Black Myth Wukongis a real treat for players who want bang for their buck, as the game is jam-packed with content, boss fights, and lengthy chapters that split up the game’s elaborate story.
And even then, if you’re not digging around, you’ll miss a lot of the secret areas and hidden goodies the game rewards the more perceptive players with.
Each chapter has something to offer that makes it worthwhile, and I would go so far as to say none are irredeemably bad. That being said though, some are definitely better than others.
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For every cinematic boss that defines a chapter, there is a strange gimmick, a cheap boss fight, or a plodding story beat that can drag down the chapter as a whole.
So we thought it would be fun to look at each of the chapters, warts and all, and decide which one offers the best overall experience.
6Chapter 6
Chapter High Point
Getting Cloud Somersault After Beating the Supreme Inspector
Chapter Low Point
Exploring the barren and lifeless Mount Huaguo
If you’ve enduredBlack Myth: Wukongto the point that you have reached chapter 6, you’ll know how each chapter tends to play out and know what to expect.
You start slow, beat some bosses, meet some key characters, and then explore the various regions of the new land you inhabit. It’s a formula that, up until this point, had ensured a satisfying blend of exploration, random encounters, and boss-rush gauntlet action.
This is why Chapter Six marks a real fall-off for this otherwise phenomenal title, as, after the admittedly fantastic fight against the Supreme Inspector, the game decides to reward you withSomersault Cloud, which behaves much likeGoku’s Flying Nimbus.
This is a fun novelty at first, but as you realize that the vast area you can explore is mostly empty, you’ll dart around aimlessly, trying to find the next boss to fight, which really takes you out of the experience entirely.
The chapter isn’t without its standout moments, but this change made the whole chapter feel more like a tech demo or proof of concept rather than a complete and fleshed-out finale.
5Chapter 5
The Final Battle Against Red Boy
The linear, narrow pathways with next to no variety
Generally speaking, due to the rather rushed feel of the last couple of chapters withinBlack Myth Wukong, it really feels like diminishing returns with each new chapter you work through, rather than building to a grand crescendo, and that drop-off really begins in chapter five.
Unlike the chapters that came before, this one feels like a much more linear experience, with fewer opportunities to go off the beaten track and much less variety in terms of the environments you explore.
But this could have been forgiven if the story, bosses, and moment-to-moment gameplay had stood out from the previous chapters. Sadly, though, the bosses of this chapter are easily the least interesting in terms of design and rarely offer any challenge at all.
It honestly feels like a filler chapter concocted out of obligation to tell a complete story in line with A Journey to the West, but in truth, if they had omitted this chapter entirely, I don’t think I would truly miss anything it had to offer.
4Chapter 1
The difficult boss fights due to the lack of build options
Each time the game slowed to a halt to teach you new mechanics
Thankfully for Game Science and the fans of this epic adventure, the game starts off on much more solid footing, offering a much more put-together and engaging initial chapter.
The appeal of this beginning chapter is the ambitious nature of the story, and your role in this world as you slowly piece together the core mechanics of this punishing title. But this leads to some impressive highs, and some minor fumbles.
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Monkey see, Monkey do!
The strength of this chapter is the initial ‘wow’ factor ofthe impressive visuals, and the fact that the player is grossly unequippedfor the steep challengesthe game has in store with very few items and pieces of gear to create bespoke builds.
However, the tentative start to the story and the slow introduction of the games' core systems does make for a chapter that dines out on moments rather than a cohesive and engaging chapter from start to finish. It’s great, don’t get me wrong, but the other chapters far surpass this one.
3Chapter 3
Cinematic fights against Yellowbrow and Kang-jin-Loong
The entire Pagoda Region
Chapter Three is a phenomenal showcase of whatBlack Myth Wukongis all about. It offers a fresh new frosty biome, introduces some intriguing characters, offers a wealth of cinematic boss battles, with the staggering battle againstKang-Jin-Loong on Mirrormerebeing a real visual treat, and also provides plenty of unique areas to explore away from the main path of progression.
In truth, you would think that this one would be a contender for the finest chapter of them all. However, there is one glaring issue that serves as a black mark against this chapter, andthat’s the Pagoda Region.
Due to a series oflaughably hard bosseswith shoddy design, and a curse mechanic that drains your health every one and a half minutes like clockwork, it makes the middle of this chapter a chore, and while the latter half andYellowbrowsomewhat make up for it, the damage had already been done in my eyes.
2Chapter 4
Uncovering and exploring the Purple Cloud Mountain secret area
The Final Boss who is near impossible without theWeaver’s Needle
If you’re an arachnophobe, you probably won’t have had fun during the fourth chapter ofBlack Myth: Wukong, but if you could deal with all those hairy legs and beady eyes, you’ll likely have adored the Webbed Hollow and beyond.
This chapter has some wonderful highs, such asZhu Bajie’s starring role and eventual boss fightand thebeautiful secret area of Purple Cloud Mountain. Not to mention the large open areas after eventually ascending from Webbed Hollow, which offers some of the best items and goodies worth sourcing in the game.
It’s an incredible showcase of storytelling, and perhaps the most accessible and coherent contained narrative throughout the game. And there are some cinematic moments worth their weight in gold.
However, due to some annoying fights where environmental hazards impede your movement and a final boss who practicallydemands you complete the optional secret areato proceed, we think this one comes in at second best. It must be said that it was like splitting hairs at times.
1Chapter 2
Thewealth of side quests, great bosses, and places to explore
A few lack-luster bosses like the Stone Vanguard & the Rat Prince
I could have given this chapter the win based on the oozing charisma of the headless musician alone. But that would be selling this chapter short.
Chapter Two which takes place in Yellow Wind Ridge is a joy to behold from start to finish, with the most striking biome of all, engaging and rewarding side quests, sublime bosseslike the Tiger VanguardandFubanto name a few, and a much more open map design compared to the rest of the chapter’s offerings.
Chapter Two is trulyBlack Myth Wukongat its best and ticks every boss in terms of narrative, gameplay, and rewarding secrets for those willing to do the extra legwork.
It’s a little disappointing that thisepic Souls-likecould never match the brilliance of this chapter as the game progressed, but in Game Science’s defense, it would have been a tough ask, as this portion of the game is as close to perfect as you could ask for.
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Black Myth: Wukong
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An action-RPG set against the backdrop of Chinese mythology, Black Myth: Wukong is a Soulslike adventure game retelling the story of Journey to the West.
