A legendary myth meets jaw-dropping visuals. Black Myth: Wukong will be released on August 20, 2024 in PlayStation 5 and Windows.
With its trailer first revealed in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has already raised anticipation from the community. However, a question is raised as its release inches closer. Does Black Myth: Wukong live up to the hype?
Stunning Visuals and Atmosphere
Give it up to Black Myth: Wukong for its astonishing visual presentation. The game environment is brimming with details, which makes it appealing and stunningly gorgeous. The intricacy of its environment, from chipped tree bark to real-time snow deformation, presents the immersive world of the game.
As it draws inspiration from Chinese mythology, its art direction leans on Chinese culture. This brings out a refreshingly unique setting in comparison to the many Western-inspired games.
The sound design and music fit with the visuals, which lifts the atmosphere of the game. There is a contrasting point between drum-driven battle themes and a melodic exploration of music that features traditional Chinese instruments. This takes the gaming experience to a higher level.
Definitely, Black Myth: Wukong’s audio-visual package makes it one of the most visually striking and aurally pleasing games in recent memory.
Combat: A Satisfying Challenge
With clear influences from the “Soulslike” genre, Black Myth: Wukong offers fantastic action to its audiences. They blend reflex-based gameplay and strategic resource management to bring refreshing combat.
With that, the players have access to a variety of tools, such as:
- Light and heavy attacks with the Monkey King’s legendary staff
- A focus meter for powerful, varied combos
- Spells with different tactical applications
- Transformations into defeated enemies
- Spirit skills for devastating single attacks
For some, the game can be extremely challenging during the boss fights. However, as you overcome these obstacles, you’ll feel rewarded rather than unfair. Moreover, to avoid overwhelming the players with the options available, it added a measured pace in its combat system.
Boss Battles: The Highlight
The high points of Black Myth: Wukong are the boss encounters. It gained praise for its consistently impressive designs. Apart from that, it has memorable mechanics that effectively challenge the players’ skills.
Like any other game, some of the bosses can be relatively easy to pass. However, it will require multiple attempts and strategy adjustments during major obstacles in the players’ journey.
Exploration and Level Design
Black Myth: Wukong’s game world has a “wide-linear” structure. The main path is clear, with ample opportunities for exploration. As you venture off the beaten path, rewards await the players, such as useful items, secret bosses, and permanent upgrades.
However, you might find yourself frustrated at some point by the lack of a map in these large, secret-filled areas. It makes searching difficult because of the inability to see the directions.
Story and Characters
It draws inspiration from the classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” where Wukong is a character. Although it features some stunning animated vignettes between the chapters, the narrative receives less praise.
You’ll have a mute protagonist and side characters without decent development in motion. There is also an assumption in the game that the players are familiar with the source material. Thus, it can confuse some players with the narration of the story.
Technical Issues Cast a Shadow
While its visuals strike a promising future, the technical problems are piling up upon its launch. The game crashes sometimes during the crucial moments of the game. Meanwhile, in its audio, there are some issues encountered, such as the dialogue cutting out and the unexpected language switching.
You have to take note as well, though, that some experiences fall through the cracks during certain encounters. Most importantly, it has unresponsive controls at times, which is frustrating when in-game. However, the post-launch patches can solve these issues to improve the overall game experience..
The Verdict: Flawed but Ambitious
Black Myth: Wukong is indeed a good game. With its visually stunning world, exhilarating combat, and remarkable boss encounters, the game remains to do a decent job of providing.
However, the game also has issues on the technical side and on the display, like the lack of a map. This holds back the game from true greatness. Yet, the game has the potential to gain the interest of many in the community with its refreshing scenery and story.
