<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2PNGWT_0vHFIdOP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2PNGWT_0vHFIdOP00" width="1920" height="1080" ></figure>Editor's Note: Nvidia India provided a Steam copy of Black Myth: Wukong to IGN India for this review. We reviewed the game on the Alienware m16 R2 laptop provided by Dell India.If you are keeping up with the latest in the gaming world, you have likely heard of Black Myth: Wukong, the video game sensation hailing from China. Or, at the very least, about a video game where you play as a monkey making headlines for breaking Steam records or other questionable reasons.The game was first revealed in 2020 with a beautiful trailer that quickly got the attention of video game enthusiasts. Since then, regular teasers and early gameplay videos continued to increase the game's hype. The impressive visuals showcased in these previews helped generate a substantial buzz for the game months, if not almost a year, before its release. This created a high expectation for Black Myth: Wukong as the first premium offering from the Middle Kingdom.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0ittnA_0vHFIdOP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0ittnA_0vHFIdOP00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure>When the game finally launched on August 20, 2024, it largely met those expectations, with a record-setting number of players diving into its world daily. <h2>A Cultural Giant with High Stakes</h2>Developed and published by Shenzhen-based Game Science, Black Myth: Wukong is an action role-playing game where you play as the Destined One, a monkey character based on the culturally iconic figure of Sun Wukong from the Chinese novel Journey to the West that was first published in the 16th century. The interesting part is that the “West” here refers to India. It is based on the real-life journey of the Buddhist monk Xuanzang (Tripitaka), who travelled to India to obtain Buddhist scriptures and bring them back to China.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Ix9Rr_0vHFIdOP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Ix9Rr_0vHFIdOP00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure>The game is undeniably significant in today’s cultural landscape, especially in China. But the real question is: how good is it to play?The first thing you will notice — whether from screenshots or gameplay footage — Is that Black Myth: Wukong looks absolutely gorgeous. The level of detail is astounding, from character designs and their attire to weapons, scenery, flora, fauna, and bosses. It is on par with anything produced by the juggernauts of the West, Japan, or South Korea.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=20e8ly_0vHFIdOP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=20e8ly_0vHFIdOP00" width="1920" height="1080" ></figure>“Black Myth: Wukong looks absolutely gorgeous. The level of detail is astounding.”However, if you expect to learn everything about this culturally important novel by playing the game, think again. The game assumes a certain amount of familiarity with the setting and the characters, which might confuse you sometimes. Still, it offers enough to pull you in and perhaps inspire you to check out the lore of the Journey to the West by yourself. I particularly appreciated the extensive lore information available for each character in the in-game menu after encountering them. <h2>A Boss-Rush Journey Through Ancient China</h2>The story follows the Destined One’s quest to find six relics scattered across China by Sun Wukong — yes, you don’t actually play as Sun Wukong. The goal is to take on his mantle by finding these relics and reviving Wukong, who the Celestial Court has sealed for disobedience. This is, of course, a very simplified version of events, but this is the gist.The gameplay involves back-to-back encounters with various bosses, making for a linear experience. You will explore and move across different areas, battling minor enemies and facing off against bosses, progressing through the story as the Destined One.But Black Myth: Wukong does try to keep things interesting. It features several bosses that are innovative in design, strategy, and combat. Seeing some of these bosses and how the battles unfolded genuinely surprised me several times.The game is challenging and even brutal at times, especially when facing certain bosses. Like other soulslike games, you must learn enemy attack patterns, perfectly timing your dodges and attacks with your staff while using spells. If you die, you are sent back to one of the shrines scattered across each area, serving as checkpoints.After every chapter, Black Myth: Wukong features animated shorts in various art styles that are beautifully animated, voiced, and produced, along with a great soundtrack. These were always a delightful treat at the end of each of the six chapters.<h2>Lacklustre Combat</h2>Combat is the heart of Black Myth: Wukong, but this is where I feel the game falters. I did find hitting big, bad guys with a stick pretty fun. However, the combat system lacks depth, offering only light and heavy attacks. Performing light attacks or dodging perfectly builds “Focus,” which allows for more powerful moves. While intuitive and simple, this whole spiel can feel repetitive. Spells do offer some variety, but the gameplay often boils down to using your staff until your spells are available again after a cooldown. I wish the game had a more varied combat system.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3oTjqf_0vHFIdOP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3oTjqf_0vHFIdOP00" width="600" height="337" ></figure>“Combat is the heart of Black Myth: Wukong, but this is where I feel the game falters.”Another area where the game struggles is in its map design. The world of Black Myth: Wukong may appear vast, but the paths are linear, and there is no in-game map. Invisible walls are a frequent annoyance; you must rely on mental notes and old-school navigation. While this approach is commendable in theory, it is frustrating in practice, especially when areas look similar and there are inconsistencies — like being able to climb a small boulder in one area but not in another.During the initial marketing of the game, Black Myth: Wukong was pegged as a title that could showcase the capabilities of Unreal Engine 5 (UE5). Now, after spending tens of hours playing the title, we can confirm that UE5 is one of the primary reasons why the game shines in the visual department with detailed backgrounds. That is also why we see highly detailed backgrounds that appear accessible but are not. On the technical side, I liked that the game supported upscaling and frame generation technologies from both Nvidia and AMD while still looking pleasant to the eye, even in low graphical settings.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1TipSd_0vHFIdOP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1TipSd_0vHFIdOP00" width="600" height="337" ></figure>Despite these flaws, Black Myth: Wukong is an important game in 2024. It showcases what China can bring to the table of AAA games. With this title, the country has positioned itself as a new player in the AAA gaming space. The game introduces the rich cultural heritage of Journey to the West — a novel as significant to China as the Ramayana or Mahabharata are to India. The cultural impact is simply undeniable.However, as much as the game does well in cultural representation, it falls short in important gameplay aspects. At a certain point, playing Black Myth: Wukong felt more like a quest to see the game through to the end for me than a genuine interest in its story.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=30rNj8_0vHFIdOP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=30rNj8_0vHFIdOP00" width="600" height="337" ></figure>“The game introduces the rich cultural heritage of Journey to the West — a novel as significant to China as the Ramayana or Mahabharata are to India.”The “boss-rush” design of the game means you face a series of challenging boss battles consecutively, with the game making you focus most of your time on mastering each encounter rather than letting you explore or offer any other gameplay elements. The lack of a strong combat system and a restricted world that only appears vast diminishes the overall experience. I felt that Game Science focused heavily on the big and small details but did not give enough attention to the crucial elements in between.<h2>Black Myth: Wukong — Worth the Money?</h2>In India, Black Myth: Wukong is priced at INR (₹) 3,599 for PC on Steam and the Epic Games Store, and ₹3,999 for on the PlayStation Store. A Deluxe Edition upgrade, including some in-game items, is available for an additional ₹1,000. A separate free-to-download benchmark tool is also available, allowing PC gamers to check how the game will perform on their systems.This price is fair given the game's quality, especially since similar AAA titles often exceed ₹4,000. Beyond the quality, the game has plenty to offer regarding the hours you can invest trying to beat its many bosses. After you finish the game, you can try your hand at replaying the game with the New Game Plus mode, which lets you keep your character progress and weapons but makes the bosses more challenging.</div></body>

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Black Myth: Wukong (2024) - Review

Editor's Note: Nvidia India provided a Steam copy of Black Myth: Wukong to IGN India for this review. We reviewed the game on the Alienware m16 R2 laptop provided by Dell India. If you are keeping up with the latest in the gaming world, you have likely heard of Black...

Black Myth: Wukong (2024) - Review

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