Black Myth: Wukong Is Exactly Like Elden Ring In One Cool Way

Summary

Black Myth: Wukongis very much its own experience, but ever since it was first revealed, it’s been constantly compared to FromSoft’s challenging video games likeDark SoulsandElden Ring. Although it does bear some obvious inspiration,it’s not strictly a soulslike, cutting a number of typical genre features and leaning into its own strengths as an action game. When it’s at its best, the result has its own beautiful blend of propulsive gameplay and demanding challenges, especially when it comes to dodging the devastating attacks that bosses frequently unleash.

There’s a lot more to FromSoft’s games than the gameplay structure and difficulty, however, andone of the biggest similarities betweenBlack Myth: Wukongand a FromSoft title doesn’t have much to do with the mechanics. Although the narrative of FromSoft games is never presented at the forefront of the experience, interesting characters and rich lore always play a role.Elden Ringprovides a great example of this concept, with a haunting, fascinating world crafted in part byA Song of Ice and Fireauthor George R.R. Martin.

Black Myth Wukong boss the Whiteclad Noble scowling with snakelike eyes.

How Hard Is Black Myth: Wukong? Difficulty Explained

Black Myth: Wukong’s difficulty can seem intimidating, but there’s more to the level of challenge in the action game than a focus on punishment.

Black Myth: Wukong Embraces The Passage Of Time

One FromSoft Design Staple Makes Itself Felt

A key facet ofElden Ring’s story is that it doesn’t take place in the heyday of the powerful characters and civilizationsthat appear both in the game and in its lore, but in a crumbling world thousands of years past its peak. It’s a concept that frequently defines FromSoft games led by studio president Hidetaka Miyazaki, also notably seen in theDark Soulsidea of the fire fading. InElden Ring’s case, wandering around a hostile world full of ruins, rot, and long-simmering hatreds enhances the sense of a solitary journey, making every connection found within the game meaningful.

Black Myth: Wukongdoesn’t lean intoElden Ring’s sense of lonelinessand barely flickering hope, but it does run with the idea of a story set after the main events. The game has been largely touted as an adaptation of the classic Chinese novelJourney to the West, the tale of a Buddhist monk and three companions traveling on a long pilgrimage.Black Myth: Wukongdoesn’t follow the story of the original Monkey King, Sun Wukong, however. It instead casts players as the Destined One, a successor who goes on a journey that bears a striking resemblance to Sun Wukong’s.

Player performing the Euridition Gesture atop a mountain with a view in Elden Ring.

Black Myth: Wukong Understands Elden Ring’s Strengths

Interesting Story Elements Are Never Overdone

At a glance, it might seem odd to tell a vague reflection ofJourney to the Westrather than simply adapting the work itself, but doing so makes it easier for the game to focus on its strengths. Cutscenes here and there offer some distinct story moments, butBlack Myth: Wukongis a game about bosses more than anything else, and freeing itself from the stricter bounds ofJourney to the West’s story lets the experience of fighting them take center stage. InBlack Myth: Wukongweakest moments, it can jump between scenes without building meaningful links, but it’s not pervasive enough to ruin the flow.

Black Myth: Wukong Review: The Soulslike Action Hype Train Is A Little Off-Rails

Despite the exceptional qualities of Black Myth: Wukong, the souls-like RPG has some necessary improvements to make, for a truly immersive experience.

Story elements inBlack Myth: Wukongare more present in the game’s Journal entries, which tell plenty of interesting tales for dedicated readers. It’s a similar concept to FromSoft’s cryptic approach to unraveling threads through item descriptions, but the text tends to be more robust and straightforward. Although partitioning things this way might be disappointing for some players,it allows the gameplay momentum to drive the primary experience while providing more narrative depth at the player’s leisure. LikeElden Ring, the mystique can also enhance things even when left unsolved, granting bosses the gravitas of letting them speak for themselves.

Black Myth Wukong English Key Art.

Another great narrative element inBlack Myth: Wukongcan be found in the music videos between chapters, which play beautiful animated shorts that convey their stories without words.

Telling an afterstory definitely isn’t the right move for every game, but it does feel like a natural fit forBlack Myth: Wukong, and it manifests through plenty of cool ideas. Chapter 2’scharacter of the Headless Monkis one example of an inventive sequel element toJourney to the West’s story, and it’s one of many elements that build up a satisfying concept of the Destined One restoring balance through his violent path. LikeElden Ring,Black Myth: Wukongcalls back to a vibrant time in a world that’s left it behind, and those echoes can be special.

The studio behindBlack Myth: Wukong, GameScience, has previously been accused of fostering a toxic environment for its workers. The 2023 allegations include sexualized comments against women, misogyny, fatphobia, and more. More details can be foundhere.