As a longtime aficionado of action RPGs, I found myself utterly captivated by the intriguing gameplay and narrative of Black Myth: Wukong. The Soulslike elements are undeniably present, yet the developers have asserted that this is not a Soulslike but an action RPG in its purest form. This emphasis on player freedom, allowing us to create our own combos and find our unique playstyle, resonates deeply with me.
In our conversation about the launch triumph of Black Myth: Wukong, it’s been said that over 4.5 million copies were sold on its first day, solely from pre-orders. On Steam, the game peaked with an impressive 2.223 million concurrent players, surpassing the numbers of other notable releases such as Palworld, Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and more. But that was approximately a few days back.
On August 23rd, Game Science announced that the game title had sold approximately 10 million copies in just a few days (adjusting for Beijing time). This record-breaking performance on Steam attracted an astounding 2,415,714 players simultaneously, making it the second most popular game ever played. Within the last day alone, more than 2 million people were engaged in this phenomenal game. As of now, there are over 399,057 user reviews on Steam, with an impressive 96% positive rating, earning a “Overwhelmingly Positive” status. This remarkable success unfolded over the course of just seven days!
The developer also confirmed a cumulative three million peak concurrent players on all platforms. Remember that the Xbox Series X/S version hasn’t even been released. Without the delay, Black Myth: Wukong’s success may have gone even further beyond.
Instead of just focusing on the reasons for the game’s popularity and why people adore it, let’s also delve into the developer’s mindset before its launch. We can explore how they initially conceived the idea, their reaction to sudden fame, and especially, their commitment to keeping all promises. The journey began with…
The Original Vision
Right from the start, it was evident that Game Science aimed for the narrative’s principles to influence the game mechanics, including the transformations and Wukong’s telescopic staff.
For a developer who began with just seven team members and has since produced successful mobile games, this was a chance to achieve their ultimate goal: Creating a top-tier console game that truly represented the genre. In an interview with IGN China in September 2020, after the first trailer for “Wukong” was unveiled, art director Yang Qi said to game producer Feng Ji, “Now is the time to do what we’ve always wanted to do.”
Developing games involves numerous alterations, unexpected hurdles, discarded material, and countless other potential issues. It’s astonishing that Game Science has managed to stay true to its initial concept over the years, especially considering it began on a modest level.
Managing Expectations
Looking back now, the debut trailer was designed primarily for recruitment purposes. But surprisingly, it gained massive popularity, causing a flood of curiosity and both awe and doubt due to its incredibly realistic graphics. What stands out most about this situation is how Game Science handled it.
Referring back to IGN China’s report from 2020, producer Feng Ji acknowledged the positive feedback but expressed concern that the game might have been “excessively hyped.” He cautioned against letting the hype affect them unduly. Despite this, he emphasized that the extraordinary popularity of the trailer indicated a need for the team to strive for even greater excellence in the final product.
He mentioned that they might be out of contact for an extended period as they currently need to focus on completing their project. It’s unexpected how well the trailer has been received, but it also presents a tough task for their next unveiling. If they can’t create something even more impressive than this trailer, they won’t share it with the global audience, he noted.
Initially, Blackwind Mountain, one of Game Science’s first completed levels, didn’t fully meet their expectations at the time. In conversations with PC Gamer and Eurogamer before launch, they expressed that they were still fine-tuning the pace of the game’s story in the first chapter because there wasn’t a lot happening yet. Although the game still needs some polishing to smooth out its rough edges, this approach over time showcases Game Science’s commitment to maintaining a humble attitude and continually enhancing the gaming experience.
Not a Soulslike
As a gamer, I’ve noticed a significant number of Soulslike aspects in Black Myth: Wukong. From the stamina system, the necessity of dodging, to the respawn points, it sure feels like a Souls game at first glance. But, during an interview with Eurogamer, the development team made it clear that this isn’t just another Soulslike; instead, it’s an action RPG at its core. They highlighted that the game places a strong emphasis on player freedom, enabling us to develop our unique combos and find our own playstyle.
Despite personally preferring Elden Ring, it’s clear that there’s a broad appreciation for action RPGs in general. This diverse fanbase suggests a vast and welcoming market for such games. As a representative of our company stated, “We firmly believe that this market is expansive and accommodating, capable of housing numerous titles. We welcome this healthy competition, and we are optimistic about its potential impact.” Moreover, by emphasizing character development and the protagonist’s journey, we aim to create an immersive action title experience.
Not an Open World Title
One point that attracted both praise and some confusion was the structure of the game, which is linear rather than open-world. In an interview with Eurogamer, a representative explained that Wukong isn’t an open-world title but a story-driven game where the action unfolds sequentially. Initially, levels were simpler, but as the game progressed, larger environments became more common.
Upon its release, I was blown away by how richly layered and filled with hidden bosses this game turned out to be – something the developers hadn’t really hinted at beforehand. Yet, they managed to deliver on every front. Whether they could have created such a captivating experience within an open-world setting is debatable, but the fact that Game Science was able to maintain such high quality with a linear format truly speaks volumes about their talent.
Telling a Complete Story
Although there were plans to develop two additional games set within the Black Myth universe, Game Science was firm in ensuring that Wukong’s story was brought to a satisfying conclusion. As their representative shared with Eurogamer last June, “Our goal for this game is to narrate a comprehensive tale not just about battles but also about characters. We put great effort into creating characters with depth and substance, and after playing the game, we want players to connect emotionally with the protagonist’s journey.”
In a conversation with PC Gamer, a studio representative shared that in the game Black Myth: Wukong, they aim to conclude the stories of many main characters by providing each player their unique journey. This narrative strategy also applies to the enemies, who are designed to be more than just obstacles to overcome; instead, they’re intended to be complex and well-rounded characters with their own dimensions.
In a nutshell, numerous factors played a role in the impressive graphics of Black Myth: Wukong, including the art direction’s creativity and aesthetics, as well as the absence of microtransactions at launch (and even if any were introduced later, they wouldn’t be pay-to-win). One might argue that this game is another demonstration of single-player games dominating the scene, but I contend it’s further evidence that a clear vision triumphs against all obstacles. Regardless of whether you enjoy the game, adore it, or acknowledge its merits without fully connecting with it, there’s no disputing that Black Myth: Wukong exceeds expectations.
Please take note that while the opinions shared within this piece are those of the writer, they may not reflect the collective viewpoint of GamingBolt as a whole. The article’s content should not be ascribed to GamingBolt as an entity.
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2024-08-29 14:12