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Soulslikes have always been known for having iconic monster designs, often showcasing exceeding creativity and gruesomeness. Just look at the Dark Souls series and their bosses for a masterclass in the nightmarish imagination that's become a Soulslike signature. Black Myth: Wukong takes a similar approach here. Its designs are brimming with imagination and many carry on that body horror tradit

I, frankly, couldn't handle the wait, nor did my scummy press pass count for much for this particular game, so I figured I'd do the next best thing and get impressions of those who had actually managed to play it at Gamescom. Here's what I uncove

A good while in the making, Black Myth: Wukong was revealed back in 2020 . The game will follow the journey of the 'Destined One', a character modeled after monkey king Sun Wukong. All manner of creatures, both small and colossal, look to stand in the player's way. Many seem to be direct allusions to Jou rney to the West , such as a giant arachnid that might be one of the book's spider demons—or an anthropomorphic black bear that likely represents the demon Xiong Shanjun. Many other creatures could also take their likeness from more ancient Chinese mythol

Black Myth: Wukong , an upcoming Soulslike based on the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West , got a big trailer at The Game Awards. Not only did this new teaser show off titanic foes and dazzling fidelity, but it also demonstrated how Black Myth: Wukong 's mythological creatures will be unlike anything players have seen in the genre thus

The title has attracted a lot of attention due to its impressive use of Unreal Engine 5 , which delivers realistic environments and smooth combat animations. Players will encounter various mythical creatures and bosses, each requiring different strategies to defeat them. The combat system is designed to be deep and engaging , featuring a mix of melee, magic, and transformation abilities that allow Wukong to change into different creatures to gain advantages in battle. Game Science Studio has heavily invested in capturing the essence of Chinese folklore and mythology, making Black Myth: Wukong a must-play title for fans of action RPGs and mythological tales al

As a filthy casual, I can confirm that Black Myth is not going to be a beginner-friendly entry point to the genre, but it’s also easy to see this is the real deal - something that transcends the label of ‘Dark Souls clone’ and stands on its own as a competent, well-designed action RPG. The only criticisms I have are about the generic forest environments that, while beautiful, don’t leave much room for exploration, nor do they inspire the imagination the way Bloodborne’s Yarnham or even Lies of P’s Krat do. This is just the game’s intro though, Recommended Web site so I anticipate there’s a lot more to see.

As to be expected from a game in the Souls tradition, the difficulty wasn't for everybody, and after two hours of queuing, one member of the public told me that while they could appreciate what the game was trying to do, they weren't a fan of the difficulty. Another person revealed to me that although they loved the game, they couldn't beat the first boss as "it was a little bit too tou

A year ago, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor made waves when its physical copy included the disclaimer "Download Required" , something that's sadly become more common . The disc included only partially held the game's file size, with a download needed to complete the rest. It was a major hit for game preservation purposes, and it looks like Black Myth: Wukong will suffer the same fate, at least in the interim.

While Black Myth: Wukong might have some similarities with the Souls-like subgenre , it is not a full Souls-like. Players will use shrines to perform actions like replenish heals, log a checkpoint, and fast travel throughout the world, but Black Myth has as much in common with FromSoftware’s titles as it does a character action game. For starters, the combat in the game is extremely fast-paced. Dodging is essential for survival, with no traditional options for blocking or parrying attacks. And where a Souls-like might feel more open in its construction, the first few hours of Black Myth: Wukong appeared fairly lin

After defeating an optional boss called Guangzhi, a wolf wielding a flaming staff, I earned the ability to transform into him. Guangzhi has a powerful move set and the ability to ignite enemies, applying a burn that damages them over time, but what really makes this ability handy is that turning into Guangzhi gives you a new, full health bar. Eventually time runs out and you transform back into the Destined One, but transforming can be a great way to survive when your health is low by allowing you to tank a bunch of difficult to avoid attacks. Again, more layers of resource management.

After years of mystery, Black Myth: Wukong is really taking shape. Both the public, and fellow critics, have had almost universal praise for the game that's set to release in 2024 . Now if I could just get my hands on i