Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, is a legendary figure from the Chinese novel “Journey to the West.” This iconic character has inspired countless others across various forms of media, most notably Goku from the Dragon Ball series. Goku’s journey, his use of a magical staff, and his flying cloud are all direct nods to the Monkey King. The legend of Sun Wukong has now inspired the action-packed game, Black Myth: Wukong.
Developed by Game Science, a studio with fewer than 150 employees, this AAA action-adventure game delivers a visually stunning experience coupled with incredibly satisfying combat. Featuring jaw-dropping visuals, intricate gameplay, and a deep narrative rooted in Chinese mythology, players are thrust into the role of the “Destined One,” a powerful warrior on a quest to uncover the secrets of Sun Wukong’s past and reclaim his relics while battling mythical creatures.
Visually Stunning World and Impeccable Detail
From the moment you step into the world of Black Myth: Wukong, it becomes clear that you’re witnessing a visual masterpiece. The developers have harnessed the power of Unreal Engine 5 to its fullest, creating a world rich in detail and vibrant in color. Character models are intricately designed, with the “Destined One” featuring elaborate armor and fluid animations that bring the character to life. The game’s environments are equally impressive, ranging from dense forests and towering mountains to dark caves and ancient temples.
Each location is meticulously crafted, making exploration an absolute visual delight. The lighting effects, particularly the ray tracing, add an extra layer of realism that breathes life into the world. Sharp shadows and accurate reflections contribute to an immersive experience that will have you pausing just to take it all in, as I did frequently during my playthrough.
Gameplay Mechanics that Shine
Black Myth: Wukong excels in its gameplay mechanics, particularly its combat system, which is the star of the game. The combat is fluid and responsive, delivering fast-paced action that makes you feel like you’re in an intense action anime. The “Destined One’s” abilities are diverse, offering players a range of playstyles. You can cast spells, transform into different creatures, each with unique abilities, adding a rich layer of depth to the combat system. The dodge mechanic is tight and rewarding, requiring precise timing and skillful play.
Boss battles are another highlight of the game. Each boss is designed with meticulous attention to both appearance and mechanics, making these encounters challenging yet immensely satisfying. Learning and adapting to a boss’s patterns is key, and the sense of accomplishment after defeating a tough boss is unparalleled. The final boss fights are particularly grandiose, elevating the entire gaming experience and leaving a lasting impression.
A Deeply Engaging Storyline
The story in Black Myth: Wukong initially seemed lacking, but turning on captions revealed dialogue I had previously missed, transforming my experience into one of deep engagement. The narrative is well-written, and I appreciated the additional context provided through extra videos at the end of chapters, especially the one done in stop-motion animation, which added a unique touch to the storytelling.
The supporting cast of characters is well-developed and memorable, each bringing their own distinct personalities and motivations to the story. I quickly grew fond of Benjie, who acts as the narrative voice for the cliché mute protagonist. Despite being mute, the “Destined One” is a complex character, and his interactions with others add layers of depth to the story. The voice acting throughout is top-notch, bringing characters to life and heightening the emotional impact of the narrative.
Exploration and World Design
The world of Black Myth: Wukong is vast and filled with secrets, though it remains somewhat linear. The level design encourages exploration, with hidden paths and treasures waiting to be discovered. Each environment boasts a unique aesthetic, and the attention to detail in the world design is truly impressive, making exploration a rewarding aspect of the game.
However, the game does have a few shortcomings. The lack of a map was, in my view, a poor decision, making navigation more challenging than it needed to be. Some players may find this frustrating, as it detracts from the otherwise enjoyable exploration. Additionally, while the variety of enemies is decent, it could be improved to add more diversity to the encounters.
Exceptional Sound Design
The sound design in Black Myth: Wukong is nothing short of exceptional. The ambient sounds of the environment, the clash of weapons, and the roars of enemies all contribute to an immersive audio experience. The music, too, is impressive, with a soundtrack that perfectly complements the game’s tone. The orchestral scores during boss battles are particularly noteworthy, enhancing the epic feel of these encounters and drawing you further into the game.
Given the game’s high-quality sound design, I see Black Myth: Wukong as a strong contender for Game of the Year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it wins awards for its audio excellence.
Platform Performance
While I can already hear the jeers from console enthusiasts, I feel it’s important to point out that Black Myth: Wukong is best experienced on a midrange to high-end PC. The console experience on PS5, while still enjoyable, suffers from various framerate dips across its three modes—Quality, Balanced, and Performance—as well as issues with latency and visual fidelity
Unfortunately, the game hasn’t yet been released on Xbox Series S and X, but I would anticipate similar, if not lower, performance, particularly on the Series S. On PC, the game truly shines, taking full advantage of the hardware to offer features like ray tracing, DLSS, and ultra-wide support.
Load times are minimal, and during my 90-plus hours of gameplay, the game was stable in both framerate and fidelity, consistently hitting above 60 FPS with only one visual bug encountered. However, it’s worth noting that some players have reported issues with the game’s performance, including occasional crashes and bugs.
Final Verdict
Black Myth: Wukong is a remarkable achievement in gaming that firmly establishes Game Science as a developer to watch. The game combines stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and a rich narrative to create an experience that is both immersive and enjoyable. While it has a few minor flaws, these are easily overshadowed by the game’s many strengths. I believe Black Myth: Wukong sets a new standard for action-adventure games of its kind.
With its awe-inspiring visuals, fluid, fast, and hard-hitting combat, and captivating story, **Black Myth: Wukong** is not only a must-play within the genre, but in my opinion, it currently holds the title of Game of the Year.
I give **Black Myth: Wukong** a well-deserved… 9/10
Great review, agree on all points. It is too bad Unicorn Overlord came out since it is obviously GOTY