While Black Myth: Wukong has been marketed as a Soulslike, and it certainly appears to have elements of Soulslike gameplay, it might not be as true to the genre as it should be to technically be classified as such. Unlike most genres, the Soulslike genre is a very particular one, as it is ultimately defined by its niche characteristics. As such, there are certain traditions a game must observe to be both technically classified and publicly recognized as a proper Soulslike, and although Black Myth: Wukong may observe some of those traditions, there is one key characteristic that may set it too far apart from the genre for it to find its home th

The first point that every single person I spoke to was keen to make was just how good Black Myth: Wukong looked. Superlatives such as "amazing", "brilliant" and "super beautiful" were thrown around, and not a single person I spoke to failed to mention the game's visuals. It's also pretty clear that Black Myth: Wukong is going to live up to the Soulslike difficulty stand

Where the Soulslike elements of Black Myth: Wukong may fall flat is in the game's protagonist, who is based on Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. Best known as one of the players in Journey to the West, Sun Wukong is a monkey who acquires supernatural abilities through dedication to Taoist practices. He is incredibly strong, he can run "with the speed of a meteor," and he can even transform into various animals, weapons, and other objects. He is also a very skilled warrior who can freeze people in place, and he can even cloak himself and become invisi

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

A proper Soulslike needs to be punishing, making the player feel as insignificant as possible. Every single enemy in a Soulslike game , not just boss encounters, needs to pose a threat to the player. This is ultimately where black myth Wukong weapons|https://blackmythwukongfans.com/ Myth: Wukong may fall short, based on one major fact about the figure its protagonist is based

Players were given 30 minutes to try and defeat four of the game's different bosses, with most people I spoke to only managing to defeat two of them. The Elite Macaque Chief and Tiger Vanguard were two of the more popular bosses, with Game Science saying the Tiger was the harder of the two, but a member of the public sharing that "actually, the Monkey was hard

Hardcore Soulslike fans are very protective of the genre, to the point that they refuse to label any game that might be too easy or accessible a Soulslike. Even Elden Ring , 2022's Game of the Year , threw some fans of the genre for a loop, as many thought it was far too accessible to be considered a true Soulslike experience. That is because difficulty is one of the most defining characteristics of the Soulslike ge

After it was officially unveiled back in 2021, until this recent trailer, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers had somewhat fallen by the wayside, due to the increasing number of Soulslikes being released in quick succession. One such game is Black Myth Wukong , which releases in August. Featuring Soulslike mechanics, similarly fantastical boss fights, and steeped in Ancient Chinese history, Wukong will likely be compared to Wuchang , even though the art styles are quite different. Indeed, Wuchang 's tone and aesthetic seem more similar to the likes of Team Ninja's critically acclaimed Nioh ser

One of the more surprising elements of Black Myth: Wukong 's physical release is Game Science's announcement that none of the available editions will actually include a physical disc. Though players will be able to pick up a physical box and receive all the pre-order bonuses that are available as part of each tier of the game's release, none of the editions will include a disc, instead opting for a download code. According to the developer, this was done to scale back the cost of getting physical copies into players' hands, and there are still some worthwhile bonuses that make pre-ordering the game an exciting proposit

Instead, a copy of the physical edition will have a download voucher inside the box, which players can then redeem online for the full game. That goes for both the standard "Deluxe Edition," and the recently revealed "Collector's Edition." In other words, the physical edition is nothing more than a glorified drink coaster.

Despite often being referred to as a Soulslike game, Black Myth: Wukong manages to strike a balance between classics in the genre and modern action RPGs in its boss fights. Each boss encounter in Wukong is thoroughly challenging and chock-full of unique mechanics — as anyone might expect from a typical Souls game — but it quite literally dodges Soulslike comparisons by emphasizing movement heavily. The Destined One's quick zips across the battlefield, allowing Black Myth: Wukong 's boss fights to make a name for themselves in a saturated genre of pattern-heavy, yet memorable boss encount