I was completely awestruck yet frustrated while playing Black Myth: Wukong. This action-packed game is undeniably ambitious and impressive, featuring stunning visuals, fantastic combat mechanics, and a richly immersive setting steeped in Chinese culture. However, the experience is marred by technical issues that often disrupt the gameplay flow.

Black Myth: Wukong draws inspiration from the classic novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en, creating a narrative that delves into Chinese mythology. While the game assumes some familiarity with the source material, it falls short in providing adequate context for those unfamiliar with Sun Wukong’s story.

As The Destined One, players embark on a captivating 40-hour journey to locate the six relics of Wukong. Although the storytelling may lack depth due to a silent protagonist and underdeveloped side characters, each chapter concludes with beautifully animated vignettes that explore the main antagonist’s backstory in varied art styles.

Despite initial impressions of being a soulslike game, Black Myth: Wukong leans more towards traditional action gameplay. The absence of typical soulslike features, such as punishing death penalties and complex stat leveling systems, make Wukong a more forgiving yet challenging experience. Combat is a delicate balance of reflexes, resource management, and strategic decision-making.

The combat system in Black Myth: Wukong is elegant and straightforward, offering players a range of engaging tools to experiment with. From Focus Meter-powered combos to versatile spells and powerful transformations, there is an excellent blend of combat options to master.

Wukong excels in both boss battles and regular enemy encounters, with diverse enemy types and rewarding exploration opportunities. The game’s level design balances wide-linear paths with optional side areas filled with valuable collectibles and secrets.

While the game’s visuals are breathtaking and the attention to detail is commendable, the lack of a map can make navigation and exploration challenging. The environments are vast and intricate, requiring players to carefully explore and uncover hidden treasures.

Unfortunately, Black Myth: Wukong is plagued by technical problems, including crashes, audio glitches, localization issues, and gameplay bugs. These issues, while significant, detract from an otherwise engaging and immersive gaming experience.

Despite its technical shortcomings, the core elements of Black Myth: Wukong shine through, offering a compelling and rewarding gameplay experience. With some post-launch patches to address these issues, this game has the potential to be truly exceptional.