Black Myth: Wukong’s Emphasis on Backtracking Is a Double-Edged Sword

Black Myth: Wukong's Emphasis on Backtracking Is a Double-Edged Sword

Key Takeaways

  • Backtracking in Black Myth: Wukong expands the game world without physically increasing its size.
  • Black Myth: Wukong’s heavy reliance on backtracking can lead to useless rewards and obsolete items if players progress too far past these areas.
  • Lack of clarity on when to backtrack and the absence of a map in Black Myth: Wukong makes the process challenging for players.

As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for Soulslike games and a soft spot for backtracking, I must say that Black Myth: Wukong has left me scratching my head and tugging at my beard (well, if I had one). On one hand, I appreciate the game’s clever use of backtracking to make the world feel bigger than it is. It’s like discovering a secret room in your old treehouse – always exciting!


Enthusiasts of Soulslike games will likely recognize the strategy of revisiting previously explored locations, known as backtracking, as a common element in these types of games. Although Black Myth: Wukong isn’t strictly a Soulslike game, it adopts several similar principles, such as returning to areas that were initially locked but can now be accessed and discovering new characters or bosses when certain game conditions are met elsewhere. However, the backtracking in Black Myth: Wukong surpasses that of many other games in both frequency and obscurity, as players may need to revisit areas they’ve already finished numerous times without clear guidance about why they’re doing so.

Exploring backward movements in ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ can be quite fruitful, as it frequently leads to the appearance of new adversaries or triggers events offering players fresh equipment or items. This gameplay feature is commonly utilized within ‘Black Myth: Wukong’, and in many aspects, it enhances the overall gaming experience. However, over-reliance on backtracking can have drawbacks when determining the pace and conclusion of ‘Black Myth: Wukong’s narrative.

The Good and Bad of Black Myth: Wukong’s Approach to Backtracking

Black Myth: Wukong’s Backtracking Makes the World Much Bigger Than It Initially Seems

In many games, the strategy called “backtracking” invites players to re-explore places they’ve previously visited. This technique, viewed from a game design perspective, allows developers to create expansive game worlds without physically expanding them. For example, an area might seem confined or narrow at first, but upon returning after gaining a specific item or ability, that same area may transform, offering players the sensation of uncovering a whole new world hidden within the original. This is a technique frequently used in games like “Black Myth: Wukong“, and the sense of accomplishment derived from discovering each new area can often make the time spent backtracking worthwhile.

Black Myth: Wukong’s Heavy Reliance on Backtracking Can Lead to Useless Rewards for Doing So

Backtracking in ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ is essential to progress not just for the thrill of exploration, but mainly to gather new equipment and resources that significantly enhance your character. Interestingly, these items crafted or obtained via backtracking often surpass those acquired through conventional means such as defeating final bosses. However, a potential pitfall arises when players reach advanced stages of ‘Black Myth: Wukong’s narrative and amass the top-tier gear, rendering any rewards from backtracking redundant.

One potential rephrasing could be: “One challenge in playing Black Myth: Wukong is figuring out if newly obtained items necessitate players to go back to previous areas to gain advantages, and since there’s no map available, it can be tough to tell when an area has been thoroughly explored. To address this problem without altering the game fundamentally, a solution might be to make all equipment and items in the game upgradable so that they become valuable regardless of their origin, as long as they suit a player’s playstyle.”

In the game Black Myth: Wukong, it’s logical because each equipment set offers distinctive advantages tailored for diverse gameplay approaches.

In the game Black Myth: Wukong, revisiting previous levels (backtracking) can offer a satisfying sense of accomplishment, but if too much of the game depends on this feature, it might not justify the effort spent. If all items and armor in Black Myth: Wukong can’t be collected via backtracking and used effectively by the end of the game, then continuing to backtrack could remain a less efficient approach.

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2024-08-25 15:03