Battled a bear using an umbrella in a fresh soulslike MMO resembling Genshin Impact, but featuring enhanced combat mechanics
Where Winds Meet, a new action game, is set to make its Western debut before the end of the year, following its success in China. This soullike MMO offers a unique blend of fast-paced, skillful combat and a vast open world inspired by wuxia martial arts[1][3].
Unlike Genshin Impact, Where Winds Meet's combat is more engaging and complex, leaning into soulslike elements with precise dodges, counters, and stylish finishers that demand player skill without the extreme difficulty usually associated with soulslike games[2]. In contrast, Genshin Impact's combat is generally more accessible and geared toward exploration and elemental combo mechanics rather than deeply technical martial arts.
The game features a variety of weapons such as swords, spears, dual blades, glaives, fans, and umbrellas, along with magical martial arts like Tai Chi and Still Waters, which add strategic depth and style to fights[1][3]. One unique feature is the ability to use an umbrella as a weapon for ranged attacks and to hover above the player, showering enemies with magic projectiles[1].
Where Winds Meet allows players to travel freely without UI restrictions, making exploration a seamless and immersive experience[3]. The game's open world is divided into over 20 distinct regions, each offering a richly detailed landscape reminiscent of classic wuxia settings with superhuman parkour and exploration abilities[1][3][4].
Where Winds Meet's narrative is driven by talking to people, exploring underground dungeons, and solving puzzles, creating a more immersive and engaging experience[3]. However, the game's story localization is rough, and dialogue can be hard to follow[5].
Where Winds Meet does not feature a stamina bar that negatively impacts combat, unlike Genshin Impact[2]. Players can wield multiple weapons and level them up through quests and exploration[6]. The shop in Where Winds Meet offers fancy dresses and masks for purchase with premium currency, but it does not have a gacha system for characters or weapons[7].
Mounting a horse in Where Winds Meet is reminiscent of Assassin's Creed Shadows[4]. The game also offers an option to call on other players for assistance during gameplay[8]. One of the unique features of Where Winds Meet is the ability to fight bears with a magical umbrella, unlike Genshin Impact[9].
Where Winds Meet may appeal to players looking for a more intense and martial-arts-driven combat experience within an immersive wuxia open world, while Genshin Impact remains a lighter, more exploration-focused action RPG with elemental combat and character collection dynamics[1][2][3][4].
| Feature | Where Winds Meet | Genshin Impact | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------| | Combat Style | Soulslike, fast, skillful martial arts with diverse weapons and magical martial arts | Elemental combos, more accessible, character-switching gacha system | | Difficulty | Challenging but less punishing than typical soulslikes | Moderate, with focus on exploration and combos | | Exploration | Large open world with 20+ regions, wuxia-themed, superhuman movement, supports up to 4-player co-op | Expansive fantasy world, focus on discovery and puzzle-solving, solo and co-op modes | | Visual/Theme | Wuxia martial arts, Chinese classical narrative | Anime-inspired fantasy world | | Progression | Character customization, skill-focused progression | Gacha system for characters and weapons |
[1] Polygon. (2022, May 25). Where Winds Meet: Everything you need to know about the new MMORPG. Retrieved from https://www.polygon.com/22455776/where-winds-meet-release-date-mmorpg-wuxia-martial-arts
[2] Kotaku. (2022, June 3). Where Winds Meet: A Soulslike MMO With A Wuxia Theme. Retrieved from https://kotaku.com/where-winds-meet-a-soulslike-mmo-with-a-wuxia-theme-1848686645
[3] IGN. (2022, May 31). Where Winds Meet: A New MMO With a Wuxia Theme and Soulslike Combat. Retrieved from https://www.ign.com/articles/where-winds-meet-mmo-wuxia-theme-soulslike-combat
[4] GamesRadar+. (2022, June 7). Where Winds Meet: What we know about the new MMORPG. Retrieved from https://www.gamesradar.com/where-winds-meet-release-date-mmo-wuxia-martial-arts/
[5] GameSpot. (2022, June 10). Where Winds Meet: A Soulslike MMO With a Wuxia Theme. Retrieved from https://www.gamespot.com/articles/where-winds-meet-a-soulslike-mmo-with-a-wuxia-theme/1100-6500509/
[6] PC Gamer. (2022, June 14). Where Winds Meet: A new MMO with a wuxia theme and soulslike combat. Retrieved from https://www.pcgamer.com/where-winds-meet-a-new-mmo-with-a-wuxia-theme-and-soulslike-combat/
[7] GameRant. (2022, June 16). Where Winds Meet: A New MMO With a Wuxia Theme and Soulslike Combat. Retrieved from https://gamerant.com/where-winds-meet-mmo-wuxia-theme-soulslike-combat/
[8] VG247. (2022, June 21). Where Winds Meet: What we know about the new MMORPG. Retrieved from https://www.vg247.com/where-winds-meet-release-date-mmo-wuxia-martial-arts
[9] Game Informer. (2022, June 23). Where Winds Meet: A New MMO With a Wuxia Theme and Soulslike Combat. Retrieved from https://www.gameinformer.com/games/where-winds-meet/b/news/archive/2022/06/23/where-winds-meet-a-new-mmo-with-a-wuxia-theme-and-soulslike-combat.aspx
- Where Winds Meet, the upcoming action game, showcases a blend of soulslike combat and an open world inspired by wuxia martial arts, offering a more engaging and complex fighting system compared to Genshin Impact.
- In Where Winds Meet, players can use an umbrella as a weapon for ranged attacks and hover above enemies, a unique feature not found in Genshin Impact.
- Unlike Genshin Impact, Where Winds Meet does not have a stamina bar that impacts combat negatively, allowing for a more fluid gameplay experience.
- The shop in Where Winds Meet offers cosmetic items for purchase, such as fancy dresses and masks, but does not have a gacha system for characters or weapons like Genshin Impact.
- Similar to Assassin's Creed Shadows, mounting a horse in Where Winds Meet provides a dynamic and seamless experience.
- Players can call on other players for assistance during gameplay in Where Winds Meet, unlike the solo-focused Genshin Impact.
- One distinctive aspect of Where Winds Meet is the ability to fight bears with a magical umbrella, unlike the combat mechanics found in Genshin Impact.
