In the realm of challenging action RPGs, the “New Game Plus” mode often serves as a rewarding epilogue, inviting players to revisit familiar territories with newfound power. It`s a chance for mastery, experimentation, and perhaps, a deeper dive into lore. However, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers takes an exceptionally unique, and some might argue, rather assertive approach to this post-game experience. Prepare to have your expectations, and possibly your save files, dramatically reset.
The Conventional Versus Causality Reversal
Traditionally, New Game Plus (NG+) in soulslike titles, such as those from FromSoftware, offers players a clear choice: either continue their journey from their final save point, exploring any missed content or pursuing alternative endings, or embark on a fresh run with all their hard-earned progress carried over. This player agency is a cornerstone of the genre, allowing for tailored experiences and multiple playthroughs at one`s leisure.
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, however, redefines this paradigm with its “Causality Reversal” mode. Upon concluding the primary campaign and witnessing an ending, players are not presented with a choice, but rather, an inevitability. Selecting “Continue,” “Load Game,” or even the explicitly named “Causality Reversal” from the main menu funnels you directly back to the game`s introductory sequence. This isn`t merely a suggestion; it`s a mandate from the digital deities of Sichuan Province.
A Critical Caveat: Save File Overwrite
Perhaps the most startling aspect of Wuchang`s Causality Reversal is its disposition towards your previous progress. Unlike most games where your original save remains intact, providing a comfortable fallback, Wuchang actively overwrites your primary save file with the new New Game Plus instance. This design decision fundamentally alters how players might approach their initial playthrough, emphasizing a “finish everything now or never” mentality before the inevitable reset. It’s a bold move, effectively telling players, “There is only now, and then the future, past is prologue—and overwritten.”
Navigating the Forced Cycle: A Practical Workaround
For players who prefer a more controlled progression, or those who wish to return to their pre-ending state to uncover secrets or complete side quests, this forced transition presents a significant hurdle. Fortunately, for PC players, a manual safeguard exists – a testament to the community`s ingenuity in adapting to unconventional game mechanics.
The solution involves a simple, yet crucial, file backup operation. Prior to triggering the game`s conclusion, one must locate and duplicate the save game directory. For Steam users, this is typically found within the C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Project_Plague path. Copying the entire `Saved` folder to a secure location effectively creates a snapshot of your progress. Should you wish to revert to your pre-NG+ state, simply place the `Saved` folder back into the `Project_Plague` directory, overwriting the existing files. Then, launch Wuchang and choose `Load Game`.
While the game might display the loaded file as “Causality Reversal 1” due to internal tracking (a curious nod to its own design even when circumvented), this manual intervention allows players to regain control over their ongoing adventure. It`s a minor inconvenience for a major piece of player agency that one might have expected as a built-in feature.
What Survives the Reversal: New Game Plus Carried Progress
Despite the rigid entry into Causality Reversal, the mode still adheres to the core tenets of a New Game Plus in terms of carried progression. Players are not stripped bare; instead, they embark on their second (or subsequent) journey with a substantial arsenal, ready to face heightened challenges:
- Inventory & Resources: All acquired equipment, gear pieces, Red Mercury (the game`s primary resource for character progression), unlocked skills, spells, and Temperance Needles (likely unique upgrade or crafting materials) transfer seamlessly.
- Enhanced Challenge: Enemies, true to the soulslike spirit, will be significantly tougher, scaling in difficulty to match your accumulated power. Expect familiar foes to pack a much harder punch.
- Potent Artifacts: Jade Pendants and Benedictions, crucial items for character customization and buffs, receive a “+1 coefficient,” enhancing their effects and encouraging new build strategies. This provides a tangible power boost, allowing for more specialized or optimized character builds.
- Resource Transformation: Items that cannot be duplicated, such as Manna Vase upgrades (akin to health flask capacity enhancements) or additional copies of already learned spells, will instead convert into valuable Red Mercury-related materials. This ingenious system ensures that even “redundant” pickups yield useful resources, preventing wasted loot.
- Renewed Opportunities: Previously vanquished elite enemies like “Panda Bamboozlings/Bamboo Shoots” and “Inner Demons” will respawn in their original locations. This offers a fresh opportunity to farm their unique rewards, essential for further character development and experimentation with new builds.
- Quest Resets: While your character progression carries over, quest items are reset, and the narrative threads begin anew. This means players can re-engage with storylines or tackle quests they might have overlooked in their initial run, providing a clean slate for narrative exploration without sacrificing character development.
Conclusion: A Unique Path Forward
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers unequivocally charts its own course in the vast ocean of soulslike games, particularly concerning its post-game mechanics. “Causality Reversal” is not merely a New Game Plus mode; it`s a declaration of intent, a design choice that profoundly shapes the entire player experience, from the very first step to the final, forced rebirth. While it demands a proactive approach to save management for those seeking flexibility, it undeniably offers a robust, re-challenging experience for players ready to embrace the cycle. As players delve deeper into the fall of the Ming Dynasty, they must not only contend with formidable foes but also with the game`s unyielding embrace of a new beginning, a perpetually unfolding saga where the past is always prelude to a more demanding present.
Callum Darby