Wuthering Waves 3.2, “Resolution to Illuminate the Shadows,” sees the arrival of the New Solar Festival. Meanwhile, the looming threat made by the Grand Architect endangers the well-being of Startorch Academy. And at the center of it all is an innocent young woman, Sigrika (Maya Lindh, Final Fantasy XVI), a future Heliotic Six Successor, who just doesn’t want to disappoint anyone.
The primary threat to Startorch in this patch takes the form of the academy’s Dark Side. Basically, the Dark Side is a unique Sonoro Sphere where all of the students’ stress, anxiety, and fears are drawn into, causing them to fester. Despite the best efforts of Lucille and the rest of the academy staff, this nightmarish pocket dimension cannot be removed, only kept in check. Well, usually.
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As Wuthering Waves 3.2 lays out its main plot, we learn that the realm of unwanted feelings is becoming unstable, raising concerns about the students’ well-being. It is concluded that this must be the coming threat hinted at previously, and Rover (Jane Jackson, The First Descendant) soon heads out to face the danger.
Wuthering Waves 3.2 delivers the most creative setting yet.
Before Rover can dive into the Dark Side, however, the player is treated to the visual redesign of the academy’s grounds for the festival. The world design team went all out, making the celebration look every inch the spectacle that the narrative builds it up as.
Decorations are everywhere, including large, blow-up Soliskin, and booths, banners, and ornamentation are all over the main grounds of the school. And while this redesign work is great, it isn’t the most impressive environmental art the update delivers.
Wuthering Waves has never been shy about creating original locales for its fantasy adventures to take place in. However, the surreal spaces that make up the Dark Side are the game’s most creative setting yet. How the Sonoro sphere twists and changes familiar elements of Startorch into a world fitting for the energies that sustain it drives home the collective stress and pressure the student body of the prestigious academy must endure.
The story takes too long getting to its conclusion.
This pressure is exemplified in Sigrika. Possessing a brilliant mind and a helper complex that would make saints blush, Sigrika is always prepared to take on another task, lest she fail or fall short of someone’s expectations. As Sigrika’s situation escalates, she continues to crumble under the ever-growing weight she puts on herself, even as those around her desperately try to get her to take a break and accept her limitations.
The approach to Sigrika’s problem is excellently handled. Those showing support try their best to help, while avoiding simply heaping more demands on her. The fact that even well-intentioned words of encouragement can become a burden for someone terrified of failing is expertly explored here.
But while Wuthering Waves 3.2‘s core message sticks the landing great, the story spends far too much time reaching its rewarding conclusion. With no other significant plot line for most of the story, the singular focus on Sigrika comes to wear a bit thin. It even feels like the game is aware of this problem.
3.2 provides plenty of fun chances to get to know several of Lahai-Roi’s residents.
For the first time, the game forces the player to sidetrack away from the core story at times, requiring small side stories to be explored before the main plot can be continued. These short stories are enjoyable and filled with charm. From helping Lynae (Elsie Lovelock, Anno 117: Pax Romana) track down a runaway robot to having waffles with Luuk (Griffyn Bellah), these moments are fun chances to get to know several of Lahai-Roi’s residents, outside of a crisis setting.
It’s their placement within the narrative structure that feels wrong. These feel like separate stories that should be available for enjoyment at your leisure, not packed into the center of the update. Even though the narrative works in moments where Rover is forced into a holding pattern before more can be done, giving an excuse to kill time with friends, they just feel like padding here.
While some cast interactions struggle with poor placement, one returning character gets a great, if brief, chance to shine. During one of Rover and Sigrika’s excursions into the Dark Side, they run into Chisa (Leader Looi, Black Myth: Wukong), who aids the duo in their mission. As Chisa’s largely absent status has been one of the community’s larger complaints since she accompanied Rover to Lahai-Roi, seeing her here now is sure to excite many.
Chisa and Sigrika remain on the field with Rover instead of joining the player’s party.
Helping make the most of her brief time on stage is a new approach to guest characters that Kuro introduces in Wuthering Waves 3.2. Rather than adding Chisa to the player’s party, Chisa and Sigrika remain on the field with Rover for much of the patch, atonously controlled. This gives the battles the trio fights through more of a team-up feel, as all three get to fight at the same time.
The other surprising scene stealer is Sigrika’s best friend, Denia. From the first moment you are introduced to the character, there is an off feeling to the girl. From the god’s eye view that the player has, it’s clear that she doesn’t have Sigrika’s best interests at heart.
What makes Denia so memorable is how well the game obfuscates her insidiousness from the rest of the characters. She says just enough things that seem to have no ulterior motive to throw someone without artistic camera angles and musical cues to pick up on, off of the girl’s nefarious intent.
Wuthering Waves 3.2 delivers an update that fits solidly into the good category.
The big new post-game element that arrives in this patch is a new Tactical Hologram. Hyvatia arrives to plague players with its high mobility and resistance to Spectro Damage. The boss’s quick darting motions and complex actions can make it a real trick to stay ahead of, ensuring a solid challenge for many players.
While there is a new post-game boss for fans to cut their teeth on, there’s, of course, also a new aid in Sigrika. Her echo damage-centric kit is unique. How she builds up her forte gauge and strings enhanced heavy attacks and resonance skills together gives her a different focus than many other characters. How much she teams up with the Soliskin in many of her animations brings a strong amount of charm to the character’s design as well.
Aside from the main story and post-game content, Wuthering Waves 3.2 also introduces players to Startorch Academy’s arcade. With two machines available to enjoy, players can try out a space ship rhythm game or a fun, pixel art game that tasks players with catching falling items.
The rhythm game looks to offer some genuine challenge as tracks sport some interesting designs. Button prompts are clear and well laid out, offering players a fair challenge. And with each track sporting three difficulty settings, there could be some legitimate work ahead for those looking to triple S rank every song.
Wuthering Waves 3.2 delivers an update that fits solidly into the good category. Its great core message and strong character design help keep it afloat, but its unwavering focus on Sigrika makes the plot feel a bit too thin.
Wuthering Waves is available on PC, PlayStation, and mobile devices.
