I was thrilled when I first heard about Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong. A game where you play an absurdly powerful god with an impossible lineup of skills at your disposal? An authentically Chinese Soulslike where you’d get to use those powers to totally decimate your enemies? Of course I was excited. The majority of Asian representation we get in video games is Japanese because of the huge industry in that region and the early opportunities that companies like Sega and Nintendo sei

 
(Image: [[https://burst.shopifycdn.com/photos/rose-on-black.jpg?width=746&format=pjpg&exif=0&iptc=0|https://burst.shopifycdn.com/photos/rose-on-black.jpg?width=746&format=pjpg&exif=0&iptc=0]])A proper Soulslike needs to be punishing, making the player feel as insignificant as possible. Every single enemy in a Soulslike game , not just boss encounters, needs to pose a threat to the player. This is ultimately where Black Myth: Wukong may fall short, based on one major fact about the figure its protagonist is based

 
Black Myth: Wukong is based on the 16th-Century novel Journey to the West , set in Ancient China. It puts its own spin on the story of the Monkey King and his adventures. The game looks to fuse Chinese mythology with traditional Soulslike mechanics in order to provide gamers with an exciting experience. The Monkey King has been shown to be a highly capable and acrobatic protagonist who wields a staff to devastating effect. As well as his staff, he can also wield magical powers and even transform into other forms should the need arise. Now, Gamescom 2023 offers the chance for a deeper dive into the game's mechan

 
Fans of the soulslike genre have become used to freely switching between a large range of weaponry from swords to axes and daggers, and games like Nioh 2 have offered huge levels of customization to help make the player's experience unique. It is currently unclear whether Black Myth: Wukong will offer such variety, as Sun Wukong's staff appears to be the key element of the player's offensive arsenal. If the staff is the only weapon available, then ensuring it is regularly enhanced and upgraded with new moves and abilities will be vital in order to keep combat feeling fresh through

 
These allegations have put a huge damper on my excitement for China’s first triple-A, and it’s a huge shame – the game looks beautiful. Sun Wukong is one of the most compelling characters in Chinese literature, which is why there are so many characters and shows inspired by him. But that’s not going to be enough to get me excited for this game’s release and possible success. I wish I cared more, but I donâ

 
While Black Myth: Wukong has been marketed as a Soulslike, and it certainly appears to have elements of Soulslike gameplay, it might not be as true to the genre as it should be to technically be classified as such. Unlike most genres, the Soulslike genre is a very particular one, as it is ultimately defined by its niche characteristics. As such, there are certain traditions a game must observe to be both technically classified and publicly recognized as a proper Soulslike, and although Black Myth: Wukong may observe some of those traditions, there is one key characteristic that may set it too far apart from the genre for it to find its home th

 
Chinese games like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail are huge and Chinese games dominate the mobile game market, but these games don’t have nearly the cultural impact that companies like Nintendo have had with their intellectual properties. Chinese representation rules, and I was so excited to see something that resonates with so many Chinese people turned into what looks like a really cool game – China’s first major triple-A game, no l

 
With how immensely powerful Sun Wukong is — at least, with how powerful he is according to Journey to the West — it might be difficult for Black Myth: Wukong to be a traditional Soulslike. Based on what has been revealed so far, Wukong will be facing some massive foes, so it's likely he could meet his match. However, considering what has been written about him, it might be a challenge to make him insignificant in any world. That's actually a good thing, as it would be a shame to play as a legendary warrior such as Wukong and for his supernatural abilities to feel underwhelming against enemies. Instead, Black Myth: Wukong should lean as heavily into Wukong's overpowered nature as possible, still providing a decent challenge, but simultaneously allowing players to feel more powerful than anything else in the wo

 
It is abundantly clear that Black Myth: Wukong has been built around its boss fights . While some fans and previews have questioned if the entire game is essentially a boss rush, Game Science has assured fans that Wukong 's full release includes side quests, interesting NPCs, and plenty of secrets to uncover. Nevertheless, once [[https://Blackmythwukongfans.com/|black myth wukong Collectibles|https://blackmythwukongfans.com/]] Myth: Wukong releases on August 20, players can expect a multitude of challenging yet rewarding boss encounters, each requiring speed and dedication to mas

Combat has a very different flow from what you might be used to in this genre. Activating your light attack unleashes a flurry of quick, acrobatic hits that combo together several times before ending in a heavy finisher. The heavy attack (the default is a long-range, overhead slam) needs to be charged up before it can be used, either by holding the heavy attack button for a few seconds, or landing consecutive light attacks until you store a charge that you can unleash later on. The stamina gauge limits how much you can attack and dodge, though, so you can't just spam light attacks over and over. Even against weak enemies, fights require a lot of patience. It's all about building up your power and waiting for the right moment to unleash a string of devastating attacks on your opponent.