Mythology is a rich source of inspiration for video games. Everything from Immortals: Fenyx Rising, to Raji: An Ancient Epic, to God of War, has shown the power of recapturing ancient mythos in a playable form. Chinese history and legend have been captured by games like Dynasty Warriors before, but now Black Myth: Wukong is on the way to tell another story. It's based on Journey to the West, an epic that tells the story of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. Sun Wukong's story is filled with magic, extraordinary creatures, and action, so it's a great choice for a game adaptation.
Sun Wukong has inspired all kinds of media, and that shows in his upcoming game. It looks a lot like Black Myth: Wukong is taking notes from Shadow of the Colossus, considering the scale of some of the game's enemies. What's more, it's probably got a lot of the same spirit as Dragon Ball Z and some of its video game adaptations. After all, Dragon Ball is based largely on Journey to the West. Fans of either of these franchises should probably keep an eye on Black Myth: Wukong. It'll probably scratch the same itch as those titles, but with stunning graphics and an ancient fantasy angle.
Black Myth: Wukong - An Intersection of Franchises
Goku's adventures in Dragon Ball Z clearly have a lot in common with Journey to the West if players look at it closely. Over the course of the franchise, Goku constantly has to train to get stronger, take on godlike opponents, and even frequently cheats death.
Sun Wukong's journey frequently involves the concept of immortality, and he's always growing stronger as a warrior himself, partially by fighting supernatural beings. If the story threads weren't sufficient references, Saiyans are also well known for their monkey tails and the towering ape form they sometimes transform into. Dragon Ball lovers may not have had the chance to read Journey of the West, but Black Myth: Wukong looks like an exciting retelling.
As for Shadow of the Colossus, the most recent Black Myth trailer makes it obvious that boss battles will be no modest affair. It shows off a huge, hairy, and monstrous warrior many times Wukong's size. Players will surely have to master all kinds of magic and fighting techniques to take on these towering bosses despite the size discrepancy. The game has the chance to channel the same incredible satisfaction of overcoming insurmountable odds that Shadow of the Colossus is known for. Players will have to prove size doesn't mean everything.
Wukong's Many Powers
There's a distinct chance that Wukong will learn a Dragon Ball-esque technique where he becomes huge in size, on the scale of the bosses teased for Black Myth: Wukong. That might mean late-game boss battles play very differently from early encounters, which sounds like a great way to give players a sense of progression. Earlier in the game, odds are gameplay will be much more like Shadow of the Colossus. Players will reply more on Wukong's shapeshifting, his magic staff, and other abilities to outmaneuver gigantic enemies and defeat them with skill rather than raw power.
Black Myth: Wukong is a long ways away, unfortunately. Even so, it's a good sign of just what next-gen technology is capable of, and it's good to know there's already blockbuster titles in development for later in the lives of current consoles. Anyone who loves Dragon Ball in all its many forms and is full of nostalgia for Shadow of the Colossus should keep an eye on this game. The new trailer might mean that there's more information to come soon, even if the game is far from release. Hopefully the blend of themes in this game turns out as gripping as it looks.
Black Myth: Wukong is scheduled to release in 2023 for PC and unspecified platforms.