First showcased again in 2020, Black Fantasy: Wukong took the video games business by storm because of its excessive motion set items and beautiful vistas, two of the largest elements which have outlined motion video games over time. With every subsequent exhibiting, the sport garnered extra hype, however as expertise has taught me, it’s at all times higher to maintain expectations in verify. Regardless of the constant stream of promising gameplay footage and trailers showcasing the slick motion and the fantastically rendered environments, I solely ever remained cautiously optimistic.
In any case, there have been dozens of Soulslikes and motion RPGs releasing yearly, and Black Fantasy: Wukong appeared, on paper, like one other product that’s making an attempt to capitalize on the style’s reputation. Additionally, the truth that this was coming from a brand new studio made me skeptical whether or not the ultimate product will actually ship on its promise. However after spending hours with the sport, Black Fantasy: Wukong made me realized that it not solely delivers on its preliminary dedication, however exceeds it by fairly some margin.
For many who are unaware in regards to the sport’s setting, Black Fantasy: Wukong is predicated on the novel Journey to the West. I discovered the story in Black Fantasy: Wukong to be uncomplicated and can probably be plain crusing for many gamers on the market. Advanced storytelling via environments, merchandise descriptions, and NPC behaviors have been hallmarks of Soulslikes, however Black Fantasy: Wukong foregoes all of that and as an alternative depends on telling its story in a extra conventionally structured trend. This isn’t Elden Ring, the place it’s important to piece collectively particular person threads of lore the world over, however extra akin to the storytelling methodologies from the traditional motion video games.
“Black Fantasy: Wukong’s martial arts-based fight takes inspiration from quite a lot of contemporaries however extra noticeably from Bloodborne by placing its emphasis on fast dodges and swift assaults.”
This isn’t a shot towards Elden Ring, however I very a lot choose my video games to be easy when it comes to storytelling, and Black Fantasy: Wukong delivers on that entrance. I’m not at liberty to speak in regards to the finer factors in regards to the lore right here, however what I can say is that the protagonist’s journey is appropriately adrenaline-fueled and bombastic. Intricately crafted cutscenes, a surprisingly glorious localization, and a few severe dialogue supply, garnished with some comedy right here and there, made it simple for me to get invested within the story.
Black Fantasy: Wukong’s martial arts-based fight takes inspiration from quite a lot of contemporaries however extra noticeably from Bloodborne by placing its emphasis on fast dodges and swift assaults. FromSoftware’s 2015 nice centered on participant response occasions closely, and loads of that may be seen in Black Fantasy: Wukong. The issue will rise as you progress additional into the story, with every enemy kind requiring completely different techniques to defeat then.
The core sample stays the identical; assault, dodge, handle stamina, after which assault. Identical to Sekiro, which has just one main weapon, Black Fantasy: Wukong gamers may also solely have entry to their trusted employees, which might be upgraded as they progress via the sport. All of this may occasionally really feel strange, however the sport manages to make fight extra intriguing because of its huge set of expertise, transformations, and spells.
As you defeat extra enemies, the protagonist will earn expertise which is able to in flip unlock ability factors. These factors can be utilized to unlock new employees stances, specifically Smash, Pillar, and Thrust. Because the identify implies, the Smash stance talents are extra centered on taking enemies head on, while Pillar will permit the gamers to face on their employees and ship lengthy ranged assaults. In the meantime, the Thrust stance is essentially centered on heavy cost assaults. Every of the stances discover their use case relying on the kind of enemy one is going through and the type you wish to go for.
“The sport additionally options quite a lot of magical spells that can be utilized, like freezing an enemy, summoning quite a lot of doppelgangers, and even reworking your self into an enemy’s kind with particular talents.”
I invested my factors largely within the Smash stance talents as I discovered them easy to drag off, however I’m certain that the extra bold participant want to spend money on different stances, as there are some actually cool strikes that they provide entry to. Factors can be utilized to enhance your total Stamina, Martial Arts, and Survival parameters.
As every location brings alongside its personal set of challenges, the sport means that you can reset all of the factors and set them in line with enemy weak point. This flexibility is appreciated as I discovered myself constantly invested within the ability tree, working additional time to get the precise stability. The sport additionally options quite a lot of magical spells that can be utilized, like freezing an enemy, summoning quite a lot of doppelgangers, and even reworking your self into an enemy’s kind with particular talents. Most of those spells are time-based however relying on what number of factors you may have invested in them, you’ll be able to mess around with their longevity or influence. General, the talents system is loads of enjoyable and tinkerers can have a discipline day with it, offered they handle to progress deep sufficient into the sport’s techniques.
Black Fantasy: Wukong’s development mechanics observe the standard motion RPG method. As famous earlier, you earn ranges, unlock ability factors, and use that to make your character stronger. However moreover incomes factors, participant may also procure Will, the in-game foreign money, which can be utilized to purchase an entire lot of things like medicines and buffs. There’s additionally a crafting system in place that enables gamers to construct new armor elements. Nevertheless, you don’t must seek for them as these elements unlock routinely as you progress via the sport. General, I discovered the development system to be simplistic and it doesn’t actually have the depth of, say, a FromSoftware sport. This will not essentially be a nasty thing- it wasn’t for me, personally talking. However for gamers who need finer management over their weapons and armor, they may be disillusioned.
“The open areas are fairly massive and are an ideal playground to struggle off towards non-compulsory boss encounters and farming gadgets.”
After I first started the sport, Black Fantasy: Wukong obtained me confused with its world design. The sport begins off with largely linear degree design after which opens up into an even bigger playground, earlier than turning into linear once more. The open areas are fairly massive and are an ideal playground to struggle off towards non-compulsory boss encounters and farming gadgets. What’s surprising, nonetheless, is that the sport doesn’t characteristic any sort of navigation or map instruments.
Now, I’m all for unassisted exploration, however a whole lack of any navigation instruments is a little bit of a bummer, particularly for these areas which have non-compulsory areas to go to. It’s by far among the many solely noticeable points I’ve with the sport, and it’s not at all a minor one. No matter this fault, the areas themselves have been intricately designed with beautiful selection within the type of lush inexperienced forests, huge stretches of deserts, snow stuffed landscapes, and extra. Black Fantasy: Wukong completely excels in its world selection and despite the fact that the expertise varies between being linear and open, it’s a deal with to discover each nook and cranny.
Nevertheless, the actual stars of the present are the boss fights. Black Fantasy: Wukong includes a ton of bosses, and sure, you’ll be preventing them very often, each simple and tough. As famous earlier, the sport urges the participant to tinker with its expertise system and the boss fights are the place this can occur so much. In a single particular sequence I needed to mess around with the system a few hours simply to get the balancing proper. Some boss fights could possibly be downright irritating, but when the participant is sensible sufficient to know their strikes and patterns, it gained’t be too lengthy earlier than they’re downed. Luckily, most of them should not a tough endeavor which makes Black Fantasy: Wukong a way more accessible expertise in comparison with different motion RPGs and Soulslikes.
“To place it merely, Black Fantasy: Wukong is a improbable sport.”
Visually, Black Fantasy: Wukong appears completely beautiful, because of Unreal Engine 5. Be it the character fashions or the intricately designed bosses, this sport oozes confidence within the visuals division. I performed the sport on a PC and though I wasn’t capable of obtain a strong 60 frames per second, efficiency for essentially the most half was okay, with the sport hovering at round 30 to 45 FPS. Backing up the visuals is the wonderful soundtrack, distinguished largely throughout boss fights, reminding the participant of the stakes concerned.
To place it merely, Black Fantasy: Wukong is a improbable sport. It options partaking fight, rewarding expertise system, and glorious manufacturing values. Sure, it falters in a couple of departments, however that by no means deterred me from taking part in this sport continuous each time attainable. Black Fantasy: Wukong is by far the most effective motion video games you’ll be able to expertise in 2024.
This sport was reviewed on PC.
