Black Myth: Wukong – The Chinese Soulslike

Hello, warriors of control! If you are from the time of PlayStation 2you will understand well what I am going to say: Black Myth: Wukong transports you back to those glorious times where every game was a unique experience, a new world to explore. You know when you played something like Shadow of the Colossus or Onimushaand were left open-mouthed by what appeared on the screen? That's more or less the vibe. But now, imagine all of this running in high resolution, with graphics that make your PS5 sound like a spaceship. Black Myth: Wukong manages to mix that nostalgia of a good PS2 game with the raw power of current consoles, and look, in a good way!

Now, before you think you're entering another Soulslike of those that make you want to throw the controller at the wall, let's get one thing straight: Wukong It even draws from the Souls source, but it's far from being just another clone. If I had to define it, I'd say it's much more of an adventure game with a combat system that's reminiscent of Souls, but without that absurd difficulty that makes you cry tears of blood. It's challenging, yes, but it's much more accessible, so if you like the idea of ​​heavy, strategic combat but don't want to suffer, this is the game for you.

First, let's put the cards on the table: Black Myth: Wukong is inspired by one of the oldest and most badass legends in Chinese mythology, the story of Monkey King. And if you are connected to the Gokuyou already know where the inspiration comes from. The game puts you in the shoes of Destined Onewho is basically a clone of Wukong, and his mission is to recover the monkey's lost artifacts, while facing all kinds of mystical creatures and tough bosses.

And look, man, the graphics are amazing. The game runs on Unreal Engine 5which means you'll see details you didn't even know existed, like the reflection of the sunset in the puddles and the leaves swaying in the wind in an almost realistic way. It's the kind of game that makes that PC Master Race owner proud of his investment and start spewing crap about consoles. Don't worry, I played it on the PlayStation 5 and found the performance to be good. But it's not all roses, right? Even with all these top-notch visuals, the game suffers from some annoying lags, especially when you're exploring the map. And that, in a game where a single second of delay can mean your death, is a pain.

Speaking of gameplay, Wukong follows the Soulslike style, but with a touch of more traditional RPG. If you enjoy heavy combat, where every blow has to be carefully calculated, you'll feel right at home. But the difference here is that the game isn't as punishing as a Elden Ring of life. Sure, there are challenges, there are bosses that will give you trouble, but nothing that will make you break your controller against the wall (at least, not on the first try). The trick is to do the old grinding and go around the map leveling up your character, since most enemies come back from death, and you can go around beating them up for hours.

Now, one of the game's great ideas is the transformation system. Instead of just going around dishing out beatings, you can transform into some of the creatures you've defeated along the way. And this completely changes the way you play, because each transformation has its own abilities and moves. It's like that moment when you get a power-up in Super Mariobut this is serious business, with changes in strategy and everything else.

But not everything is rosy in the monkey kingdom. Despite all the praise, the game does have its flaws. The biggest one is perhaps the repetition. After a while, the combat starts to get a bit predictable, and the lack of variety in movement can get tiresome. It's like when you spend hours grinding in the same place in an MMORPG – at first it's fun, but then you feel like doing something else.

And if you are one of those who enjoys exploring every corner of the map, You may find Wukong a bit frustrating. Despite the beautiful and detailed scenery, exploration is somewhat limited. There are many areas that seem accessible, but when you get close, you'll be faced with an invisible wall. This takes away some of the enjoyment of discovering secrets and can make you lose interest in exploring further.

Now, let's talk about bosses. If you enjoy a good fight against epic bosses, Wukong won't disappoint. The game has over 60 bosses scattered throughout the campaign, and most of them are unique. No copying and pasting, bro. Each one has its own style, attacks and challenges. But, again, if you're expecting a Dark Souls-level challenge, you might be a little disappointed. The game is more accessible, which can be good or bad, depending on your taste. You basically walk around the map for 5 minutes and encounter another boss. Luckily for you, you die, but you come back without losing any XP you gained. So you can grind for a while before facing the nasty boss again.

What about the story, Spider? Well, the story follows the Monkey King legend, but with a few surprises here and there. Nothing that will change your life, but it is well told and has captivating characters. The game throws you into this mystical world in a natural way, and you will want to know what happens next. But if you are the type of person who likes to explore all possibilities, you may need a New Game Plus to get all the details and alternate endings.

A positive point that cannot be left unmentioned is the soundtrack. The background music and sound effects are top-notch, immersing you even deeper into this world full of mystery and magic. And if you know a little Chinese, you'll enjoy it even more, because the game offers original voice acting, which only increases the immersion.

And the future? With the success of Wukong, Game Science is already in everyone's sights. If they keep up this trend, you can expect more insane games to come. And who knows, maybe next time they'll bring an even more challenging Soulslike, but with the same visual care we saw in Wukong? Let's keep an eye out.

Pros:

• Stunning graphics with jaw-dropping detail
• Fun and accessible combat, without the extreme difficulty of Soulslikes
• Transformation system that adds an extra layer of strategy
• Immersive soundtrack and sound effects

Cons:

• Some stuttering and performance issues, especially in combat
• Repetition in combat and lack of variety in movements
• Limited exploration with many invisible walls that frustrate curiosity
• It may be disappointing for those looking for a Dark Souls-level challenge.

Final Grade: 9/10

In the end, Black Myth: Wukong is a game worth playing. It's not perfect, it has its ups and downs, but it delivers a solid and visually stunning experience. If you enjoy action RPGs with a mythological twist, you can't go wrong. And look, considering this is Game Science's first major title, you can say they nailed it. It may not be the game of the year, but it's definitely one of the big releases of 2024.