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I've been playing Where Winds Meet almost every day for the past year, and quite a lot has changed since its global launch. I started out as a mostly PvE player, which was my focus for the first six months or so, but these days I spend most of my time in arenas and training terraces, with PvE and guild activities on the side.
As with most live-service games, there's still the occasional debate about how many people actually play Where Winds Meet these days. I can only speak for the Global version, but from what I see, it's in a healthy place. Players leave, new ones arrive, and there's still plenty happening in-game.
Looking back over the past year, we've had Hexi in March, Hidden Mountain in July, several new weapons and bosses, and a bunch of new events and cosmetics. Now, the first anniversary brings Hutuo, a new map within the Hidden Mountain region. It's one of the updates I've been looking forward to the most, and story-wise, it's probably my favourite since Kaifeng.
The Map
Hutuo is a medium-sized map divided into four regions, roughly comparable in size to the previous two region updates. It's part of Hidden Mountain, although it isn't directly connected to the existing map.
The environment mixes the rocky cliffs and mountains you'd expect from Hidden Mountain with river valleys, while Khitan soldiers are scattered across the region. The overall atmosphere is excellent, and the music does a lot to bring the area to life. Like Hexi, Hutuo lets you switch between pre-war and post-war versions of the map after completing the main quest and its final boss. The northern part opens up after progressing through the main story, while the western area is tied to another quest after it, which I feel might not appeal to all players.
Setting and Story
Hutuo opens through the Lost Chapter quest, which starts with an NPC on the existing Hidden Mountain map. You bring him a gift, and he begins telling you the story of a nameless hero, Uncle Jiang. Before long, you're taken sixteen years into the past.
This is where Uncle Jiang's adoptive father, General Wang Qing, died, and where Uncle Jiang found the protagonist as a baby. You get to fight alongside a younger Uncle Jiang and learn more about his sudden disappearance. The main quest eventually brings everything back to the general's shrine in Qinghe.
There's also a small anniversary detail I liked - the MC mentions that it's been a year since we left home, which is a nice touch considering how much time has passed since the global launch.
The main story revolves around the battle at Zhongdu Bridge. You fight alongside other wanderers and Uncle Jiang, helping cover the civilians' retreat. It's a battle you can't win, and the game does a good job of making that clear. The cutscenes are great, the atmosphere is amazing, and the music deserves a special mention. It adds a lot to the bigger moments.
We've had quite a bit of walking and talking in previous main quests, Hexi in particular, so I was glad to see Hutuo pick up the pace. There's much more action here, with some really awesome sequences, and it all builds up to the fight against the Khitan general, Xiao Han. He's a two-phase boss, and he pulls out a huge axe in the second phase. Watching my drums & fan character go toe to toe with a three-metre general swinging something probably seven times my weight was absolutely ridiculous, but more to it I'd love to see an axe added as a martial art weapon at some point. Maybe this was a tease? The weapon effects are top-notch as always.
Where Winds Meet Hutuo: Boss Fights
His wife, Yelu Abuli, also appears as a World Boss as a Khitan shaman. It's a cool fight, and the music during this encounter is probably my favourite in the whole game, and I found myself enjoying the soundtrack almost as much as the fight itself.
Everything Else
For players who aren't spending money on gacha cosmetics, Lingering Melodies are probably the main rewards to hunt down in Hutuo. There are several ways to collect them right after the update:
- Completing the main quest rewards you with the Bleak Memories outfit, as well as another Lingering Melody later in the questline.
- There are 100 names to collect by talking to NPCs with a special icon above their heads. Some NPCs only appear before or after the battle, so you may need to switch between the two map versions. Collecting all 100 rewards another Lingering Melody.
- Two more Lingering Melodies are available through Melody Amid Reeds and The Deepest Cut quests.
- Five additional Lingering Melodies can be collected from martial artists / rogue champions.
The first anniversary also brings over $150 worth of rewards for Global players. The biggest one is a free outfit of your choice from a selection of 12 outfits, each valued at 2,580 Echo Beads.
There are also more than 40 Lingering Melodies available through anniversary events and in-game rewards, including those found in Hutuo. More free outfits, along with various accessories and other items, will arrive throughout November and December.
Final Thoughts
A year after global launch, I'm still logging in almost every day. Between the guild, PvP and whatever new region or weapon comes next, there's always something to do, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the second year brings.
Hutuo is a great way to start it. The story takes us back to the beginning, gives us more context about Uncle Jiang and the protagonist, and has some of the best quest sequences we've had so far. The action is a welcome change after some of the slower main quests, and the music and atmosphere make the experience even better. Add the anniversary rewards and upcoming Dual Spears, and there's plenty for both returning and regular players to look forward to.
The Good
Excellent atmosphere and soundtrack- Engaging story with more context about Uncle Jiang
- Action-packed main quest
- Fun boss fights, impressive weapon effects
- Generous anniversary rewards
The Bad
Parts of the map are locked behind quests
