Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG developed by the Chinese studio Game Science, based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.
This game follows the story of the protagonist, Wukong. It has gained attention for its impressive graphics and numerous boss battles. However, some critics have expressed concerns about the simplicity of combat and certain aspects of story progression.
Stunning Graphics and Detail
Black Myth: Wukong developed using Unreal Engine 5, inspires players with its visual impact immediately.
The game stands out with its use of Chinese aesthetics and realistic graphics, bringing each region to life with unique themes and atmospheres.
For instance, iconic locations from the original Journey to the West such as the Five Elements Mountain where Wukong is imprisoned, and the Flaming Mountain requiring the Banana Leaf Fan to pass, are meticulously recreated.
This level of detail is praiseworthy throughout the game. Each landscape is vividly rendered like a painting, with map design and enemy placement providing players with new, immersive experiences.
Diverse environments such as prisons, snowy mountains, and volcanoes appear, each populated with enemies and bosses that enhance the game’s atmosphere and immersion.
Given the importance of graphics, the visuals of this game provide players with continuous visual delight.
During gameplay, players experience a profound sense of immersion, becoming so engrossed in this beautiful world that they find it hard to escape.
Combat System: Simplicity and Limited Tactics
However, in contrast to the outstanding graphics, the combat system is relatively simple.
Players primarily use the Ruyi Jingu Bang (the golden staff) throughout the game, and unlike other action RPGs that offer a variety of weapon choices, the combat approach is somewhat restricted.
While attacking and dodging with the staff may feel fresh at first, it becomes monotonous over time.
Notably, the combat system is often compared to games like “Sekiro” and “Dark Souls,” but it lacks deeper mechanics such as parrying (countering enemy attacks) or critical hits.
Additionally, there is no guard action, so players need to rely solely on dodging enemy attacks. The introduction of the Just Dodge mechanic (where perfect timing allows players to completely evade attacks) does add some depth, but the core approach relies heavily on attacking with the staff, which contributes to a feeling of monotony.
One element that introduces some variation to the combat system is the use of Magic Techniques.
Techniques like Mental Technique (which immobilizes enemies for a short period) and Diamond Technique (which turns the user into stone to block attacks) are available, but the limited resources required to activate them and the lack of recovery options mean they can’t be used frequently.
The limited number of techniques and their long cooldown periods restrict their impact on combat, making it challenging for them to significantly alter the dynamics of battles.
Magic Techniques and Transformation Techniques: Supplementary Combat Elements
In addition to Magic Techniques, there are supplementary combat elements known as Transformation Techniques and Spirit Techniques.
Transformation Techniques involve equipping souls obtained by defeating specific enemies to harness the power of demons for special attacks. This system operates similarly to the yokai transformation in “Nioh 2,” but it requires a significant amount of Spirit (a gauge that fills during combat), limiting its use to only once or twice in a single battle.
Moreover, players cannot strategically switch between multiple souls based on the situation, which adds to the tactical limitations.
On the other hand, Transformation Techniques allow Sun Wukong to transform into a demon, altering his attack patterns, and making it a powerful ability. However, it has a long cooldown period and has an independent HP gauge, preventing frequent use.
Because these techniques are not systems that can be utilized frequently during combat, the primary focus remains on relying on the staff for attacks.
While these Magic and Transformation Techniques provide some variation in combat, the overall lack of significant changes to the combat style results in a perception of monotony.
Gone Gauge and Special Attacks: The Core of Combat
A key system in the combat of “Black Myth: Wukong” is the Gonse Gauge and Jian-Gon (special attacks).
The Gonse Gauge builds up when inflicting damage on enemies, and using it allows players to perform powerful Jian-Gon attacks. These special attacks are particularly useful in large boss battles, as they can stagger enemies or cancel their attacks, playing a strategically important role.
As a result, the fundamental flow of combat revolves around building up the Gonse while dodging enemy attacks, creating openings to land as many hits as possible with the Jian-Gon. Players can break an enemy’s attack pattern and combine this with supplementary techniques like Mental Techniques and Clone Techniques to defeat foes.
However, this combat style ultimately relies on repetitive attacks with the staff and managing the Gonse Gauge, which may lead to a decrease in enjoyment over time.
Issues with Controls and Camera Work
Beyond combat, there are issues with controls and camera work in “Black Myth: Wukong.” Notably, the stiffness of each action during battles can be problematic, leading to unintentional jumps or movements that disrupt the overall control experience. This can result in discomfort, particularly when timing is crucial for attacks and dodges.
Additionally, the camera often struggles to follow enemy positions, limiting visibility during combat properly. This can negatively affect gameplay, especially in boss fights, potentially leading to critical mistakes.
Lack of Character Progression and Lackluster Exploration
Character progression is a crucial element in RPGs, but “Black Myth: Wukong” shows some shortcomings in this area.
While the game features a skill tree that allows players to enhance basic attributes like health and attack power, it doesn’t significantly alter the combat style. Although there are three attack styles—Cleaving, Standing, and Thrusting—only the motion of the Jian-Gon changes slightly, with the foundational combat mechanics remaining unchanged.
Moreover, the weapon and armor upgrade systems are underwhelming. Weapons are enhanced by defeating specific bosses to obtain blueprints and then crafting them with materials collected through exploration. However, there isn’t a concept of simply upgrading existing weapons—once crafted, a weapon has a fixed performance.
While there is a weapon forging system, it operates on the principle of creating new weapons with different attributes rather than continuing to enhance the same weapon, limiting strategic choices regarding weapon and armor selection.
As a result, the rewards for exploration feel lackluster. Most treasures found on the map yield only skill points or upgrade materials, offering minimal incentive to explore further. This diminishes the significance of exploration, which can lead to a sense of monotony as the game progresses.
Boss Battles with Both Quality and Quantity
One of the biggest attractions of “Black Myth: Wukong” lies in its boss battles. The game offers an overwhelming array of boss encounters that shine in both quality and quantity.
Numerous bosses appear, each boasting unique designs and attack patterns. The quality of the boss battle design, presentation, and background music is exceptionally high, making these encounters a highlight of the game.
Boss battles require not only combat skills but also strategic approaches, as each boss has special mechanics. For example, the Rat King can be defeated by using specific items to create significant openings, while the Rhinoceros requires players to build up the Gonse Gauge to break its horn to deal damage.
These bosses demand distinct fighting styles, ensuring that each encounter provides a fresh experience.
However, some bosses exhibit difficulty imbalances; while certain bosses can be easily defeated after a few attempts, others may take hours to conquer. Additionally, a few bosses feature unreasonable mechanics that can diminish the enjoyment of the combat.
Complex Story Based on “Journey to the West”
While the story of “Black Myth: Wukong” is based on “Journey to the West,” it can feel somewhat convoluted for players unfamiliar with the source material.
The game does not elaborate on the narrative details of “Journey to the West,” proceeding under the assumption that players have an inherent understanding of the original characters and events. This can make it difficult for those not familiar with the classic to follow the character arcs and the flow of events.
Particularly, the narrative progression can feel unnatural, with many elements omitted, leaving character motivations and events inadequately explained.
As the story becomes increasingly important in the latter half of the game, lengthy cutscenes can slow down the pacing, impacting the overall gameplay experience.
Additionally, the frequent use of Chinese characters and idioms can act as obstacles to understanding the story, further complicating the player’s engagement with the narrative.
A Game Where Beauty with Limitations
“Black Myth: Wukong” is a noteworthy game that stands out for its stunning graphics, unique design, and impressive boss battles.
Visually, the game is undeniably impressive, and each boss fight offers players fresh experiences with distinct combat styles.
However, the combat system’s simplicity, lack of character progression, limited rewards for exploration, and a convoluted storyline for players unfamiliar with “Journey to the West” are notable drawbacks.
For fans of action RPGs, this game is certainly worth trying, but those who prioritize depth in combat, character development, and narrative comprehension may find it lacking.
That said, as the first AAA game developed in China, it holds significant meaning in graphics and presentation, making it worth a play if the opportunity arises.
In particular, with the emergence of other AAA titles like “Project: P” and “Stella Blade” from South Korea, it’s evident that games from both Korea and China are making significant advancements alongside traditional Japanese titles, further emphasizing the importance of “Black Myth: Wukong” in the industry.
*Images were sourced from the Game Science website. (https://www.heishenhua.com/)
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