Black Fantasy: Wukong is an motion RPG that leans a bit into the Souls camp and a bit into the journey camp. And both means, it is a spectacular journey that works for principally everybody: these after difficult fights in opposition to Chinese language mythological creatures, and people after the identical factor, however with rather less problem than your typical Soulslikes. What separates Black Fantasy from the group, although, is its slick presentation and a way of generosity. You are to witness essentially the most lavish, cinematic worlds and its creatures. And also you’re to take pleasure in battering all the things along with your workers as a extremely athletic monkey with copious spells at his furry follicles and fingertips. It has been some time since I’ve performed something fairly as spectacular as this.
The sport’s primarily based on one of many nice classical Chinese language novels Journey To The West, which I’ve not learn. However, from the beginning of the sport I collect that Wukong rebelled in opposition to Heaven and he acquired kicked into the nether. A few years move and also you, an individual sitting behind a display screen, take management of the Destined One: a monkey who’s primarily Wukong reincarnate. What’s your mission? To thwack the shite out of varied Yaoguai (legendary creatures) and remind them that you simply’re again within the recreation, child. Again to reclaim… one thing.
Forgive my ignorance, as I discover Black Fantasy’s Soulsy story supply fairly troublesome to observe. These acquainted with the supply materials or these with notably discerning ear holes could discover it lots simpler, however I battle with rats the dimensions of skyscrapers and headless monks talking in riddles. Factor is, although, I do not thoughts it one bit? With Souls it could actually frustrate, as a result of their universes exist purely in-game and if I do not perceive one thing, I do know the one solutions lie in a 40-minute, interpretative YouTube video. With Black Fantasy, I am simply lapping up the spectacle, the drama, the boiling spittle ejected from the mouth of a blazing deity because it roars at me. Ignorance right here solely actually means bliss, as irrespective of the place you sit on the understanding scale, you may be including Journey To The West to your cart instantly.
Earlier than cosying up with the novel, although, comes the twiddling of your thumbs on a rotund piece of plastic (or the patter of your fingers, relying on whether or not you utilize the equally good mouse and keyboard). Black Fantasy is of the Souls college of motion RPGs, for essentially the most half: you dodge bruising enemy assaults, you wait on your stamina to get better, you drink from a Gourd to replenish well being (an Estus), you relaxation at Shrines (Bonfires), you Get The Thought. Besides it is a beneficiant Soulslike, to the purpose the place it straddles – reasonably fantastically – the road between laborious and “let’s crack on with the journey, we could?”, making it a Souls-venture hybrid that pushes you and pushes you onwards.
Onwards by way of a sequence of barely disjointed chapters (may make extra sense within the novel), every whisking you off to realms of swaying groves and golden sands and curved roof tiles dusted with snow. Positive, some chapters have their more durable, extra irritating sections, however the common rhythm of exploration is spot on. And that is down to every realm’s linear construction, choosing extra compact zones stitched collectively by Shrines, versus, say, Elden Ring’s huge open world.
This doesn’t suggest that Black Fantasy’s world is one huge funnel, oh no. As I stated in my preview, I believe its use of area is remarkably genuine, with alternate pathways that do not really feel like they have been laid down by a stage designer’s mouse. Okay sure, there are apparent arenas and routes; it is a online game, in spite of everything. However I do suppose they’re all designed thoughtfully, as if all the things in Recreation Science’s energy has been poured into making this a legendary universe that is not been created only for you and your energy chase.
So no, the world does not interlock and intertwine fairly like a Souls recreation. However this doesn’t suggest you are not challenged by cautious enemy placement and hidden pathways and well-paced ‘breathers’ between boss battles. There are occasions, although, when issues are specified by such a means that you simply suppose you are capable of bounce over to a ledge or up a log and you will bonk an invisible wall. Eh, it is a restriction that is shortly shrugged off given simply how lovely Black Fantasy is.
Like severely, I’m uncertain whether or not I’ve ever been wowed fairly like I’ve with Black Fantasy. I am unable to recall the quantity of instances I’ve stopped useless in my tracks and panned the digital camera over frescoes on rock, or idols carved into wood panels, or the intricacy of the Chinese language mythological structure. The little particulars, like snow trails left by your physique and your workers and the best way sakura blooms out of a Shrine you have visited for the primary time? Cease it.
Nonetheless, you might be an offended monkey and there is solely a lot gawping at glistening turtle incense burners you are able to do earlier than it is time to slaughter. And slaughter is channelled by way of your hips and your workers, the place lithe actions and stick-twirls make for fights that are not solely trendy, however punchy too. There is not any blocking, in addition to spinning your workers to deflect arrows, so fights are a dance of dodges and well-timed strikes on the most simple stage. Defeat an enemy and so they’ll drop Will (Souls), besides you do not lose these on loss of life! As a substitute, Will sticks with you it doesn’t matter what, and never solely does it act as a forex to buy supplies and craft issues (extra on this in a sec), it is a technique of levelling up. Ding up and you will earn Sparks, which you’ll pop into many a ability tree.
And that is the place extra of Black Fantasy’s generosity lies. You’ll be able to spend money on three completely different workers stances: Smash, Pillar, and Thrust, every switchable on the fly and every with their very own unlockable movesets. They’re all helpful in sure conditions, the place Smash is nice for one-on-one duels and common fights, Pillar enables you to hop onto your workers to keep away from sweeps and, later, even enables you to sip out of your Gourd atop it such as you’ve gone for a fast quaint on the rooftop bar whereas the rabble nip at your impossibly lengthy stool leg. Thrust is unlocked a bit later, and acts nearly like a spear, letting you jab from a distance, retreat, then shut the hole. I like switching between all of them, truthfully. Alterations allow you to remodel into much more highly effective creatures for an prolonged time, too, like actually one of many first bosses you face.
There are but extra instruments to navigate fights, which makes troublesome situations much more manageable for a crowd who aren’t used to Soulslikes. The choices are huge, like collectible Spirits that allow you to remodel briefly into defeated enemies, or summon toxic snakes from the earth. Possibly you may ship a roar that knocks baddies onto their arses, or possibly you may slip into the physique of an avian shinobi who slices with twin blades.
The Spells, although! It is the Spells that actually complement the fights, particularly as a result of they ooze fashion and there is little in the best way of constraint. 4 slots (you may progressively unlock all 4 as you progress) are residence to those talents, every utilizing various slices of mana. Immobilize is among the first spells you earn and it enables you to freeze enemies in place for a short while, casting them in a golden glaze irrespective of the place they’re of their animation. It is unbelievable for catching a breather; a fast swig of the Gourd. But in addition for extending a combo or closing a niche. As soon as your foe is freed and goes for a swipe? Bam, merely flip to stone and parry it, then possibly hit ’em with the equal of Naruto’s shadow clone jutsu and let your doppelgangers do the work. God, it is refreshing to have the ability to use these talents so freely and seamlessly.
There’s much less emphasis on tools although. Say you have felled some hulking golem along with your conniving spells, and so they drop some crafting supplies. You’ll be able to mix these with Will and different supplies you nab from chests, to whip up new staves and attractive armour units. It’s kind of God Of Battle, within the sense that they’ve the rarity banners and can confer bonuses should you equip a number of items of the identical set. There is not an excessive amount of depth right here, as you may shift between the strongest units as the sport’s personal intervals dictate. Then once more, its relative simplicity does not distract or overwhelm from the journey at hand.
This implies much less time in menus analysing stats such as you do in another Soulslikes and extra time basking within the cinema of the beasties you may face. The entire boss fights, whether or not they’re mini or not, are well-balanced, and so lavishly designed that you will usually be floored by their presentation. The gyrating, glowing dragons that spiral by way of the air. The mountains within the distance, ice crackling underfoot as you slow-mo dodge pillars of electrical energy. A corrupted buddha inserting his palm on tiles and the earth splintering, pulsing, then erupting. And each boss backs up their spectacle with cleverly designed assault patterns and behaviours, some flaunting gimmicks like laser turbines to tumble over, or reanimated monks to cleave by way of, all measures that maintain your mind as lithe as your twiddling thumbs.
Black Fantasy is residence to surprises, too, numerous them. Slightly element I beloved was one boss remarking on a spell I might used, baffled by how I might realized it. Then as if to spite me, he used the identical method on me two seconds later. And in a barely less-convoluted-than-Souls fashion (nonetheless fairly convoluted), you may stumble upon NPCs who’ll ask you for issues, which means you may have to revisit them as they whizz about. I am unable to say a lot, however should you take the time to discover absolutely and heed their phrases, you may unlock some spectacular secret areas, with secret bosses that really feel nearly such as you’re stumbling into some misplaced pages.
Black Fantasy: Wukong is a triumph. A shocking triumph within the sense that I am unable to fairly consider it is pretty much as good as its drip feed of screens and trailers appeared over the previous couple of years. It is a beneficiant Soulsy journey hybrid that works inside its limitations and delivers an exquisite problem to be unpicked with a magical toolbox. Arguably, I might say Black Fantasy’s world sucked me in additional than Elden Ring and Lies Of P, in all probability extra so than something I’ve performed in ages! That is Recreation Science bursting onto the scene and saying: “You’ve got acquired competitors”. And hey, I am listening. You ought to be, too.
This evaluate relies on a evaluate construct of the sport supplied by the developer.