Ever since the release of its breathtaking trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has had the gaming world abuzz. It’s poised to be a new classic with beautiful visuals and heart-pumping action. The game hooked fans with its inspiration drawn from the Chinese epic Journey to the West. But does it really deliver on that promise, or does it disappoint? Check out this detailed Black Myth WuKong Review to know more!
Souls like Through and Through
We should be clear about one thing: Black Myth: Wukong is an unapologetic Soulslike game. If you don’t like Soulslike games, you should accept that all those previous claims stating otherwise are wrong. Anybody who has ever played Dark Souls or Sekiro will find the gameplay structure familiar. So, one fights through a level—one uses the experience of destroying enemies—and heals at these shrines, similar to bonfires, where one can save and heal. Once you entered, the level would renew, bringing back all the defeated enemies.
The game is partly made up of linear levels, though filled with an equal measure of branching paths and shortcuts that make it attractive to explore. Primary emphasis is placed on the boss fights, which vary in difficulty from easy to very hard. Some will test even experienced players, while others will be a breeze. For those not acclimated to the brutal difficulty of Soulslikes, Black Myth: Wukong may irritate rather than excite. End
Combat: A Mixed Bag
Black Myth: Wukong has bursts of incredibly thrilling combat. This game has only one weapon: the legendary staff from Journey to the West, known as the Ruyi Jingu Bang. Mastering different stances and heavy attacks is required of players. While this may appear slightly alienating because the weapon diversity is absent, the combat still feels fresh because of the ability to switch between stances.
The highlight of the game is the spell system. The player can unlock various spells, such as immobilizing opponents, summoning duplicates, and many more. These spells, while draining mana and on cooldown, really add a layer of strategy to the battles. However, the combat system could be better; sometimes, especially in intense boss fights, the button response tends to become unresponsive, leading to a very frustrating moment.
Technical Issues and Level Design
Despite Black Myth: Wukong’s visual splendour, it’s not without technical hiccups. Sometimes, the use of the spirits in battle can make the game stutter or freeze. There are also issues with audio and subtitles, occasionally switching languages or cutting out entirely.
Level design feels underwhelming for the first part of the game. Taking place in the first few stages feels empty and needs more constraints. Levels later in the game bring more complexity and interest to the table, but they occasionally linger past the point of welcome. There’s a little more depth to it if you go back through sections from earlier chapters to hunt down hidden NPCs and merchants, but that will irritate those who favour a far more straightforward path.
A Disjointed Story And Minor Irritants
The story is very commonplace in Black Myth: Wukong. It falters all the way back behind the scenes and doesn’t drive the game, with awkward dialogue and weird voice performances. Although the game focuses on combat and exploration, a thin story could disappoint people.
Other complaints include that the game needs a map system or waypoints for objectives, often making later levels trickier. While obviously meant to convey a sense of customization, the skill tree system itself can sometimes feel a bit too cumbersome—mainly if the player’s goal is to reach a particular set of skills.
Summary
Black Myth: Wukong is a game aimed at the Souls-like crowd. To a great extent, it hits many of the marks by offering a challenging experience with exciting combat and an inherently unique setting for the genre, though it’s based on Journey to the West. However, its technical issues, poor weapon variety, and, at times, tiring level design will surely ward off players who have yet to be fans of the genre.
With 30 hours of play on the plate in the first run and much side content, it offers value for one’s money. However, those moments of frustration can outweigh the value if one is not a staunch supporter of the sub-genre Soulslike. Black Myth: Wukong exemplifies this genre’s potent strength and, on the other hand, illustrates its challenges through the insistent need to balance innovation with player expectations.
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