This is the final stage for Black Myth Wu Kong, which is undergoing its last adjustments to be released on August 20th next. Chinese developers at GameScience are under considerable pressure as their game was perceived to set the standard for next-gen gaming when it was announced in August 2020, just months before the release of PS5 and Xbox Series. For the past four summers, we have been presented with trailers, gameplay, and dissected demos, but this time things are different. Indeed, the game was playable at the Summer Game Fest early June, and a press tour in London a few days ago allowed some media outlets to play for two hours. Unfortunately, PlayersForLife did not participate in these events in London, but I managed to secure unreleased gameplay footage from the developers who also confirmed that Black Myth Wu Kong is not strictly a Souls-like game; it incorporates elements of various genres with a dedication to telling Sun Wu Kong’s story through compelling storytelling and beautifully crafted cinematics. And I must say, this is commendable.
BIG BOSS (1971)
Black Myth Wukong will not shy away from featuring bosses and enemies, with reports indicating there are at least 80 bosses and over 160 types of enemies in the game. This extensive inclusion is intended to balance the exploration aspect, which is also a key feature promised by the developers. It should be noted that the game does not adopt an open-world format, a fact appreciated by many players. In reality, Black Myth Wukong aims to provide a more narrative-driven experience, punctuated with numerous combat encounters, with the goal of showcasing to Western audiences the appeal of Chinese folklore beyond China’s borders. It is widely recognized but worth reiterating that Dragon Ball, Son Goku, and related characters are an adapted version by Akira Toriyama inspired by the story of the Monkey King. GameScience’s game intends to delve into less familiar aspects of the Monkey King, such as his ability to transform into various entities, including insects for instance. In literature, Sun Wukong is known for mastering 72 transformations; it remains to be seen how many of these metamorphoses will be depicted in the game.
For those who feared a steep difficulty level, perhaps exaggerated like that in FromSoftware’s games, I can reassure you that Black Myth Wukong will not be impossibly challenging. While it may demand much from the larger bosses, you won’t need to spend hours leveling up your character to have a chance at defeating an enemy. The game offers a skill tree for evolving Sun WuKong, who begins his adventure with his famous magical staff, which he can obviously conceal in the hollow of his ear and enlarge when needed. This staff can also evolve throughout the journey, featuring cosmetic additions as well as additional powers. At this stage, the staff’s abilities remain unspecified, but we recently learned that Sun Wukong will have other weapons, such as a magical whip, which should vary the gameplay experience. Whether it is a weapon that can be combined with the staff or if it will replace it, considering our monkey king may lose it during his adventure, remains to be seen upon release.
Regarding the combat system in Black Myth Wukong, it alternates between quick, spectacular attacks and heavier, more powerful ones. When the attack button is rapidly pressed, Sun Wukong performs acrobatic movements that make the action fluid and highly stylized, showcasing his mastery of martial arts aesthetics and exceptional staff skills. This staff can extend under certain conditions to strike enemies from a distance or pierce their defenses. However, heavy attacks must be charged before use, either by holding the heavy attack button for a few seconds or by performing consecutive light attacks until a charge is accumulated that can be unleashed later. Notably, the default heavy attack is an airborne long-range strike. Sun Wukong’s actions are limited by a stamina gauge, which restricts constant spamming of light attacks and balances combat. Interestingly, encounters, even against weak enemies, require patience and pattern recognition, reminiscent of Souls-like games.
Rotational Evasion CRITICAL: This is the final stretch for Black Myth Wu Kong, as it is fine-tuning its last adjustments ahead of its world release on August 20th. There is significant pressure on the Chinese developers at GameScience, given that their game was seen as embodying the definition of next-gen when announced in August 2020, just before the releases of PS5 and Xbox Series. For four summers now, trailers, gameplay, and dissected demos have been shared with audiences, but this time things are different. Indeed, the game became playable at the Summer Game Fest early in June, and a press tour in London a few days ago allowed some media outlets to play for two hours. Unfortunately, PlayersForLife was not among those selected to experience the game in London, but I managed to secure unreleased gameplay footage from the developers. The developers confirmed that Black Myth Wu Kong is not strictly a Souls-like but rather a blend of several genres, with a narrative focus on telling Sun Wu Kong’s story through proper storytelling and polished cinematics.
In contrast, there is no button for countering or parrying enemy attacks in Black Myth Wu Kong; the game instead relies on dodging, which can be seen as somewhat old-fashioned. This approach sets the game apart from typical Souls-like titles. Players are rewarded with perfect dodges, indicated by a silhouette that leaves behind a slowed-time effect, allowing them to gain an advantage over their enemies. Additionally, there is a mechanism where Sun Wukong can spin his staff to create a protective field against enemy projectiles. This move is quite stylish but has limitations, as it can only be performed up to three consecutive times.
It is important to understand that Black Myth Wukong will not be a game where constant death is the norm. While the game is challenging, nothing within it will be insurmountable, particularly because its approach differs from typical Souls-like games. The title falls somewhere between Stellar Blade and God of War, featuring a meticulously crafted narrative designed to honor the legend of the Monkey King. Of course, we must wait until August 20th for confirmation, but one thing is certain today: the technical and visual quality of the game. The Chinese studio excels at mastering Unreal Engine 5 like no other and has developed their own tools, especially for boss animations that often feature quadrupedal creatures. One of the developers’ challenges was capturing motion for these bosses, which they accomplished by using domesticated cats for motion capture, resulting in fluid and natural movements. In summary, I am confident that Black Myth Wukong will be a milestone in its genre.
If you’re eager to dive deeper into the robust and visually stunning boss battles in Black Myth Wu Kong, be sure to check out Marcus Thompson’s latest piece on Players for Life. Published just yesterday (August 23rd), this article offers a comprehensive look at Game Science’s ambitious project as it makes its grand return at gamescom 2023. Discover how the developers are pushing the boundaries of Unreal Engine 5 with their intricate boss animations and challenging encounters. To see why Black Myth Wu Kong is setting new standards in the gaming industry, [Read the article]. If you’re eager to dive deeper into the world of Black Myth Wu Kong, be sure to check out Marcus Thompson’s latest piece titled “Black Myth Wu Kong: 51 Minutes of 4K Gameplay, Still Highly Promising,” published on August 21st. With a captivating blend of stunning visuals and engaging gameplay inspired by the legendary Monkey King tale, Marcus shares insights from Game Science’s recent livestream event, showcasing over 50 minutes of gameplay and boss encounters in breathtaking 4K quality. This post not only highlights the game’s progress but also reaffirms its potential to captivate Western audiences upon release. Don’t miss out on this insightful read! [Read the article]
