Highlights
- Black Myth: Wukong has generated significant hype with its impressive visuals, fast combat, and diverse enemies, making it a highly anticipated game for fans of the Soulslike genre.
- Players will step into the shoes of the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, in a quest to uncover the truth behind a past legend, utilizing a range of abilities and facing formidable foes in punishing combat.
- While much has been shown, there are still key elements yet to be revealed, such as other melee weapons and the leveling system/skill tree, which would enhance player immersion. The game's success will depend on its ability to deliver upon launch.
From the moment it was originally revealed in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has found itself at the top of most Soulslike fans' wishlists. Crisp visuals built using Unreal Engine 5, lightning-fast combat and exciting gameplay, and a diverse set of enemies have seen developer Game Science's maiden title build a considerable amount of hype. After a couple of years with further trailer updates, the game re-emerged at 2023's Game Awards and a release date of August 2024 was announced. Now a matter of months away, Black Myth: Wukong is finally set to explode onto the scene later this year.
Based on the 16th-Century Ancient Chinese novel, Journey to the West, Black Myth: Wukong will see players step into the shoes of the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, as he embarks on a quest in which he looks to uncover the truth behind a past legend. Sun Wukong will have a range of abilities at his disposal to help him emerge victorious, and based on some of the formidable foes he will be up against, he will likely need to utilize all of them liberally. Fans of the genre can expect to be pushed to their limits by the game's punishing, diverse combat.
Black Myth: Wukong Might Give FromSoftware Competition in One Big Area
Black Myth: Wukong, the upcoming Soulslike set in Ancient China, could give FromSoftware a run for its money in one crucial area.
What Black Myth: Wukong Can Still Show Before its 2024 Release
There's been plenty of footage of Black Myth: Wukong gameplay shown recently, and players have seen much of what the game's combat has to offer. Sun Wukong is able to shift between several combat stances, use a variety of offensive and defensive spells, and even transform into a different form altogether. Players will be able to consume potions that can heal or apply status effects as required. While not open-world, the game world is vast, and features branching paths that hold many secrets for players to uncover. The game's bosses will be varied, distinctive, and intense, offering sufficient challenge for fans of action-RPGs.
For everything that has been shown so far, several key elements have yet to be revealed. Sun Wukong's powerful staff looks to be a suitably flexible weapon, but it is unknown if this will be the only melee weapon he can wield, or if there will be others. Black Myth: Wukong has also kept its cards close to its chest in terms of how the leveling system and/or skill tree will work. For the action-RPG genre, this system in particular can be crucial to a player's immersion. Further trailers that can shed light on these mechanics prior to the game's launch will likely enhance the anticipation even more.
Sun Wukong's powerful staff looks to be a suitably flexible weapon, but it is unknown if this will be the only melee weapon he can wield, or if there will be others.
Black Myth: Wukong Could Be The Sleeper Hit of 2024
Despite all the hype so far, Black Myth: Wukong still needs to deliver the goods upon its launch. Recent hands-on sessions with the game have been reported favorably by critics, which stands the game in good stead, but a lot can change between now and August. For developer Game Science, whose only other project is a multiplayer strategy game that has been in early access since 2016, this is a highly ambitious maiden title. No doubt the Chinese developer will be hoping to emulate the success of Round8 Studio, and its debut game Lies of P, which garnered considerable hype before its launch, only to meet those expectations with aplomb.
With DLC for Lies of P in active development, and genre juggernaut Elden Ring also expected to release its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, this year, Black Myth: Wukong could find itself in a battle for supremacy upon its release. Both DLC's could well be targeting a similar release window, so it's imperative that Black Myth: Wukong is able to continue building up a head of steam over the next couple of months. If it does manage to stick the landing, it may well prove to be one of the sleeper hits of 2024.
Black Myth: Wukong
Black Myth: Wukong is an upcoming action role-playing game featuring an inspired Chinese setting, mythology, and narrative. The game is being developed by Game Science and features challenging Soulslike gameplay, character transformations, and a narrative based on the novel, Journey to the West.
- Platform(s)
- PC , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- August 20, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Game Science
- Publisher(s)
- Game Science
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
