Hannan Mundia 
Black Myth: Wukong’s pre-launch controversy and post-launch popularity have put it under the spotlight, but how good is the game itself?
2024 has been the year of surprise successes, from Palworld to Another Crab’s Treasure. Black Myth: Wukong may be the biggest success story, though. Developed by the Chinese studio Game Science, the game’s trailer instantly hooked fans with its excellent visuals and large-scale action, even as reports of rampant sexism and ridiculous terms for pre-launch access came out.
Black Myth: Wukong is a gorgeous game that perfectly captures the wonders of Chinese mythology. While it has a good story, excellent combat, and several memorable boss fights, it’s ultimately held back by some performance and progression-related issues that can get annoying.
The Good:
- Stunning visual and audio design
- Many secrets to discover
- Memorable boss fights and characters
The Bad:
- Some chapters feel like they drag on
- Combat can get repetitive
- Performance and stability issues
Review Details:
- Platforms available: PlayStation 5, PC
- Reviewed on: PC
- Official release date: August 20, 2024
Black Myth: Wukong’s story underwhelms
Filling the shoes of the Destined One as he scours the world to claim the title of Monkey King Wukong would have been better if the protagonist wasn’t so uninteresting. Having a silent protagonist is fine but only if players can relate to them. The Destined One is a bland character with predetermined ambitions that players don’t have much part in.
Fortunately, Black Myth: Wukong succeeds in memorable side characters like Zhu Bajie and the Violet Spider. The highlight of every chapter is the gorgeous animation that plays after defeating every main boss, helping players learn more about the world and its people.
The game’s story is told through various cutscenes featuring many creatures from Chinese mythology. Although the cutscenes are well-made and detailed, the lip-syncing is sometimes out of sync in the English dub, which can ruin immersion.
Wukong’s gameplay is tarnished gold
Although Black Myth: Wukong isn’t a Soulslike game in the literal sense, it checks many boxes that fit the genre. The title has stamina management, healing “gourds,” checkpoints that respawn enemies, tough bosses, and more. The fast-paced action and grandiose boss fights shown in the trailers hold up in the full release of Black Myth: Wukong. Game Science has crafted a beautiful world with much to explore and discover.
The problem is that going to every new area for the first time makes the game stutter. While the stuttering is momentary and light, the number of times it happens throughout the game can get annoying.
The Destined One may only have one primary weapon, but the unique styles, transformations, spells, and equippable items called vessels ensure things stay fresh. Combat in the game is a matter of memorizing enemy attack patterns before perfectly dodging them to replenish focus, which is used to unleash devastating heavy attacks. Most will find the Destined One much more agile and quick on his feet than, say, the Ashen One from Dark Souls 3.
However, the combat can get repetitive by the end of the game.
A big reason for this is the lack of different combos. Every style has the same basic combos, even if their heavy attacks differ. Fortunately, the many spells and transformations help add enough that players can mix things up now and then. Spells like Immobilize and A Pluck of Many showcase the sheer power Wukong holds, allowing him to toy with the mightiest bosses.
Additionally, Black Myth: Wukong’s level-up system leaves much to be desired. Players can’t increase their stats by leveling up like traditional Soulslike games. Instead, Black Myth has a skill tree with multiple branches. The problem with this is that players can find themselves having to invest valuable skill points in meaningless upgrades to get the skill they want.
Black Myth: Wukong’s boss fights aren’t especially difficult and can be conquered through the right upgrades and items. Many bosses are sights to behold, showcasing the game’s visual and audio prowess.
Unfortunately, the game takes a The Legend of Zelda-like approach, forcing players to approach them in a specific way, with a specific item they recently obtained. Probably. The game’s beautiful scenery and secret-filled areas might prompt many players to explore. The main boss for one chapter is almost impossible to beat without finding the right item. The item happens to be found in a hidden area.
Worse, forcing those who want to tackle consecutive bosses to do so is a recipe for frustration. The frustration can be amplified by Black Myth’s inconsistent chapter lengths. One can last two hours while another can last as long as six.
Black Myth: Wukong has a strong final act, but the middle part makes it overstay its welcome. Fortunately, the game’s many highs are more than enough to make it a memorable experience.
The Bottom Line: Black Myth: Wukong is an incredible game with lots to love, but some progression-related decisions and technical issues hold it back.
Score: 7/10
