Black Myth: Wukong Review

As a seasoned Soulsborne veteran, I must say that my initial journey through the mystical realm of Black Myth: Wukong left me with a bittersweet taste. The early stages, much like a greenhorn’s first day on the job, were riddled with frustrations – from those aggravating invisible walls preventing me from reaching seemingly accessible ledges to the labyrinthine layout that made navigation feel more like a maze than an adventure.

2020’s first trailer for Black Myth: Wukong left me utterly astonished, showcasing stunning visuals and intense, action-packed combat sequences. The game captivated me with its rugged portrayal of the epic Chinese novel Journey to the West, a captivating tale I’ve been eagerly waiting to see adapted into a video game. Since then, there’s been some debate about whether Black Myth: Wukong is indeed a Soulslike game or leans more towards character action games such as God of War and Devil May Cry. After investing 30 hours delving into the world of Black Myth: Wukong and engaging in countless battles against formidable bosses, I can confidently affirm that this game will resonate with Soulslike enthusiasts, but might disappoint those seeking a different gaming experience altogether.

Anyone going into Black Myth: Wukong expecting it to be more God of War or Devil May Cry than Soulslike is in for a rude awakening. While there’s been some insistence that Black Myth: Wukong is not a Soulslike, there’s little differentiating it from other games in the genre, and it absolutely will not be fun for those who prefer traditional character action games. There are a handful of boss fights in Black Myth: Wukong that will test even seasoned Souls fans’ skills and patience. On the flip side, many Black Myth: Wukong bosses are quite easy. The mini-bosses found in the world can all be beaten without too much trouble, and even some of the bigger bosses can be taken out fairly quickly. However, the hard bosses serve as giant roadblocks that can leave players stuck for hours, which is not typical of most character action games. Full stop: If you don’t like Soulslikes and the stiff challenge associated with them, you will not like Black Myth: Wukong.

The question of distinguishing Black Myth: Wukong from games in the Soulslike genre is intriguing, given that the game appears to be heavily inspired by FromSoftware’s design. Players traverse from one sanctuary to another (equivalent to bonfires in Black Myth), slaying adversaries for experience points and recuperating using a gourd with a restricted number of uses before it needs replenishing. The gourds are refilled when resting at the sanctuaries/bonfires, an action that also restores the Destined One’s health and mana, respawns all enemies in the level, and prepares them for the next challenge. Although levels are more linear than those in FromSoftware games, they retain a labyrinthine quality with branching paths and hidden shortcuts. The game places great emphasis on grueling boss battles that require players to dodge as much as their stamina allows to avoid being hit. Unlike many Soulslikes, Black Myth does not offer a feature where lost experience points can be regained if the player returns to the spot where they died.

In contrast to many Soulslikes, Black Myth stands out by limiting players to primarily wield one weapon – the mythical staff reminiscent of the one from the classic Chinese novel, Journey to the West. Despite this singularity, players can customize their gameplay experience through the selection of a “build” based on character level-up choices and placement of skill points into various stances. Each stance offers unique heavy attacks, which are executed by filling up the Focus meter. Over time, the lack of weapon diversity becomes a challenge for the game, but switching between stances maintains a sense of novelty for an extended period. Interestingly, Black Myth includes an intriguing twist that keeps its combat engaging for longer than it might otherwise be.

In the action-packed game Black Myeth: Wukong, spells significantly shape combat encounters. As players progress, they will discover an assortment of entertaining spells. One of these enables players to momentarily freeze their adversaries, making them vulnerable for attack. Another spell summons replicas of the player, while yet another bestows the power to temporarily transform into specific enemies, including their unique move-sets and health meters. Each spell in Black Myeth: Wukong requires mana and has a substantial cooldown period, meaning clever use is vital for conquering the game’s challenging battles.

In addition to casting spells and battling foes using a staff, Black Myth: Wukong grants players the ability to momentarily summon spectral versions of certain opponents for an intense assault. With numerous spirits to gather, Black Myth resembles a collection experience similar to that in Pokemon. The excitement of discovering new spirits and trying them out during combat is palpable, making it an enjoyable experience. Upgrades can be made to these spirits, encouraging players to explore all options and determine which ones harmonize best with their preferred playstyle.

Black Myth: Wukong Combat is a Mixed-Bag

When everything falls into place, battling in Black Myth: Wukong feels almost like a graceful dance. Players skillfully dodge at the last moment to avoid incoming attacks, counter with powerful strikes to disrupt their adversary’s next move, immobilize them, and finally summon spirits to deliver the final blow. It can be exhilarating, but players should prepare for both enjoyment and considerable frustration. The combat has a somewhat repetitive, button-mashing quality, particularly during the more robust boss fights, which makes dying and having to start over even more tiresome than in other games of its kind. Unlike similar games, Black Myth: Wukong didn’t provide me with the intense sense of achievement upon defeating its toughest bosses.

As an ardent admirer of Black Myth: Wukong, I’ve noticed a hiccup or two in this captivating title. Though my journey didn’t encounter any game-halting glitches, there are technical snags that players might stumble upon. Occasionally, summoning spirits would momentarily slow down or halt the game, which, though brief, can be crucial in challenging encounters. On other occasions, invoking spirits failed to register, causing the Destined One to spin the staff instead of unleashing the spirit’s power. The game requires simultaneous presses of both triggers for summoning spirits, but occasionally, it seems to interpret these inputs as a different action. Certain actions linked to the bumpers also felt less responsive at times, adding an extra layer of frustration, especially in a game like this. Lastly, there were instances where the audio and subtitles got mixed up, with English switching to Chinese and vice versa. Thankfully, these incidents were rare, but there were some instances where the audio simply dropped out without any subtitles to provide context.

If the story mattered significantly, then Black Myth’s narrative shortcomings might be a bigger issue. However, the story in Black Myth is generally insignificant. It guides players through different levels, featuring characters based on those from “Journey to the West.” Though there is a larger narrative, each section also has its own self-contained tale. The dialogue is awkward and the voice acting is underwhelming. Yet, most people who play these types of games aren’t doing so for the story. Soulslike enthusiasts probably won’t mind Black Myth’s lackluster story, but those expecting something akin to traditional character action games may be left feeling let down.

The story of Black Myth didn’t particularly resonate with me, but I must admit there are some visually stunning moments and oddball characters in this game. The graphics in Black Myth: Wukong are generally impressive, showcasing stunning landscapes and captivating character designs. There are many awe-inspiring animations and memorable boss designs throughout the game, although some of them can feel repetitive and lack originality. In fact, I encountered a secret boss that was merely a reskinned mini-boss from another chapter, which was disappointing. Despite the visual uniqueness of many bosses, their fights often felt similar. This might be due to the character being restricted to using only a staff, but by halfway through the game, I felt like I had experienced all the combat had to offer. Shorter gameplay duration or more freedom in spell selection could have prevented this repetition, but as it stands, players can only assign certain spells to specific slots, which seems unnecessarily restrictive and hinders the combat potential.

Fighting in the initial stages of Black Myth: Wukong feels repetitive as the level design lacks excitement. The early levels seem dull and monotonous, consisting mainly of mini-boss battles interspersed with sparse environments that restrict player exploration or jumping to areas that appear accessible but are blocked by invisible walls. This initial level design fails to make a strong first impact. However, as you progress through the game, the later chapters offer a broader scope and more intriguing experiences, with additional elements to discover between boss fights, although they might extend slightly too long.

An invisible wall blocks you from jumping on this ledge.

Finishing a chapter in the game Black Myph: Wukong grants players entry to a fresh location, but they can also revisit earlier chapters through shrines that function as quick-travel spots. Players might find it beneficial to return to previously visited areas to engage with unique NPCs, similar to other Soulslike games where conversations with these characters multiple times may be necessary to set off certain events and uncover all the information they have to share. There are optional merchants that can be easily overlooked but prove crucial, so those not fond of the Soulslike style of handling NPCs might find Black Myph: Wukong frustrating due to its approach to these characters.

Black Myth: Wukong Has Some Needless Frustrations

In the game Black Myth: Wukong, some players might be frustrated due to the absence of objective markers and a map, which are common features in Soulslike games. Regrettably, it appears that this title doesn’t include these elements. While veterans of the genre might find it intriguing, many newcomers or those less familiar with the series could struggle to progress once they reach a certain point in the game, as there won’t be clear guidance on where to go next.

In the final stages of play, feeling frustrated often arises due to a lack of clear objectives, yet players may also grow impatient with the game’s challenging boss encounters. One issue with Black Myth: Wukong‘s boss fights is that its leveling system doesn’t always enable direct improvements to base stats as found in most other Soulslike games. Instead, it employs skill trees, leading players to invest points into abilities and attributes that may seem unnecessary to reach desired skills. A vendor offers a limited supply item that allows characters to level up traditionally, but these enhancements don’t feel impactful enough.

Black Myth: Wukong deviates from being categorized as a Soulslike game, but it certainly aims at appealing to fans of that genre. It’s not the best in the category, nor is it the weakest imitation of the Dark Souls series. If you approach it expecting a typical Soulslike experience with challenging boss battles and standard level design interspersed, you will likely enjoy it more than if you anticipate a traditional character action game.

Under the title “Black Myth: Wukong“, the game is set to debut on August 20, available on both PC and PlayStation 5. An Xbox Series X/S version is currently being developed as well. For this review, Game Rant received a PC access code.

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2024-08-16 17:05