Black Myth: Wukong Preview - A Classic Tale Retold
How does the game's difficulty and the need to learn enemy tactics reflect the characteristics of a Soulslike game?
The game's difficulty and the need to learn enemy tactics are core characteristics of a Soulslike game. Soulslikes are known for their high level of difficulty, which requires players to carefully observe enemy movements and learn their attack patterns in order to succeed. This is evident in Black Myth: Wukong, as the player must study the movements of various bosses and enemies in order to progress. Additionally, the game's challenging combat system, which demands skillful use of weapons and magic, is another hallmark of the Soulslike genre.
In Black Myth: Wukong, players must adapt to different enemy types and learn their strengths and weaknesses in order to defeat them. This process of trial and error, followed by the eventual mastery of combat techniques, is a key aspect of the Soulslike experience. Furthermore, the game's use of preset checkpoints, limited resources, and the potential for losing progress upon death also reflect the genre's challenging nature.
Overall, the difficulty and the need to learn enemy tactics in Black Myth: Wukong are essential components of its Soulslike design, providing players with a challenging and rewarding experience that emphasizes skillful gameplay and strategic thinking.
What is the primary source of inspiration for the storyline of Black Myth: Wukong?
The primary source of inspiration for the storyline of Black Myth: Wukong is the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, written by Wu Cheng’en in the 16th century2. The novel is one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature and is regarded as one of the greatest classical novels6. It follows the journey of Tang Sanzang and his disciples Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, and Sha Wujing as they travel to the Western Heaven to obtain Buddhist scriptures. The game, developed and published by Chinese studio Game Science, is an action role-playing game that closely follows the events of the novel, depicting Wukong's encounters with various creatures and demons in Chinese myth, set within stunning Eastern landscapes5.
How does the game integrate elements of Chinese mythology and Buddhist folklore into its gameplay and narrative?
Black Myth: Wukong integrates elements of Chinese mythology and Buddhist folklore into its gameplay and narrative by closely following the events of Wu Cheng’en’s seminal novel Journey to the West. The game's protagonist, Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, is a central figure in Chinese mythology and Buddhist folklore. Players experience Wukong's encounters with various creatures and demons, known as Yaoguai, which are based on Chinese myths, set within stunning Eastern landscapes.
The game's primary weapon, the Ruyi Jingu Bang, is a magical staff that Wukong can shrink down to the size of a needle, a feature taken from the inspirational literature. Additionally, the game incorporates mystic spells and transformations, such as the ability to immobilize enemies and wield the powers of defeated bosses, which are deeply rooted in Chinese mythology and folklore.
Throughout the game, players will explore environments like the Forest of Wolves and the Guanyin Temple, which are rich in cultural significance, and battle various bosses inspired by mythical creatures and characters from the Journey to the West.
In summary, Black Myth: Wukong seamlessly integrates elements of Chinese mythology and Buddhist folklore into its gameplay and narrative by drawing inspiration from the iconic novel Journey to the West, incorporating mythical creatures, characters, and locations, as well as utilizing magical staff techniques and transformations based on mystic spells from the lore.