Black Myth Wukong offers a new take on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West, developed by GameScience, a local Chinese studio. While it shares elements with the popular Soulslike genre, it aims to be more accessible than titles like Dark Souls or Elden Ring, making it an easier option for players who might shy away from traditional Soulslike experiences.
In the game, players assume the role of the Destined One, a monkey wielding a powerful staff and eventually unlocking the full range of the Monkey King’s abilities, including cloning, cloud strikes, and time-freezing powers. However, players start with basic light and heavy attacks and a dodge mechanic that consumes stamina. This stamina management is crucial, as running out can hinder movement, and players can regain it by pausing briefly.
The game’s focus system rewards players for performing light attacks and allows for chaining powerful heavy attacks, adding a strategic layer to combat. As players progress through the story and defeat mini-bosses, they unlock special moves and transformations that enhance their combat capabilities. Health and mana can be replenished by consuming a limited resource found at shrines, which also serve as checkpoints but respawn enemies each time they are used.
Leveling up involves collecting will and sparks, with sparks used to enhance abilities across various skill trees. Death in the game has a light penalty, as players lose only a little will while keeping their sparks, setting it apart from conventional Soulslike games.
Initial gameplay reveals that the first chapter features sparse areas with a few low-level enemies and bosses. Players might assume they need to defeat a mini-boss to gain the necessary resources for the main boss, but many find the mini-bosses easier to confront than expected. The combat flow is straightforward, usually involving running through a short path, eliminating enemies, and confronting bosses in a repetitive but engaging cycle.
Although the environments are visually appealing and detailed, they can feel restrictive, with invisible walls limiting exploration. The bosses blend together in players’ memories, with only a few standing out due to the gameplay loop.
Unlike titles such as God of War Ragnarok, which emphasize exploration and complex narrative, Black Myth Wukong is more linear and story-driven, challenging players with its mini-bosses as additional content rather than core components of the experience.
Despite criticisms regarding repetitiveness and narrative depth, the game is enjoyable and marks a significant achievement for a studio primarily known for mobile titles. Technical performance has seen some issues, with minor stutters reported on PC, though improvements have been made with recent patches.
Black Myth Wukong is set to release on Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as on PS5, on August 20. Players are encouraged to adjust their expectations and dive into this unique take on a beloved story.