Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG developed by Game Science, inspired by the classic 16th-century Chinese novel “Journey to the West”. The game follows the adventures of Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, a central character in the novel.
Journey to the West is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It tells the story of the monk Xuanzang’s pilgrimage to India to obtain sacred Buddhist texts, accompanied by his three protectors: Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie (Pigsy), and Sha Wujing (Sandy). Sun Wukong, the most famous of the trio, is known for his incredible strength, agility, and magical abilities, including shapeshifting and summoning mini-clones of himself.
In Black Myth: Wukong, players control a character based on Sun Wukong, referred to as the “Destined One.” The game features a rich world filled with yaoguai, supernatural creatures from Chinese mythology. These creatures possess various abilities like shapeshifting, creating illusions, and causing diseases. The protagonist wields a magical staff, the Ruyi Jingu Bang, which can change size and is a key element in combat.
The game not only brings to life the fantastical elements of Journey to the West but also delves deep into Chinese folklore and mythology, offering players a unique cultural experience. The yaoguai, for instance, are inspired by ancient Chinese beliefs in supernatural beings. That said, is the game worth your time and your dime? Well, let's find out!
Gameplay: When it comes to gameplay, I have to say that this game is unforgiving. There are some enemies like the wolves that are easier to take on, but don’t get it twisted because some are stronger than others. You will notice that some of the wolves are a bit more put together in regards to their garb, compared to others who are a bit more disheveled. The ones in clean garb seem to have a bit more training... versus swinging wildly only to leave their back exposed like the more inexperienced wolves. That said, don't overlook an enemy who isn’t a boss-type, because they can definitely give you a run for your… Yen.
The combat system in Black Myth: Wukong is both smooth and realistic. While you can skillfully wield your staff to fend off attacks and protect yourself from arrows, there's a limit to how many you can block before some inevitably get through... and you end up with an arrow to the knee. Additionally, not all attacks can be parried, as some enemies are simply too powerful. In many situations, it's best to dodge and wait for the right moment to strike. Initially, your attacks, dodging, and running will be effective to some degree, but as you progress and build up your skill tree, you'll transition from merely surving to becoming a formidable force. Trust me, your badassness awaits!
The skill tree in this game gets me excited because with every upgrade, you're a step closer to God-like status. That excites me because I want to wield that power when it comes to taking on the biggest baddest foes. You use Sparks as the way to upgrade your "Abilities," "Foundation," and your "Spells." Let's take a break from talking about the gameplay and actually check it out... shall we?
I won't hold the initial freeze against them since it doesn't ruin the gameplay.
Visuals: Black Myth: Wukong is visually impressive, especially if your PC has the right specs. I don’t want to give away any spoilers as far as the opening experience is concerned, but what I will say is that it’s grand and gives you an amazing idea of what’s to come. When it comes to the standard visuals, you will see references to Chinese mythology. Outside of the statues and engravings, the influences are also there in terms of the supernatural creatures. Trust me, I’ve seen some crazy stuff in this game, including something that’s larger than life with a boulder-sized head. I came across a Jinchi that looks like some sort of monk, but it’s green and appears to be covered in reptilian scales and has a robe with beads (oh and I can't forget about the tail). I have yet to take on this giant being, but he’s not the only thing I came across while scratching the surface of this mythical adventure.
Minimum Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600
- RAM: 16 GB
- VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB
- DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 8 GB (6GB NVD)
- PIXEL SHADER: 6.0
- VERTEX SHADER: 6.0
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended Specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-9700 / AMD Ryzen 5 5500
- RAM: 16 GB
- VIDEO CARD: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 / AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT / INTEL Arc A750
- DEDICATED VIDEO RAM: 8 GB (6GB NVD)
- PIXEL SHADER: 6.0
- VERTEX SHADER: 6.0
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- FREE DISK SPACE: 130 GB
Audio: This game has some crispy interesting sounds from creatures able to talk, and others delivering creepy grunts, growls, howls, and I don't know what to expect next. Who am I kidding, if I hear a monster pop up telling me that I can save on car insurance... I'm heading for the hills. The creatures that speak are able to make your skin crawl just as much or more... based on how they sound or if you don't see them but... you hear them out of nowhere. When they break through the silence, you just might feel a chill up your spine. Another element when it comes to the audio that you could appreciate is the background music. The music is subtle, but it adds to the depth. It delivers a martial arts movie-like feel with prominent drums leading the way and suble sounds from what sounds like the Dizi, Guzheng, and the Erhu.
Price: Pricewise, you can get Black Myth: Wukong
for $59.99. Is it worth the price? Absolutely, just make sure you have enough hard drive space for your purchase because it requires 130 GB of storage. So just prepare, and with that said, you can just about imagine all the bosses packed into this game. If you take them on strategically, items obtained from besting one boss can help you better take on the next as you level up your badassness (i.e., I obtained the Immobilize Spell while taking on the Bullguard... which has aided me in battle).
You have a ton of replay value here when you think about the skill tree and being sent back to the drawing board to figure out how to better approach a boss, so if this is your type of game, you won’t be sorry in terms of getting your money’s worth. Are you ready to become the "Destined One"?
Black Myth: Wukong is available now on PC & Playstation with Xbox getting a release at a later time.
Gameplay 5
Visuals 5
Audio 5
Price 5
5 out of 5 Cool Points
+ Sophi
Support us below!
