Black Myth: Wukong Review – Martial Arts at its Finest

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that Black Myth: Wukong has managed to captivate me in ways few games have in recent memory. While the progression system may not be as intricate as some of the greats like FromSoftware, it was certainly a refreshing change for me, someone who’s battled countless bosses in the Souls series.

Initially displayed back in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong caused quite a stir in the gaming world due to its exhilarating action sequences and stunning landscapes, elements that have been key features of action games for years. As more demonstrations were unveiled, excitement grew, but as I’ve learned from past experiences, it’s wise to keep anticipation under control. While the gameplay footage and trailers consistently looked promising, showcasing the smooth action and meticulously crafted settings, my optimism remained guarded.

As a gamer, I’ve seen plenty of Soulslikes and action RPGs hitting the market every year. Frankly, when I first heard about Black Myth: Wukong, it felt like just another title trying to ride the genre’s wave of popularity. After all, it was coming from a new studio, which made me question if it could live up to its promises. However, after diving into the game for hours, Black Myth: Wukong proved me wrong by not only meeting its initial commitment but surpassing it significantly.

If you’re new to the game and unfamiliar with its backstory, “Black Myth: Wukong” is inspired by the novel “Journey to the West.” The narrative in this game seems straightforward, making it accessible for many players. Unlike other Soulslikes that convey their stories through complex environmental cues, item descriptions, and NPC behaviors, “Black Myth: Wukong” tells its story more traditionally. It’s not like “Elden Ring,” where you need to gather scattered lore fragments from around the world, but rather it resembles the narrative style of classic action games.

In the game “Black Myph: Wukong’s”, the combat is primarily based on martial arts, and it draws inspiration from various contemporary games. However, what sets it apart is a strong resemblance to “Bloodborne,” as it prioritizes fast evasions and rapid strikes in its gameplay mechanics.

Instead of criticizing Elden Ring, I’d like to express that I prefer my games to have clear narratives, and Black Myth: Wukong certainly delivers in this aspect. Although I can’t dive deep into its lore here, I can tell you that the protagonist’s journey is thrilling and action-packed. The game features well-designed cutscenes, impressive localization, and compelling dialogue delivery, with a touch of humor to keep things interesting. This makes it easy for me to become immersed in the story.

In the game “Black Myph: Wukong”, the combat style is heavily influenced by several contemporaries, but it particularly resembles “Bloodborne” due to its focus on nimble dodges and rapid attacks. The 2015 masterpiece from FromSoftware was all about player reflexes, and much of this is evident in “Black Myph: Wukong”. As you advance through the story, the challenges become increasingly tough, and each type of enemy demands unique strategies to conquer them.

In essence, the fundamental strategy stays consistent: attack, evade, conserve energy, then attack. This is reminiscent of the gameplay in Sekiro, which features a single primary weapon. Similarly, in Black Myth: Wukong, players will initially be limited to their reliable staff, which they can enhance as they advance within the game. Although this setup might seem standard, the game captivates with its extensive skill set, transformations, and magical abilities, adding a layer of intrigue to combat.

With each foe you vanquish, the main character accumulates experience points, which later become available skill points. These points can be invested in learning fresh staff positions, such as Smash, Pillar, and Thrust. As their names suggest, abilities associated with the Smash stance are primarily designed for engaging enemies directly, whereas the Pillar stance enables players to stand on their staff and execute long-range attacks. The Thrust stance, however, is centered around powerful charge attacks. The usefulness of each stance varies based on the kind of adversary being confronted and the playstyle you prefer.

Black Myth: Wukong Review – Martial Arts at its Finest

The game additionally offers a variety of enchanting spells at your disposal. For example, you can freeze foes, conjure several doppelgangers, and even assume the form of an enemy with unique skills, all under certain circumstances.

Instead of primarily focusing on investing your points in Smash stance abilities due to their ease of execution, a more daring player might prefer to allocate points across various stances to unlock exciting moves they offer. Additionally, points can be used to enhance your total Stamina, Martial Arts proficiency, and Survival skills as well.

In every location, unique hurdles arise, but the game offers you the option to restart all your points and customize them based on enemy vulnerabilities. This adaptability keeps me hooked, as I’m constantly tweaking my skill tree for the optimal balance. The game also boasts a variety of enchanting spells, such as freezing foes, summoning doppelgangers, or even assuming an enemy’s form with unique abilities. Many of these spells are time-limited, but by investing points, you can extend their duration or intensity. In summary, the skill system is a blast to play around with, and for those who love tinkering, it will be a treasure trove – as long as they can advance far enough into the game’s mechanics.

As a gamer immersed in Black Myth: Wukong’s world, I can share that the gameplay progression adheres to a familiar action RPG structure. Much like other games, you accumulate levels, gather skill points, and employ them to enhance your character’s might. However, there’s an additional element, Will – the in-game currency, which you collect to acquire various goods such as healing potions and boosts. There’s also a crafting system for creating new armor components, but unlike traditional games, these parts automatically unlock as you advance through the game, eliminating the need for extensive searching. I found the progression system to be straightforward and, while it may lack the intricate detail of a FromSoftware title, it suited my preferences just fine. For those seeking more precision in weapon and armor customization, they might find it less satisfying.

Black Myth: Wukong Review – Martial Arts at its Finest

The expansive areas offer plenty of room for adventure, making them ideal for challenging optional boss battles and collecting resources.

Initially, the game Black Myth: Wukong left me perplexed due to its unique world layout. At first, it follows a largely sequential level structure, but later expands into a vast playground. Surprisingly, this expansive area is ideal for engaging in optional boss battles and gathering items. However, what’s astonishing is that the game lacks any navigation or map assistance.

While I appreciate the concept of self-guided discovery, navigating without any guidance tools can be quite frustrating, especially when there are optional locations within the game. This is one of the few problems I’ve encountered with the game, and it’s definitely not a minor issue. Despite this drawback, the diverse environments in Black Myth: Wukong are stunningly well-crafted, offering a beautiful mix of lush green forests, expansive deserts, snowy landscapes, and more. Exploring every corner of this game is an enjoyable experience, despite its linear and open aspects.

In the game Black Myth: Wukong, it’s the boss battles that truly shine. These encounters are frequent, ranging from easy to challenging, providing ample opportunities for players to experiment with the game’s skill system. I personally spent a few hours adjusting the system during one particular sequence just to find the right balance. Some of these boss fights can be quite frustrating, but if you can discern their moves and patterns, you’ll soon bring them down. Thankfully, most boss battles aren’t overly tough, making Black Myth: Wukong a more approachable adventure compared to other action RPGs and Soulslikes.

Black Myth: Wukong Review – Martial Arts at its Finest

“To put it simply, Black Myth: Wukong is a fantastic game.”

In terms of appearance, the game “Black Myth: Wukong” appears visually impressive, largely due to the Unreal Engine 5. The characters and meticulously designed bosses exude an air of visual assurance. I had a chance to play this game on a PC, but couldn’t consistently maintain a steady 60 frames per second. However, performance was generally satisfactory, with the game typically running at around 30 to 45 FPS. Adding to its visual appeal is the impressive soundtrack, which becomes prominent during boss battles, serving as a reminder of the high stakes involved in the gameplay.

Wukong is an outstanding game. It offers immersive combat, a skill system that’s worth mastering, and top-notch production quality. Admittedly, it has its flaws, but they haven’t stopped me from playing it whenever I get the chance. Black Myth: Wukong is undeniably one of the best action games you can play in 2024.

This game was reviewed on PC.

2024-08-16 17:11

Read More