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- Black Myth: Wukong’s combat mechanics have exceeded my expectations, presenting an addicting loop.
- The game is also gorgeous, showing what Unreal Engine 5 is capable of.
- In a year with releases like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, this action RPG easily holds its own against the big hitters.
Black Myth: Wukong has surpassed everyone’s expectations by breaking major records on Steam. It is now the biggest single-player release on Steam, which is a massive achievement in itself.
The achievement is made more impressive when considering the fact that this was Game Science’s first AAA production. Over the last week, I’ve found myself playing nothing but Black Myth: Wukong, and it’s become clear to me that Game Science has created special.
In fact, after pouring 30 hours into this fantastic take on Journey to The West, I would argue that the studio has produced a solid Game of the Year contender.
Why it matters: Black Myth: Wukong has proven to be a dark horse that took the internet by storm. The game sold over 10 million copies in just three days.
The Combat Is Incredible
Black Myth: Wukong isn’t exactly a Souls-like. However, this doesn’t mean it foregoes Souls-like elements altogether. In fact, the focus on action combat with Souls-like elements mixed in has allowed Game Science to create something even more exciting.
The core combat system has enough variety to keep things from getting stale, while the customization adds additional depth to the experience. The Destined One won’t style on his enemies or embarrass them like Devil May Cry’s Dante, but his moves strike a nice balance between the flashy antics of character action games and the often limited combat of the Souls genre.
Spirit transformations are crucial to the experience. Besting these fifty or so spirits spread around the world grants you abilities to transform and wield their powers, adding a new layer of strategy to the combat.
Some spirits perform powerful albeit shorter attacks, while others grant transformations that come with their own health bars. Dodging also leads to a very satisfying slow-mo effect that seems to be inspired by Bayonneta’s Witch Time.
Once I got the hang of these mechanics, everything was smooth, and I found myself in a rhythm that felt just right. Having more flashy combat mixed with Souls-like elements has been a breath of fresh air, and I can’t wait to see how Game Science expands upon these systems in the future.
Striking Unreal Engine 5 Visuals
Black Myth: Wukong is one of the few recent releases that pushed Unreal Engine 5 to its limits. I didn’t expect to see such a brilliant display of this technology so soon after Hellblade 2, but it appears Game Science has a tendency to defy expectations.
From the very beginning, the action RPG pulls no punches. It begins with Sun Wukong facing off against a whole army, this battle’s scale and scope portrayed with strong art direction and excellent animations that are rarely seen elsewhere.
Not only is Black Myth: Wukong’s visual setup strong, but it also presents a large variety to keep players engaged. During the initial chapters, I found myself blown away by the stunning lighting as it pierced through the dense foliage to cast lifelike shadows across the environments.
At later points in the game, I couldn’t help but admire the details in small elements like sand and water. Once ray tracing is turned on, the visuals shine anew, offering a more refined experience that makes full use of the latest and greatest hardware.
Equally impressive are the physics in Black Myth: Wukong. The game doesn’t just offer pretty backdrops to explore; it reacts to your every move. Leaves sway as Wukong pulls off fancy moves with his staff, walking on the sand leaves a visible trail of footsteps, and moving across the water creates ripples so detailed that you’d be forgiven for losing yourself in this dazzling display of artistic and technical mastery.
At this point, I’d like to remind you yet again that this is Game Science’s first AAA production.
A GOTY Contender
2024 has been a pretty solid year for gaming so far. However, it hasn’t been able to live up to the high standard set by developers last year. While the likes of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth might be considered frontrunners for this award in 2024, Black Myth: Wukong is no slouch.
In my opinion, the action RPG can stand on its own and go toe-to-toe with the biggest releases of this year. 2024 isn’t over yet, but I think I’ve already found my personal Game of The Year.
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[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.
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