Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast
Episode: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, Wheel World Reviews
Release Date: July 23, 2025
Introduction to the Episode
Hosted by Tim Gettys, Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Blessing Adeoye, and Andy Cortez, this episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast delves into two major game reviews: Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Wheel World. The discussion is rich with personal insights, detailed analysis, and candid opinions from the hosts, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of both titles.
Review of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is spotlighted as a souls-like action RPG set in the tumultuous late Ming dynasty, developed by Lenz and published by 505 Games. The game currently holds a Metacritic score of 75.
Initial Impressions and Gameplay Mechanics
Andy Cortez shares his transformative experience with Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, initially underwhelmed after playing it at GDC. However, after delving deeper, he praises the game as the "best attempt at this since Lies of P" (07:00). He highlights the game's stellar production quality and player-friendly mechanics, noting:
"Everything about this game is stellar production. Everything's amazing in this video game."
— Andy Cortez [05:58]
Story and Design
Andy expresses some frustrations with the story's complexity, mentioning difficulty in remembering character names:
"I wish that as I was playing I was talking to Lance McDonald... because I’m getting to these story beats and I go, I don’t remember who a lot of these names are."
— Andy Cortez [07:00]
Despite this, he acknowledges the game's rich narrative and the staggering amount of optional content, which adds depth and replayability.
Level Design and Boss Fights
The hosts commend the level design, comparing it favorably to Dark Souls 1:
"This is the best Souls-like level design that I've experienced since Dark Souls 1."
— Andy Cortez [08:12]
Boss fights are described as engaging, though Andy suggests there could be more variety in weapon types.
Character Customization and Skill Tree
A standout feature is the game's innovative skill tree, which focuses on weapon-based upgrades rather than traditional character stats. Andy elaborates on the flexibility this offers:
"You can have a lot of fun with this... you can mix and match and transmog at any point at any time."
— Andy Cortez [22:07]
This system allows players to tailor their characters to their playstyle seamlessly, enhancing the overall experience.
Overall Rating and Recommendations
Andy enthusiastically recommends Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, rating it an 8 out of 10, emphasizing its quality of life improvements and overall enjoyment:
"I think this could really kind of hit some nines with the right sort of crowd."
— Andy Cortez [08:07]
Greg Miller concurs, highlighting the game’s ability to surprise and satisfy fans of the genre.
Review of Wheel World
Wheel World, developed by Meshof and published by Annapurna Interactive, is the second major focus of the episode. It currently holds a Metacritic score of 73.
Initial Impressions and Gameplay Mechanics
Greg Miller leads the critique of Wheel World, describing it as his most disappointing game of the year. Despite initial excitement, both Greg and Andy found the game lacking in depth and engagement:
"Wheel World is my most disappointing game of the year... it’s so close to being good but also so close to just being completely forgettable."
— Greg Miller [31:12]
Story and Design
The game centers around Cat, a rider chosen by Ancient Cycling Spirits, navigating through races to save a universe. While the premise is intriguing, the execution falls short. Andy criticizes the repetitive nature and lack of meaningful progression:
"It's a missed opportunity... the game is just rinse and repeat that GDC demo."
— Andy Cortez [38:09]
Level Design and Boss Fights
Both hosts highlight the game's inability to maintain interest beyond the initial stages. Greg points out the lack of variety and depth in boss fights:
"Every region you’re doing... it's just one of those things where there’s no variety."
— Greg Miller [41:29]
Andy echoes this sentiment, noting that the game's difficulty spikes and limited biome diversity make it less engaging:
"They have two biomes... and there’s no incentive for the entire second half of this game to trade any piece of my bike."
— Andy Cortez [33:04]
Character Customization and Design
Customization options are minimal, limiting player engagement. The lack of character creation further detracts from the experience:
"I really wish I could have just created my own bike rider, like."
— Andy Cortez [42:27]
Overall Rating and Recommendations
Wheel World receives a 6 out of 10, described as mediocre and filled with missed opportunities:
"This was just a missed opportunity... it's an okay game."
— Andy Cortez [37:38]
Greg highlights that while the art style and initial gameplay have potential, the repetitive mechanics and lack of depth prevent it from leaving a lasting impression.
Additional Discussions
Wild Gate
A super chat introduces Wild Gate, a multiplayer battle arena game. Snowbike Mike describes it as a refreshing take on the genre with engaging ship battles and cooperative gameplay:
"This is a breath of fresh air for 2025 and just a great multiplayer experience."
— Snowbike Mike [47:28]
Digital Extremes' Soul Frame
Andy Cortez briefly mentions Soul Frame, an upcoming title from Digital Extremes, praising its early development stages and high production quality:
"I was really blown away... the level of production already that I'm just blown away by."
— Andy Cortez [51:05]
Conclusion
In this episode, Kinda Funny Gamescast offers a thorough analysis of two contrasting games. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is lauded for its quality, depth, and player-friendly mechanics, making it a standout title for fans of the souls-like genre. Conversely, Wheel World is criticized for its repetitive gameplay, limited customization, and lack of engaging content, resulting in a mediocre rating. The hosts also touch upon other exciting releases like Wild Gate and Soul Frame, providing listeners with a well-rounded view of the current gaming landscape.
Notable Quotes:
- Andy Cortez [08:12]: "This is the best Souls-like level design that I've experienced since Dark Souls 1."
- Greg Miller [31:12]: "Wheel World is my most disappointing game of the year."
- Snowbike Mike [47:28]: "This is a breath of fresh air for 2025 and just a great multiplayer experience."
- Andy Cortez [22:07]: "You can have a lot of fun with this... you can mix and match and transmog at any point at any time."
This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and evaluations presented in the episode, providing a clear and engaging overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.