Black Myth: Wukong Review

Black Myth: Wukong has been among the most anticipated games of 2024 ever since Game Science made the first gameplay footage public. After six years of development, Black Myth: Wukong has evolved from a mere concept to a game that has captured the attention of Souls-like and action RPG fans. What once seemed like a Souls-like with graceful melee combat has turned out to be a fully-fledged action RPG featuring magic and skill-based gameplay.

Other than the mobile game Art of War: Red Tides, which is currently on Early Access on Steam, Black Myth: Wukong is literally the very first high-budget game from Game Science. And it's fascinating to see how a developer with no prior experience can take on such an ambitious project.

The evolution of this game is truly impressive, and it feels incredibly satisfying to play. You're thrown into a vicious world where every corner lurks with challenges to overcome. While it appears a bit taxing initially, with the right amount of patience, Black Myth: Wukong is a game that every action RPG fan will adore.

Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King, is a major character in the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West' and serves as the inspiration for the player character known as the Destined One in Black Myth: Wukong. Sun Wukong was one of Tang Sanzang's companions on his journey in search of mystic Buddhist scrolls, and the plot and environment of the game have many significant ties to Chinese mythology, much like the novel.

Everything in the story seemed solid due to its foundation, but Black Myth: Wukong could first seem puzzling if you're used to more straightforward narratives. Characters jump from situation to scenario without backstory, and events don't always follow a strict chronological order.

Even though my knowledge of The Monkey King or Sun Wukong was limited to the movie The Forbidden Kingdom, which I really enjoyed, and in which Jet Li played the role of Sun Wukong, upon starting this game, I was curious to learn about the particular Chinese mythology of the Monkey King.

Black Myth: Wukong's story is shrouded in mystery with beautifully rendered cinematic action and presented with well-designed characters and dialogue during conversations with deep meaning. That being said, I just failed to grasp the story's underlying tone. Nothing really drew me into the game's lore; I was simply going along with the flow. I enjoyed seeing new cutscenes whenever they happened, but I never felt driven or overly attached to them.

The story of Black Myth: Wukong has been broken down into six chapters. You will typically encounter a significantly difficult boss at the end of each chapter; all you require is to make your way to that boss. However, your ride toward the end boss of the chapter isn't as easy as it seems, as you will encounter several mini-bosses who will literally kick your butt. And this is when the difficulty of the game begins. You might look for another alternative route, and guess what? You'll encounter another mini-boss where you also get a similar thrashing. So the game felt a bit overwhelming initially, even though I started it after finishing my second playthrough of Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree.

Until I got used to the mechanism, Black Myth: Wukong felt like a boss rush instead of an action RPG. On rare occasions, you will encounter different NPCs tied to the game's lore, but generally speaking, you can expect nonstop encounters with a large number of regular enemies, a few more challenging ones here and there, and, of course, several mini-bosses and the chapter's final boss.

Seriously, you'll be fighting one boss, then walking down a passage, and suddenly, another boss is waiting to attack you. You are kept on the toes and ready for the next challenge by the game's many combat encounters, which also keep the game fresh and keep you moving forward.

At its core, Black Myth: Wukong is an action-packed adventure game with some mild role-playing features thrown into the mix. You take control of a mystical monkey and go on a very diverse journey, encountering an extensive number of enemies. While there are periodic side quests in different chapters, the game is mainly laid out linearly. Contrary to what many anticipated, it deeply lacks the Souls element, which refers to the challenging and strategic combat mechanism in the Souls games.

In the Souls genre, combat is often about timing, positioning, and understanding enemy patterns, and this level of depth is not fully replicated in Black Myth: Wukong. There are some similarities, such as you can rest and level up at bonfire checkpoints, but that is about all.

There are a few attributes to watch, but you won't be growing abilities based on strength, dexterity, intelligence, stamina, etc. Leveling up, looting, and advancing a character via a skill tree are the only fundamental mechanics, with a few minor gimmicks thrown in for good measure, such as the ability to parry or counter enemy attacks or the use of environmental elements in combat.

Black Myth: Wukong's combat mechanism is not just about brute force; it's a strategic dance. You'll feel right at home if you're familiar with the playstyle of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty or Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice since it's somewhat similar. Your character is equipped with two basic attacks—a heavy and light—and the ability to dodge.

The game's combat system is intricately designed to keep you on your toes, requiring you to switch between the three stances (Smash, Pillar, and Thrust) to execute a charged attack that can shake things up in certain situations. These attacks are vital, as much of the game revolves around building Focus points. Building these points requires effective dodging while hitting enemies simultaneously, or you may use stamina and charge it up before striking.

Once you have enough of these points, you can execute an intense, heavy attack that can generally knock enemies to the ground while giving you further advantages. You can also block opposing enemy attacks, but dodging is your primary line of defense. Dodging perfectly results in a pleasing effect and a little incentive for the player, adding to the strategic depth of the combat system.

Adding to the thrill, you have a Magic meter that can be used for spells and special abilities. This meter is a crucial resource that enhances your combat capabilities. You can also cast spells, which have cooldowns, and use mana. For example, you can make copies of yourself using the A Pluck of Many, so your enemies have someone else to worry about. The initial ability you receive is a momentary freeze on the enemy with the Immobilize spell, akin to immobilizing them briefly, allowing you to land a few hits. My personal favorite was Cloud Step, which made me invisible for the time being.

As the game unfolds, you'll find yourself using attacking and defensive skills that are well-paced, effective, and, most importantly, exciting to use when timed perfectly. Each ability has a cooldown, but the key is to preserve your Magic meter for when you face a challenging enemy, sweetening the excitement of the battle. The legendary staff, Ruyi Jingu Bang, expands during different attacks, increasing the impact of your attacks by using the staff in combinations, which causes it to extend before returning to its normal size.

Black Myth: Wukong offers a unique twist with the ability to acquire enemy skills. This feature adds a layer of variety to the combat system, keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting. After you defeat the gigantic wolf Guangzhi early on, you'll be able to earn an ability called Red Tides. As you progress, you'll defeat enemies and unlock the power to briefly morph into them. This means you can temporarily take on the form of the enemy you defeated, gaining access to their unique skills and abilities.

You get additional health with every transformation since each has its health meter. After this health bar goes down to zero or you've used up all your strength from attacking, you revert to your normal self. Some transformations are permanent, like becoming a new demon and walking about bashing everything around, while others are triggerable, like briefly changing into a different shape for an attack, a poison blast, or something similar. This transformation ability not only adds variety to combat but also allows for the strategic use of enemy skills in different situations, adding a new level of excitement to the gameplay.

While the combat in Black Myth: Wukong may not be perfectly polished, there's potential for improvement. Those seeking a more profound Souls-like experience may find some aspects lacking, but there's hope for the future. The combat animations are stunning, and the game allows you to perform mild blows followed by heavier ones combined with dodge animations that cover a lot of ground. However, you may find yourself repeating a few ideal combinations after a while.

Unless you're up against minor enemies or those who seem like a grind, it won't matter if you aren't following any attack combination. This reminded me of the heavy and light attack combinations that resulted in different end combos in Stellar Blade. The game's potential for improvement leaves room for optimism and the hope of a more refined combat experience, such as introducing more diverse activities between boss fights and combat scenarios or refining the transformation mechanic to make it more integral to the gameplay.

Boss fights in Black Myth: Wukong has to get a special mention as the game stands out for its number of distinctive boss fights, making it exceptionally challenging and remarkable. The difficulty levels are all insane, and some of the bosses have ridiculously outrageous skills. With the variety of bosses and how often you'll become engrossed in a brutal encounter, unleashing your inner merciless warrior during a thrilling run will be a blast.

The best part is that they don't feel repetitive, as the game keeps these fights with fresh and exciting challenges. Though there are times when, after a long struggle, I managed to defeat a boss, it turned out to be a mid-level routine boss with another one waiting right around next door. And the game's mid-bosses are on par with the main ones. You don't get to take any of them lightly.

There were some minor technical issues, which surely will be fixed with a day-one patch. However, one of the major annoyances was that some of the large bosses messed with the camera lock, similar to the issues we have seen in Lies of P, making it hard to see when strikes were coming, and it was completely chaotic when that happened. Another annoyance is that the game lacks a map. Having even a rough outline would be useful since several chapters cover rather large regions. Fast-traveling back to earlier locations or little bonfires is an option, but it doesn't help you navigate the world effectively.

While the game may sometimes provide larger sections with several branching pathways, progress is often limited to one route; thus, linearity remains there even when it doesn't seem like it at first. Not that there's anything fundamentally wrong with it, but the levels are bland and lack creativity, and there are often invisible barriers and a leap that doesn't do anything for most of the game.

Black Myth: Wukong is gorgeous visually. Everything from visuals to creative direction is where the game really shines. Level design is not complicated; all levels have realistic looks. Each chapter's artistic approach delves harmoniously into the environment, and every area has a unique appearance.

Everything from the wolves in the woods to the monks in temples to the demonic creatures and enemies of these regions looks lifelike and is beautifully designed. I also adored the rich sound design of the game, both on and off the combat, which reflects traditional Chinese melody. 

In the end, Black Myth: Wukong is a fantastic game and lives up to its hype. It's an exciting but challenging journey with a distinct setting and approach. Souls enthusiasts might dislike the combat but will undoubtedly love the challenge.

It may seem overwhelming initially to those unfamiliar with action RPGs, but the game's difficulty isn't overly demanding after you get beyond a few boss encounters. If you enjoy restless action and boss encounters, Black Myth: Wukong is the game you should definitely try.