Game Science
When I sat down to tryBlack Myth : WukongatSummer Game Fest , I start asking the person result the demonstration questions about the gameplay to get myself posit . What is the resourcefulness for level up my stats ? Would I send away currency when I go bad ? Could I parry attacks ? I lead in adopt it was your standard Soulslike , just with a more antic premise . After getting a few surprising solvent , the demonstration runner notice that the developer did n’t on the button require it to be viewed as a Soulslike — they prefer to just call it an action RPG .
That made total sense by the end of my demo . WhileBlack Myth : Wukongdoes admit lots of elements you ’d anticipate from a game like Dark Souls , parts of it are much more in line with traditional action game . That makes for a well-chosen culture medium between subgenres that ’ll come across with role player who want more games like this year’sStellar Blade .
Fast and furious
My demo begins other inBlack Myth : Wukong ’s first chapter . I ’m slash into a thick hobo camp that ’s mostly linear , but has a few branching paths that moderate to enigma . I get the rudiments of combat down cursorily when I notice some frail foe and thwack them with my staff . The first thing that stands out is how straightaway my attacks are . While I do have a obtuse heavy flack that can punish me for overcommitting , my light attacks lease me pepper foes with wad of small hits in speedy sequence .
I get the signified that developer Game Science always require participant to bide on the onset rather than hiding and strike enemies with a safe poke here and there . That flow is reinforced by the fact that there ’s no block or counterpunch system here . I can seethe to circumvent attacks , and the windowpane for evade seems generous , but that ’s all I have for defence . It ’s a little intemperate to get used to at first , especially in high - octane boss engagement with foresightful attack string , but the belligerent pace suits my own preferred playstyle well .
I only got a tasting ofBlack Myth : Wukong ’s depth in my 90 minutes with it . A abstruse acquisition tree contains plenty of upgrade that look like they ’ll radically deepen fight . That includes different onset stances that have my interest piqued . I unlocked one during my playthrough , which featured a particular onset that have me model on the top of my staff . The longer I sat , the large it got until I released the release to hit my foes with a massive flak . While sitting on the staff , I ’m also safe from attacks like shockwaves that move across the ground .
originative ideas like that are what setBlack Myth : Wukongapart from its peers . Battles are n’t just about flog enemies . Players also get access to some creative while that run on cooldowns and use mana . One of those freezes an enemy in place for a few seconds , allowing me to press the attack . Another that I saw temporarily turn me into a impassioned demon that could inflict burn off on my foes . transmutation like that seem to be an of import piece of gameplay . In one exploration segment , I become a petite mallet and stealthily fly through the woods to evade enemies . I ’m worked up to see how more idea like that can give theaction RPGa alone identity operator .
As for whether or not it ’s fair tocall it a Soulslike , that ’s going to be a bit of a Rorschach test for players . There ’s no corpse run scheme , though players do drop off half their currency when dying . There are shrines , which roleplay as bonfire checkpoints , but they are n’t used to level up characters with pick up imagination . or else , the eccentric levels up with experience points like in a normal RPG and earns skill point that can be spend on abilities . It ’s a bit in - between literary genre , which puts it in the same situation as this year’sStellar Blade .
For those who do want a right Souslike , though , do n’t worry . My demo was filled with improbably unmanageable bosses that pass over the level with me . One fight against a man in a lake had me dodging watery explosions and attack bowed stringed instrument that choke on and on . That battle even had a imitation - out 2d form . I got ambushed by a frog boss when casually walking through a pool , while a jumbo beast with a child - alike head penalise me for daring to attack it . Fights like that are still tough as nails , though tools like my prison term - freezing magic alleviate the trouble a bit . There ’s always a way to gain an vantage in fight if you clock your skills as a mean value of avoiding a big hit .
As someone who has a love - hatred relationship with the Souls trend , Black Myth : Wukongfeels more my speed . It still offers all the challenge of the literary genre , but with less frustration and more creative action . Combine that with a visually inviting world steeped in Chinese mythology , and you ’ve got a promising action RPG on the celestial horizon .
Black Myth : Wukonglaunches on August 20 for PlayStation 5 and PC .
