By: Dilawar Javed

Chinese developer Game Science’s highly anticipated action combat adventure “Black Myth: Wukong” has finally arrived, and it is everything the fans have been hoping for. That does not mean there is not something left wanting, but what it provides is enough to keep you engaged and entertained for hours.

The game’s latest version represents the studio’s grand entrance from mobile games to console and gaming systems. Been in waiting for years, the game has done justice to the graphics, as well as its combat and unique storytelling – all inspired by the 16th-century Chinese novelist Wu Cheng’en’s “Journey to the West.”

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First impressions suggest that Black Myth: Wukong is both ambitious and flawed – which goes to say that while it may not be perfectly titled, it does mark an exciting debut for Game Science that shows what the studio could achieve in the future! Despite the game’s impressive graphics and art design, there are reports of stuttering, glitches and frame rate drops on high-end PCs.

MAGIC WIELDING MONKEY

Players embody the character of Sun Wukong – a powerful monkey wielding a magical staff. Sun Wukong goes on varied adventures fighting zombies and other mythical creatures including, rat kings, evil ancient monks, and even dragons.

The game’s linear progression, punctuated by bonfire-like checkpoints, might initially suggest souls-like experience – a genre where the players stack points by obtaining souls of the characters – but its gameplay leans more towards action-adventure with small role-playing elements. Players manage basic stats, collect loot and progress their character through a skill tree.

Black Myth: Wukong is divided into chapters, with some minor evil ‘bosses’ confronting Sun Wukong in each level, and a major one ending the fight. The pace of the game is fast enough to keep the players engaged. However, the absence of a map and occasional camera issues during boss fights can cause them frustration.

COMBAT STRATEGY

Combat in Black Myth: Wukong is a mixture of heavy and light attacks, dodging, and managing ‘Focus Points’ which are necessary for executing strong attacks. There are multiple scenarios to choose from during the game, each affecting the said attacks in different ways. Magical abilities gained through the game process also play a role, creating another layer of combat possibilities.

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Players also have the option to temporarily transform into enemies they have already defeated, which adds more unique abilities to the main character.

However, the combat still falls short of the immersive experience that most souls-games fans are accustomed to. The game’s mechanics do a decent job of representing elements from the Chinese mythology, but its narrative falls short in emotional depth, leaving players wanting for more and possibly even disconnecting from the story.