Since it was unveiled in 2020, the upcoming Black Myth: Wukong has fans of action-RPGs excited. From its impressive visual presentation to fast-paced, free-flowing combat, the game is shaping up to be one of the finest in the soulslike genre. Set in Ancient China, the game is based on the 16th-Century novel Journey to the West. Developer Game Science appears to be working hard to ensure Black Myth: Wukong is able to live up to the hype currently surrounding it, and there are certain elements of the genre that the game should implement in order to maximize its chances of success.
Soulslikes are rapidly becoming one of the most popular sub-genres in gaming thanks to the success of FromSoftware's Dark Souls trilogy, as well as similar titles like Bloodborne and Elden Ring. Many developers have attempted to replicate this style to varying degrees of success, but ultimately there have been more misses than hits. Developer Team Ninja's Nioh series, as well as its newest game Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, have probably come closest to capturing what makes these games so special. Black Myth: Wukong will be hoping to add its name to this list when it releases.
What Black Myth: Wukong Can Learn From Other Soulslikes
Basing its story on a retelling of Journey to the West should help Black Myth: Wukong to create its own unique setting, with some potentially interesting lore around Ancient Chinese mythology to discover along the way. As important as the setting can be, in this genre, combat is king. Black Myth: Wukong's combat looks to be exactly what fans have come to expect: fast, fluid, and visually striking. The responsiveness of the game's mechanics will go a long way in determining its overall success as protagonist Sun Wukong wields a staff imbued with mystical powers that he uses to devastating effect, reigning down lightning-fast blows on his opponents.
Sun Wukong is able to transform himself into different animals, and this ability should help set Black Myth: Wukong apart from other soulslikes. The reason why players will need this ability is unclear, so it isn't known exactly how the mechanic will be put to use. Game Science must ensure it serves a clear purpose, becoming a crucial part of the gameplay to be used at key moments, rather than a superficial gimmick.
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 throughout.
The success of a soulslike can be heavily affected by the quality of its boss fights. Over the past decade, FromSoftware titles such as Dark Souls 3 and Bloodborne have managed to create some of the most incredible battles yet seen in video games. Black Myth: Wukong needs to put its own spin on this, and with a rich tapestry of Chinese mythology to pull from, it shouldn't be short of inspiration. Sun Wukong appears to be equally capable of taking on beasts both big and small, so the prospect of some high-profile boss showdowns is exciting. However, with a long way to go until the game's release, fans will be hoping for more trailers and news soon.
Black Myth: Wukong is scheduled to release in summer 2024 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
