I recently tried out The Black Myth: Wukong, which is this wild action RPG that seems to be making a lot of noise out there. There in this game you step into a world where mythical creatures aren’t just out for blood—they’re here to show off some seriously unique moves. This is what you would get if Dark Souls met a Journey to the West on a wild adventure. Trust me; this will be kinda a tripthat you never to forget.
Gameplay and Worldbuilding
You’re pitted against a whole zoo of enemies, with each one weirder and more intense than the last.
Ever seen a giant frog stick out its tongue and smack its foes around? Or how about conjuring up a posse of clones to beat down a rock monster? Yeah, this game goes there.
It is so much more than that typical souls-like game. If playing Dark Souls feels like a punishment (atleast to me), then playing Wukong is an adventure full of strange and beautiful surprises.
You will probably not understand what the deal is with this game if you have never heard of the main character, Sun Wukong, and the whole mythology that surrounds him.
Well, it’s inspired by the timeless Chinese classic Journey to the West, but with a twist that’ll have you battling foxes, rats, and dragons—while leveling up your powers in imaginative ways.
There’s this fox who upgrades your healing potion—who does that?! Wukong doesn’t waste time explaining why the forest is full of wolf men or why a headless guy is serenading you. It just throws you into this world where the hero, Sun Wukong, laughs at gods and gets smacked down so hard he’s reincarnated as a level 1 monkey.
However there is no need to reread the story premise; You can just jump in and enjoy the ride.
The levels are strange adventures, from a giant frog leaping out of the grass to a dragon sweeping you up over a frozen lake.
But the bosses. Oh man, they’re a whole different animal.
Some are so easy you’ll laugh, and others will have you gripping your controller with white knuckles. But it never feels cheap.
The game is all about the spectacle, letting you enjoy the ride rather than stress over every little move.
One of the coolest parts of Wukong is how it gently pushes one to explore. There are side paths with treasures and quests that really aid in making you strong for battles ahead.
Like in one desert area you take down some hedgehogs, yeah hedgehogs with shields, then run into this guy who’s been turned into a rock who begs for help.
You leave to look for the item he wants, and then when you return, boom, he laughs in your face—in a very classic prank.
But with a few smacks, boom, now you have a new spell that petrifies you to parry attacks.
Combat Experience and Game Performance
Combat in Wukong is really where it shines.
You’re not swinging a sword here; you’re turning into all sorts of creatures with powerful abilities.
You can become a wolf with a flaming polearm during that final life or freeze enemies just before their hits connect. This game is all about finding your rhythm, your inner wizard, so to speak.
But let’s talk about the not-so-great stuff. How did it play? Here’s how: the performance is not flawless. I had various choppy framerate issues and some crash turmoil that disorganized my flow.
It’s a bit of a bummer, especially since the game looks so gorgeous—from its sunbaked deserts to its glowing forests. I did have to dial back the settings even with an RTX 4090, though, so it might be a little dicey if you’re not touting an all-gold rig yourself.
Although this does come with its share of hiccups, Wukong is a blast. Much like Dark Souls, the bosses here are tough—sure—but the game gives you enough tools to survive, such as freezing enemies, dodging like a pro, or just plain having a blast with your spells.
And artificial roadblocks never seem too far away, holding you in frustration city.
But here’s where it gets a bit thorny: the game has a bit of baggage with its developers. There were some reports last year of some of the leaders at GameScience making sexist comments, which they haven’t fully become accountable for. I didn’t see anything of that nature reflected in the game itself, but it’s the sort of thing that hangs over the experience—which is a shame, because the game is great otherwise.
In conclusion
Wukong just feels like a labor of love, from its world down to the characters.
The combat here is punchy; it’s in a weird and wonderful world. All it wants from you is to have a good time.
This is not one of those grimdark RPGs but rather a beautiful celebration of creativity and fun.
If you’re into action RPGs, you’ve just got to give this one a shot.
Wukong may be tagged a soulslike, but truthfully, it’s hammering out its own path, and we may just need an entirely new word for it.
