How Gamers Reacted to Black Myth: Wukong Until Now
Introduction
Okay, okay, let’s talk about Black Myth: Wukong! If you’re a gamer like me, you’ve probably been following this game with bated breath since that jaw-dropping debut trailer dropped back in 2020. And now, here we are in August 2024, after what feels like an eternity of teasers, trailers, and delays. The moment has finally arrived, and Black Myth: Wukong is out in the wild. The big question is: has it lived up to the hype? Or has it fallen victim to the dreaded "looks great but plays meh" curse?
Well, surprise surprise, reactions are all over the place. Some people are losing their minds over it, while others are like, "Eh, it's good, but it’s not Elden Ring." So, buckle up as we take a deep dive into how gamers have reacted to Black Myth: Wukong so far. Spoiler: there's a lot of love for the visuals, some frustration with the bosses, and a healthy dose of "Why is my game stuttering like that?"
The Visuals: The Hype That Started It All
Black Myth: Wukong in game visual - graphic
Let’s start with the obvious: Black Myth: Wukong looks incredible. Like, seriously, if you’ve watched any trailers, you’d probably agree that the art team over at Game Science deserves a standing ovation. Gamers first lost their collective minds when that initial trailer dropped in February 2020. The game looked like it was running on some kind of sorcery. People were comparing it to God of War and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice but with a heavier Chinese mythology twist.
Black Myth: Wukong Final trailer
Fast forward to 2024, and the visuals are still the one thing absolutely everyone can agree on. Whether you love the game or hate it, you can’t deny that Black Myth: Wukong has some of the most stunning graphics we’ve ever seen in a game. From the intricate enemy designs to the sweeping landscapes, every inch of this game looks like a painting. It’s no wonder PC gamers with beefy rigs are flexing their RTX 4080s and showing off 4K screenshots like they just bought a Ferrari.
Black Myth: Wukong system requirements
But, and here’s the kicker: this visual greatness comes with a price. Turns out, not everyone’s gaming setup is up to snuff. On Reddit, I’ve seen folks with mid-range PCs talking about performance issues—frame drops, stuttering, you name it. Someone on r/Games said they had frame rates drop from 90 to 60 during a snowy section, and they were running a 4070s GPU! That’s not a potato card, mind you. So, let’s just say if you’re rocking anything less than that, you might want to dial down those settings or get ready to deal with some serious lag.
Combat: Soulslike or Just Soul-Crushing?
The combat is where things start to get spicy. If you were expecting a Devil May Cry or God of War style of hack-and-slash, well...you’re in for a rude awakening. Black Myth: Wukong is very much a Soulslike. And when I say Soulslike, I mean you’re going to die. A lot.
Black Myth Wukong Combat System
The game’s combat system revolves around a staff, with different stances and spells you can throw into the mix. You’ve got dodges, heavy attacks, and some pretty cool magic abilities—like transforming into enemies or summoning clones. Sounds awesome, right? Well, yeah, it is...until it’s not. Some players are finding the combat super satisfying when everything clicks, but others are saying it becomes repetitive after a while. And let’s be real for a second: if you’re not a fan of Soulslike games, you’re probably going to find the difficulty spikes insane.
A quick scroll through gaming forums like ResetEra or Reddit shows a mixed bag of reactions. Some people are praising the challenge, calling it "rewarding" and "strategic." Others? Not so much. I read a comment where someone said they spent hours on a single boss fight, only to feel more annoyed than satisfied when they finally beat it. Yeah, that sounds about right for a Soulslike. But hey, some people love that kind of masochism. More power to them!
Boss Fights: Epic or Just Frustrating?
Oh boy, the boss fights. This is where things really start to split the community. On one hand, the bosses in Black Myth: Wukong are epic. They’re huge, they’re intimidating, and they often come with elaborate attack patterns that feel like they were ripped straight out of Monster Hunter or Dark Souls. On the other hand, they can be seriously frustrating.
Black Myth Wukong Yin Tiger Boss
Take the infamous Yin Tiger boss, for example. This guy has become somewhat of a meme among gamers because of how tough he is. He’s not even a mandatory boss—you can challenge him if you feel like testing your patience (or masochism). But the reactions to this fight have been hilarious. I’ve seen YouTube videos where gamers are losing their minds over this fight, and not in a "Wow, this is so fun!" kind of way. More like, "Why am I doing this to myself?" It’s that classic love-hate relationship you get with tough bosses in Soulslike games.
But here’s the thing: some people live for this kind of challenge. They love the thrill of finally beating a boss after hours (or even days) of trying. Others, though, are straight-up rage-quitting. One guy on Hypixel said he almost threw his mouse out the window after his fifth death against the Yin Tiger. I feel you, buddy. I really do.
Storyline: A Journey to the West... But Not Quite?
The story of Black Myth: Wukong is, unsurprisingly, based on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West. You play as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, as he battles mythological creatures and...uh...tries to reclaim his place in the world? Honestly, the storyline is a bit hard to follow. And that’s one of the main complaints I’ve seen from people who aren’t familiar with the source material.
Black Myth Wukong Story is Based on Journey To The West
Gamers who know the Journey to the West story seem to be having a much better time with the narrative. They’re picking up on all the references and enjoying the mythological depth. But for the rest of us—those who don’t know our Monkey Kings from our Ox Kings—it can feel a bit disjointed. Like, you’re just thrown into this world with little context, and it’s up to you to figure out what’s going on. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s definitely something some players have pointed out.
There’s also a feeling that the story takes a backseat to the gameplay. Sure, there are cutscenes and dialogue, but it’s clear that the focus is on the action. If you’re the kind of player who needs a deep, immersive story to stay engaged, you might come away a bit disappointed. But if you’re here for the flashy combat and epic boss fights, the story is just the icing on the cake.
Technical Issues: The Elephant in the Room
Now, let’s talk about the not-so-fun stuff: technical issues. If you’ve spent any time on Reddit or reading reviews, you’ll know that Black Myth: Wukong has its fair share of bugs and performance problems. People are reporting everything from stuttering during combat to full-blown crashes. And it’s not just on PC—PS5 players are having issues too.
Black Myth Wukong Bug Unlimited Clones
A lot of gamers are saying that the game feels "unpolished" in certain areas. You’ll be in the middle of a fight, and suddenly the frame rate tanks, or the controls feel unresponsive. That’s the kind of stuff that can really pull you out of the experience, especially when you’re in the heat of battle. If you’re playing on a mid-tier rig, you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on your settings and maybe turn off some of the fancy graphics options.
The good news? Game Science seems to be aware of the issues, and they’ve already released a couple of patches. But as it stands on August 24, 2024, the game still has some kinks to work out. If you’re the type of gamer who can’t stand technical hiccups, you might want to wait for a few more patches before diving in.
Length and Replayability: Enough Bang for Your Buck?
One thing I’ve seen a lot of people talking about is how Black Myth: Wukong compares to other Soulslike games in terms of length. If you’re coming off of Elden Ring and expecting another 100-hour epic, you might be surprised to find that Black Myth: Wukong is a bit more...concise. Most people are clocking in around 30-50 hours for a full playthrough (depending on how many times you die, of course).
Black Myth Wukong Ending Cutscene
Now, some players are totally fine with that. 50 hours is still a solid chunk of time, and there’s plenty of content to sink your teeth into. But others are a bit disappointed. One guy on Metacritic said he breezed through the game in 40 hours and was left wanting more. That’s not to say the game is "too short" by any means, but it’s definitely not the massive, sprawling adventure that something like Elden Ring offers.
In terms of replayability, there’s some good news: Black Myth: Wukong has a New Game Plus mode. So if you’re into punishing yourself even further, you can jump back in with all your gear and face even tougher enemies. Personally, I’m not sure I have the mental stamina for that, but hey, more power to you if you do.
The Final Verdict: A Mixed Bag, But Mostly Positive
So, after all the hype, how are gamers feeling about Black Myth: Wukong? Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The game does a lot of things really well—stunning visuals, challenging combat, and epic boss fights. But it also has its fair share of shortcomings, like technical issues, a somewhat confusing story, and combat that can feel repetitive for some players.
Here’s the thing, though: if you’re a fan of Soulslike games, you’re probably going to love this. Sure, it’s not perfect, but the combat is deep, the bosses are challenging, and there’s enough content to keep you busy for a solid 40-50 hours. If you’re not into Soulslikes, though, this might not be the game for you. The difficulty spikes can be brutal, and the story might not be engaging enough to keep you hooked.
At the end of the day, Black Myth: Wukong is a solid entry in the action RPG genre, and it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re into games like Sekiro or Dark Souls. Just be prepared for a bit of frustration—and maybe some frame rate drops along the way.
Final Thoughts
Look, I’m a sucker for anything that looks this good and lets me whack things with a giant staff while casting magic spells. Black Myth: Wukong isn’t perfect, but it’s one hell of a ride. It’s like a rollercoaster that occasionally stalls in the middle—frustrating, but still totally worth the experience. If Game Science can iron out the technical issues and maybe add a bit more depth to the story, this game could go from "great" to "legendary."
But until then, I’ll be over here, dying to the Yin Tiger for the 12th time and wondering why I put myself through this.
