Another way Black Myth differs from most Soulslikes is that players are stuck with basically one weapon throughout the course of the game: the legendary staff from the Journey to the West novel that inspired the game. Even so, players are still tasked with putting together a "build" based on how they choose to level up the Destined One and what stances they place their skill points into. Different stances allow for different heavy attacks, performed by filling up the Focus meter. The lack of weapon variety does hurt the game in the long run, though switching between stances keeps things somewhat fresh for a while. Luckily, there's an interesting wrinkle that helps Black Myth 's battles stay engaging for longer than they would have otherw

Going by their imperious command to the player and the eerie-looking temple they inhabit, odds are good this mysterious antagonist/boss is the "Yellow Brows Great King" mentioned above, a spirit-turned-demon presiding over their own twisted version of the Buddhist faith. They may even be same narrator who recites the " Thou Shalt Kill " monologue earlier in the Black Myth: Wukong trailer, cementing themselves as an actual ideological enemy of Buddhism in-game, rather than just another of Wukong's demonic souls who wants to become immortal by devouring the flesh of a holy m

With that said, while we make the comparison to Souls games, Black Myth: Wukong is much easier than what you might expect. There were only a handful of bosses that we ran into any sort of trouble, namely taking five or more attempts, with the majority of the encounters taking one or two tries. The normal enemies do get progressively more advanced as the campaign progresses, and there are the staple traps that will send you over the edge of a cliff, but for the most part, Black Myth: Wukong rarely puts you up against more than one or two enemies at a given time. We found the balance of difficulty good, though, as learning patterns is enjoyable and never feels like they punish too harshly. You can die from a couple of hits, but most of the time it’s easy to recover.

Near the end of the Black Myth Wukong weapons Myth: Wukong trailer , a different narrator talks about personally listening to the Buddha preach about how desire and lust are the root of all suffering. This narrator then goes on to passionately disagree with this view, chanting a twisted set of religious commandments and advice that invert traditional Buddhist values (and the values of most other religions), making statements such as "Thou Shalt Kill," "Thou Shalt Steal," and "Thou Shalt Commit Adultery." Villainous monologue aside, this narrator seemingly believes a world without desires and illusions would be a world devoid of hope and happiness, a philosophy blending hedonism with nihilism in equal measure. In short, the sort of religion demons might find validat

In the first opening montage for the Black Myth: Wukong trailer , an old-sounding narrator describes how he's dreamed of an "odd bunch" of adventurers attempting to embark on a long westward journey. One traveler, he describes as being " here for a great cause " (Tang Sanzang). Another is described as wanting to "be among the gods" and have their "name praised by generations to come" (Sun Wukong). The third traveler, according to the narrator, sees "this journey as a way out, an escape from what you deem unimportant." (Sha Wujing). The final traveler is apparently a "simple one" who only desires "shelter and dinner" (Zhu Bajie). The narrator's voice swiftly turns contemptuous, and he tears into each of these travelers for their hidden vanity, accusing them of being riddled with obsessions despite belonging to a faith that seeks freedom from obsess

Eventually, the trailer ties a bow on it all with over a dozen brief glimpses at many of Black Myth: Wukong 's terrifying bosses , including a dragon, a massive troll, a rock monster, and a dual sword-wielding character that looks like a tough time. Other scenes near the end of the final trailer, like one of the Destined One placing a mask on a statue to open a large door, have very little context, so it's impossible to know what all of it means. One particular scene of a blood moon could be the cinematic introduction to a boss fight, as blood moons are considered a sign of impending doom in Chinese cult

The implication of all these monologues, perhaps, is that players of Black Myth: Wukong can't just beat this games by defeating enemies in boss fights; they'll need to be able to defeat them ideologically as well, demonstrating how reaching enlightenment and becoming a better, happier person is hard, yet possi

Completing a chapter in Black Myth: Wukong rewards players with access to a brand-new area, though they are still free to return to previous chapters using the shrines, which double as fast-travel points. Players will want to return to previously explored areas to interact with special NPCs that, like in other Soulslike games, often require players to talk to them multiple times to trigger certain events and reveal all the information they have to offer. There are completely optional merchants that are easily missed yet vitally important, so people who don't have patience for that Soulslike trope will likely be annoyed by how Black Myth: Wukong handles its NP