Black Myth: Wukong is not your typical Soulslike. Instead, it’s a third-person action RPG rooted in the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West. Unlike its often-punishing counterparts, Black Myth offers a more approachable experience, with a structure reminiscent of the modern God of War games. The blend of color-coded gear, skill trees, and linear paths with optional open areas creates a rich, adventure-focused journey, more inviting than brutal.
While it’s possible to rush through the game in about 20 hours by focusing mainly on boss fights, dedicated players can easily spend over 40 hours exploring hidden content, collecting items, and finding every NPC. A significant portion of the game is tucked away in these optional areas, making the adventure far more rewarding for those willing to dig deeper. After spending 34 hours playing, I still feel there’s plenty left undiscovered, though what I did find was fantastic.
Discover Club99 Latest Online Gaming Bonanza!
A World Worth Exploring
In Black Myth: Wukong, you play as the Destined One, a staff-wielding warrior on a quest to collect six relics tied to Sun Wukong, the legendary Monkey King. The journey takes you through five main areas, each packed with its own unique settings and side plots. The game is more of a collection of parables and scattered stories, inviting players to interpret and piece together its meaning. It’s a dense, lived-in world where shapeshifting into animals like foxes and birds is commonplace, and the sense of mysticism is palpable throughout.
The world is visually stunning, with Unreal Engine 5 bringing lush forests, icy landscapes, and intricate temples to life. Every area is meticulously detailed, and the allure of “what comes next” keeps you moving forward. However, the visual language can be confusing at times, with invisible walls and cluttered environments occasionally making exploration frustrating. It’s easy to miss key items hidden among the visual noise, and a clearer map or navigation system would have improved the experience.
Combat and Customization
Combat in Black Myth: Wukong revolves around staff-based melee attacks and an array of spells. The game offers three staff styles, each with its own unique heavy attacks and combat advantages. Whether you’re smashing enemies with overhead slams, sweeping them with AoE attacks, or dodging and lunging with quick strikes, the combat is fluid and satisfying. You can customize your playstyle by unlocking new abilities in your skill tree, and there’s plenty of freedom to experiment with different builds thanks to the option to respec your abilities at any checkpoint.
Boss battles are the highlight of the game, with dozens of challenging encounters that keep the action fresh. Some bosses may be reused, but the grand spectacle of each fight never fails to impress. Despite this, the game’s difficulty is relatively manageable, with most bosses falling after only a few attempts. The game’s combat is deeply rewarding, but occasionally repetitive due to the limited number of attack animations and underwhelming normal enemies.
Character Progression and Gear
Beyond combat, Black Myth: Wukong features a robust system for character progression and gear customization. You can upgrade your armor and staff, enhancing both their stats and appearance, while also experimenting with a variety of spells and transformations. Transforming into enemies allows you to temporarily fight in their form, adding a unique layer to combat. The wide range of customization options, from healing gourds to accessories, ensures that players can tailor their gameplay to suit their preferences.
Performance and Presentation
On PC, Black Myth: Wukong generally runs well, though there were occasional frame drops and minor performance issues. Load times felt a bit long despite using a high-end SSD, but none of these technical hiccups were game-breaking. The visual design is breathtaking, but at times, it’s let down by confusing level layouts and overly cluttered environments.
The Verdict
Black Myth: Wukong is an ambitious and visually stunning action RPG that blends Chinese mythology with engaging gameplay. Its world is rich and inviting, its combat is fluid and rewarding, and its bosses are a joy to conquer. While the game has its frustrations, particularly with exploration and visual clarity, it remains a must-play for fans of action RPGs and anyone interested in diving into Chinese folklore. It may not be flawless, but it finishes strong, and its world is one worth returning to in New Game Plus.
