A Chinese Mythology game made by developers who haven’t had their big break yet,Black Myth: Wukonglooks very promising to those that have played similar games previously. With a Fantasy RPG, you can guarantee there will be satisfying lore, combat, soundtrack, and more. But is it worth it?
Though Black Myth: Wukong has been labeled a Soulslike game, it is so much more than that. Every game should be held to an individual standard. As one of the newest triple-A RPGs to come out, everyone is rightfully wondering if they should make the decision to purchase the game.
Review
One of the biggest attractions of Black Myth: Wukong is the boss fights and combat system. People who pick up this game are usually interested in cinematic, satisfying combat sequences. Luckily, the game delivers in this respect.
One of our News Editors, Joshua Robertson, wrote his own review;Black Myth: Wukong Review: On Like Wukong. Robertson’s favorite aspects of the game are its artistic designs andwell-made boss fights.
The game forces you to learn a boss' moves without relying on a shield or some form of protection. The only thing you have is your wits and timing. Movements are fluid and spells are visually designed masterfully. Even fighting regular, smaller mobs feels rewarding and cinematic.
…Black Myth: Wukong is relentless. Without a block or a parry mechanic, fights are fast-paced brawls that require you to perform precise dodges to avoid taking damage.
Combat will never feel overdone, as there are plenty ofdifferent combat skillsto collect and upgrade. Robertson shares that the variety of techniques balances the difficulty of the boss fights.
There’s a lot of spell variety, and the game constantly encourages you to experiment to overcome bosses that may otherwise make you want to tear your hair out… Black Myth: Wukong manages to nail the balance to ensure the game’s pace doesn’t suffer.
Its unlikely that you’ll get bored of the boss rush gameplay of Black Myth: Wukong because each boss' design is unique. No two bosses will ever be similar or have a similar move set, so you’ll always be on the edge of your seat.
Robertson’smain concerns are with exploration. Games like this tend to be open world. Black Myth: Wukong is pretty linear, yet still creates levels that have depth and feel huge. Despite that feeling, it can be common to not know where to go and to end up wasting time walking around aimlessly. There is no map, so you must traverse through each chapter on your own.
It doesn’t help much that these open areas are absolutely massive. That might sound great from an exploration standpoint, as you naturally stumble across secrets and helpful items, but without any kind of guidance, it can be difficult to keep track of where you’ve been or where you need to go. It’s a game that desperately needs a map, and while the decision not to include one feels deliberate, I can’t help but feel it would have stopped a lot of needless backtracking.
Our official review by Joshua Robertson sums up Black Myth: Wukong as a success and an instant buy for anyone who enjoys the Soulslike genre.
Time Expenditure
According toHowLongToBeat.com, it takes the average player around34 hoursto complete the entire game. You’ll rarely going to reach the 100s unless you are casually playing or are replaying and achievement-hunting.
There are some hidden things to go back and collect, and some optional bosses, but the game remains linear for the most part. Because of this, it’s expected to complete the game in a shorter time frame than with an open-world RPG.
Cost
The price is the main determining factor for most people. Players want to know they are getting a product that is worth the high price tag. Along with great graphics, Black Myth: Wukong comes with a hefty price.
Price (USD)
Price (CAD)
59.99
79.99
What Players Are Saying
An Uneven, If Occasionally Inspired, Soulslike Boss Rush - James Kennedy
If you are a fan of Souls games for the elaborate, winding stages, with well-designed encounters, and brilliant environmental storytelling, Black Myth: Wukong’s crude mixture of narrow hallways and aimless open areas is unlikely to impress.
On the other hand, if you are drawn to the genre by its thrilling boss encounters, then you may find a little more to love here. The bosses aren’t consistently great, you’ll be able to faceroll through a number of them, but even if you find one of them underwhelming, the next one is always just around the corner.
As the game progresses, the quality of these encounters definitely increases. And the best of them do provide some of the thrills I’d associate with a good Souls game. The one place where Wukong really shines is in the abilities you have at your disposal. You gain access to a litany of powerful, dynamic, and genuinely interesting attacks the likes of which I’ve never seen in a Soulslike.
There is a lot of unevenness here and a fair bit of jank. I suspect that some Souls fans are going to find Black Myth: Wukong pretty disappointing, but there is enough good stuff to be found in the boss encounters to cautiously recommend it to people who love spectacle-rich boss encounters.
It is a soft recommendation for sure, but I do suspect that there will be people out there who will absolutely love Black Myth: Wukong, in spite of its many faults.
It’s Worth A Try - Mohamed El Ouardighi
Black Myth: Wukong is a good game, filled with unique boss fights and featuring six distinct chapters to explore, each with its own characters and challenges. It’s definitely a one-of-a-kind experience, with the boss battles being a major highlight. However, the game can feel a bit bland and empty in between these encounters and may become repetitive about halfway through.
That said, don’t let this discourage you. I spent over 100 hours playing and still found excitement and joy here and there.
Worth The Experience - Sharnelle Earle
If you are someone who misses the experience of playing a cinematic video game that makes you truly feel like you are in an action-adventure movie, get the game. Yes, the price is hefty, but if you have the money and know that you love the genre, this is an experience you should try.
Despite any repetition or lack of open-world exploration, this game has a lot of character. It is a one-of-a-kind game that is complete and polished, which is hard to say for new releases these days.
The game is more about combat experiences than anything else, so if you are looking for more than that, you may not be as pleased as other players.
