicks: Honglan has multiple martial arts attacks, including a big overhead stomp. Don't try to counter these attacks or even be within arm's length, because you'll get hit. Just keep dodging. Dagger throw: If you're far away, Honglan will throw out multiple daggers. These are easy to block or dodge. Wind slash: In the second phase of the fight, Honglan will proceed to attack with wind slashes that are either vertical or horizontal. It takes a little bit of practice, but the vertical ones are easily dodgeable -- just move right or left. The horizontal slash, however, is tricky with the timing. You either need to dodge twice to the left or right, or dodge forward. Don't try to dodge back. Quick lunge: Honglan has another very quick dash attack. Better to dodge than try to counter, because it's so fast. Spinning sword attacks: She'll also use two different spin attacks at different times. Though the first hit can be deflected, the follow-ups can't, so it's better to just dodge this attack. Leap attack: The attack where Honglan is the most open is the leap attack. She'll jump in the air and come down with a powerful twin sword attack. Luckily, it's easy to dodge. Time your dodge so you can avoid the attack, and then dash-run into her to make follow-up attacks. Commander Hoglan's fighting in Wuchang can seem impossible at first, but with these tips, you can be successful. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is out now for $50 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play the game as part of their subscription.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
Joking about her abusive husband launched this Chinese comedian to stardom. The authorities aren't laughing
With her short hair and unshowy clothing, Fan Chunli looks every bit the middle-aged woman from rural China. Among a crowd of youngsters vying to become the next breakout star in one of China's most popular stand-up comedy contests, she stands out. But when the 50-year-old takes the mic, she beams with life and drips sarcasm, unloading jokes about her abusive ex-husband that bring the audience into a mix of laughter and tears. Hailing from a place where simply knowing how to use the internet 'makes me the Elon Musk of my village,' Fan is the latest sensation in China's booming scene for stand-up comedy, an artform that offers an outlet for pent-up grievances in a country that often stifles open discussion of politics or society. But Fan's acerbic takes on patriarchy and domestic abuse have alarmed some officials in China, where women's rights remain a sensitive issue. Trying to boost birth rates and thwart a looming demographic crisis, the ruling Communist Party is urging women to embrace traditional gender roles. It has cracked down hard on the country's nascent feminist movement, which it deems a malicious Western influence. During the performance that shot her to fame earlier this month, Fan laid bare the absurdity facing many victims of domestic violence in the country. She said she was beaten by her ex-husband. But when she told her parents she wanted a divorce, her father warned her not to bring disgrace to the family. 'When men are involved in domestic violence, it's not shameful. When women demand a divorce, it's shameful,' she said, drawing cheers during her performance at The King of Stand-up Comedy, a popular contest streamed by online platform iQiyi. Fan's performance appears to have chagrined at least one local government. As footage of her routine went viral last week, officials in the eastern province of Zhejiang issued a warning saying such jokes are 'catalysts that provoke' gender conflict. The statement didn't directly name Fan, or the show in question, alluding only to a newcomer dubbed an 'industry gem' – the nickname given to her by the show's judges. 'The content of some talk shows is gradually deviating from its nature of humor, simplifying gender issues and repeatedly making a fuss about the 'opposition between men and women,'' the local government's publicity department wrote on Chinese social media platform WeChat. The province has no specific link to Fan or the TV show, but the department occasionally posts commentaries on recent trends. Any discussion of gender issues, it said, should be 'rational.' Not your average female comedian China's government has cracked down on feminist activism over the past decade. Most notably, a group of women who became known as the 'Feminist Five' were arrested after planning protests on public transport against sexual harassment in 2015. Authorities have, however, allowed some mild-mannered discussion on social media, while movies featuring feminist themes continue to screen without a problem – as long as they do not amount to a call for action, experts say. But Fan's background – provincial, not well off or highly educated – may be contributing to official disquiet over her popularity, adding an extra layer of scrutiny. 'She's a middle-aged woman who comes from a rural background, not one of those typical urban liberal elite feminists,' said Meng Bingchun, a communications professor who researches feminism at the London School of Economics (LSE). 'And this seems to indicate that this kind of discontent and grievance related to gender issues and the traditional Confucian, patriarchal values is probably more widespread than they (the authorities) are willing to acknowledge,' she told CNN. Traditional social codes can sometimes prove as strict as any government diktat. Late last year, Chinese e-commerce giant JD faced a boycott by customers infuriated by its casting of trailblazing woman comedian Yang Li in a promotional live stream. Those leading the action were apparently still stung by Yang's signature quip from five years ago, chiding mediocre men: 'How come he looks so average, yet still so confident?' Bowing to the online backlash, the company apologized and severed ties with Yang. 'Trapped' Fan has never openly identified herself as a feminist. But in a post on the online platform Weibo, she wrote that she believes leaving behind the social constraints of rural life can lead to 'the awakening of women.' 'For example, when I say I want a divorce in my village, I'm seen as an unpardonable villain,' she wrote. 'But when I talk about my divorce outside, the audience applauds.' Growing up away from China's major cities, she didn't receive any formal education until the age of 8, she told Chinese state-owned Sanlian Lifeweek in an interview. But that soon ended after junior high. Raised in an era when opportunities mostly went to men, she recalled picking up a job in a city before getting married, and her mother handing all the money she sent home to her brother. 'Girls growing up in rural villages have no rights to inherit anything. Not the house. Not the land,' she told Sanlian. 'At the time… I just wanted to get married.' But after getting married, she found out 'family and marriage trapped women, making it impossible for them to make money.' For Fan, life before stand-up was a cleaning job at an obscure village in her home province of Shandong, in China's northeast. Her path to stardom started with an unlikely twist. In 2023, struggling to make ends meet, she recalled selling her jewelry to see a performance by her idol, a comedian named Li Bo, state-run media reported. At the show, she was supposed to be roasted during an improv segment, but Fan's quick-witted responses impressed the performer, who decided to introduce Fan to the trade, she said. Drawing from life Fan has plenty of experience to draw on when it comes to divorce, having contemplated her own for more than two decades. 'I was already thinking about getting a divorce when my eldest daughter was born,' she told Sanlian. The mother of two described her ex-husband as a gambler, whose absence left her to look after her sick father-in-law alone. She also poked fun at his uncouth manners, saying he ate congee – a popular Chinese rice porridge – directly from the ladle. One time her ex-husband and his father beat her up so badly that her face was covered in bruises, she alleged. She ran home to tell her parents that she wanted a divorce, only to be deterred by her mother, who told her to break up the relationship only if he was having an affair. The last straw was a year or two ago when she caught her husband once again going ladle-to-mouth with the congee. 'This time,' she recalled thinking, 'I'm leaving without looking back.' By then, Fan had already got a grounding in comedy performance, with slots at local comedy clubs. After leaving her husband – conceding both of their two houses to him, to get him to agree to a divorce – she decided to give stand-up a real shot, she said. During her viral performance, she moved from innocent self-mockery to full-throttled roasting of her ex-husband, who she calls a 'corgi' because of his diminutive stature. 'How tough is it for a rural auntie to come to the city for work for the first time?' she asks. Then she considered her current, dire situation. 'I glanced at my husband beside me and thought, 'I'm not scared of this challenge.'' Apart from her marriage, she also opened up about other taboo topics for Chinese women, such as oft-marginalized biological realities. Noting her newfound late-life stardom, she said that – unlike many women who retire when their periods stop – 'my menopause will come with my debut.' Moving on Fans who CNN spoke to are rooting for the rising female comedy scene in China, pushing back against Zhejiang officials' warning against 'gender opposition.' Zhang Yuanqi said she watched Fan's show with her mother, who similarly left an abusive home, a decade ago. She said comedians like Fan are 'not trying to stir up 'gender opposition'; they're just turning their life experiences into jokes.' 'What we want to hear is our own lives,' she said. 'I started to wonder if my mom had similar worries that she kept to herself, thinking she had to handle them alone,' Huang Xueyao, a 21-year-old university student, said. Fan touched on issues women encounter daily, she said, adding that she couldn't understand the local government's warnings. 'They tell us to stop. What's really behind the officials' thinking?' added Huang, who said she hopes to take her mother to see Fan perform in person. Meng, from LSE, said the Chinese government is grappling to understand this newly emerging form of entertainment, which may explain the cautious approach, though the warning from the Zhejiang authorities is unlikely to have further consequences on Fan. As of Sunday, Fan's Weibo account remains active (a deactivation would be one of the first signs a performer has fallen afoul of China's censorship apparatus) – though some posts railing against the veiled official warning have been removed. For the rising performer, comedy is more than just a newfound career, but also a way of getting catharsis. 'The biggest change in me since I've started doing stand-up comedy is that I no longer get angry at my ex-husband's every move,' Fan told Sanlian. 'There is a feeling of reconciliation.'
