As far as video game preview events go, this certainly isn’t the kind of intro I’m used to. But as I settled down to check out the first few hours ofBlack Myth: Wukong, the newUnreal Engine 5RPG from publisher and developer Game Science, this was the advice I was offered.
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Yes, it turns out. Having spent a couple of hours withBlack Myth, perhaps the greatest praise I can offer is that I would happily have sat back down and gone through the whole demo again.
Gamescience
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First and foremost,Black Myth: Wukongis a stupidly gorgeous game. Like, really, ridiculously, almost unbelievably good looking. From the way the light catches the trees and shimmers off the small streams of water running through the forest, to the individual blades of grass swaying gently in the breeze. I’ve never seen anything like it. This may be the best-looking Unreal Engine 5 game we’ve gotten so far.
But what good is a pretty face if there’s nothing going on underneath the surface? FortunatelyBlack Mythhappens to be an absolute blast to play, too.
Comparisons have been drawn to the likes ofDark Souls, but I don’t think that’s entirely accurate. Yes, the game has some difficult bosses, but the overall combat and flow is far more focused on fast-paced action than fretting over specific stats and builds.
Certainly, at least in terms of combat,Black Mythhas far more in common with the rebooted God Of War games, or even Respawn’sStar WarsJedi titles.
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Gamescience
Your primary weapon is a staff, which you’ll wield via a series of combos made up of light and strong attacks. There’s a strong focus on the Destined One’s inherent agility and martial arts prowess, and laying the beatdown on regular enemies is tremendously satisfying. The speed with which our hero can move makes them a joy to control. This being an RPG, you can also upgrade various abilities, increasing stats like health and stamina while also learning new stances, combos, and ways of attacking.
The Destined One is pretty handy with magic, too, and through careful exploration of the game’s various semi-open zones, you’ll dig up all manner of optional skills. Some, like an amazing ability to freeze enemies in time so that you can wail on them before they get their attack in, are given to you through the course of the story. Others, like a powerful alternate form that turns you into a fiery force to be reckoned with, are locked behind hidden bosses.Black Mythis a game thatwantsyou to poke around off the beaten path, and it offers a genuine impetus to do so; luring you away with the promises of more challenging fights and rare gear.
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Similar toGod Of War: Ragnarök,Black Mythstrikes a balance between giving you plenty of weaker enemies to pound on and get that power fantasy fix, and throwing out huge monsters who will absolutely humble you if you’re not careful.
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This is where the Souls comparisons are maybe a little more justified, as these encounters are tests of patience and observation. There are patterns to learn, and knowing how much you can wail on a foe before you need to dodge out of their range is absolutely crucial. The aforementioned time-stop ability adds a fun new dynamic to this, however, since you can literally stop a boss in their tracks for a few seconds right before they deliver a devastating blow. Just be aware you can’t endlessly spam spells, which are reliant on mana and a cooldown timer.
UnlikeDark Souls, there isn’t a traditional levelling system, and simply grinding till you can overpower a boss through brute force isn’t an entirely feasible strategy. You can explore a little more for better gear or a handier new ability, for sure, but boss battles inBlack Mythultimately come down to sheer perseverance and skill.
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Black Myth: Wukongis a game that, I have to admit, I was concerned about. Much has been said about the RPG’s Unreal Engine 5-powered visual splendour, to the extent that I feared it would be a pretty but ultimately shallow action game. Based on what I’ve played, however, I reckon we can look forward to something very special indeed.
Topics:God Of War,Star Wars,Unreal Engine
