The long-awaited Black Myth Wukong is almost here, and the excitement is palpable. This action RPG, inspired by Chinese mythology, has been topping Steam wishlists and generating buzz since its first jaw-dropping trailer. We recently got our hands on the game for an early preview, and while parts of the experience left us in awe, others caught us completely off guard—for better and worse.
A Stunning Start With Unforeseen Issues
Let’s start with the good: Black Myth Wukong makes a dazzling first impression. From its stunning visuals to its immersive opening sequence, it’s clear that developer Game Science has poured an immense amount of care into crafting this title. The promise of battling mythical creatures in a rich, folklore-inspired world is every bit as thrilling as it sounds.
But then the problems began. During our playthrough, we encountered some frustrating bugs. It started small—an issue with opening a chest early in the game, which froze the screen and forced a restart. Unfortunately, the glitches didn’t stop there. As we progressed, we faced more obstacles, like doors that wouldn’t open, NPC interactions that failed to trigger, and collectibles we couldn’t access.
After about two and a half hours, we hit a dead end—a game-breaking bug made it impossible to proceed. At the time of writing, no fixes are available, and reports from other players suggest that these issues aren’t isolated incidents. Developer Game Science has promised a day-one patch, and we hope it addresses these problems before players dive in at launch.
Gameplay That Shines Despite the Bugs
Despite the technical hiccups, Black Myth Wukong’s gameplay deserves praise. Unlike Souls-like games or Elden Ring, this title offers a more guided experience, with a focus on agility and tactical combat. Battles emphasize timing, requiring players to dodge effectively (you can only dodge three times in a row) and study enemy attack patterns.
One thing to note is the absence of multiple difficulty levels—there’s just one, but it strikes a balance between challenge and accessibility. While the boss fights require precision and focus, they’re not as punishing as FromSoftware’s infamous duels. Instead, they encourage players to experiment with their arsenal of abilities and tactics.
Rich Customization and Combat Variety
The game’s skill trees and crafting system are surprisingly deep. Players can tailor their playstyle by unlocking unique passives or crafting gear suited to different situations. Add to that the two magic spells you can equip at a time, the transformative abilities gained by defeating bosses, and the multiple stances your character can switch between—each reminiscent of the stance system in Nioh—and you have a recipe for thrilling combat diversity.
We were particularly intrigued by the Spirit mechanic, which allows you to summon defeated enemies using a special healing flask. It’s just one example of how the game encourages creativity in tackling challenges. If the bugs hadn’t stopped us in our tracks, we would’ve loved to explore these systems further.
What’s Next for Black Myth Wukong?
There’s no denying that Black Myth Wukong has the potential to be something truly special. Its mythological setting, innovative gameplay mechanics, and stunning design have already captured the imagination of players around the world. However, its launch could hinge on whether the developer addresses the technical issues that marred our experience.
If the day-one patch lives up to expectations, Black Myth Wukong could easily become one of the standout games of 2024. For now, we’ll have to wait and see if it can overcome these early hurdles and deliver on its incredible promise. One thing’s for sure: we’ll be ready to jump back in once the bugs are squashed.