First showcased again in 2020, Black Fantasy: Wukong took the video games business by storm because of its excessive motion set items and lovely vistas, two of the largest components which have outlined motion video games through the years. With every subsequent exhibiting, the sport garnered extra hype, however as expertise has taught me, it’s all the time higher to maintain expectations in examine. Regardless of the constant stream of promising gameplay footage and trailers showcasing the slick motion and the superbly 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 attempting to capitalize on the style’s recognition. Additionally, the truth that this was coming from a brand new studio made me skeptical whether or not the ultimate product will really 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 concerning the recreation’s setting, Black Fantasy: Wukong relies on the novel Journey to the West. I discovered the story in Black Fantasy: Wukong to be uncomplicated and can seemingly be plain crusing for many gamers on the market. Complicated storytelling by means of 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 vogue. This isn’t Elden Ring, the place you must piece collectively particular person threads of lore internationally, however extra akin to the storytelling methodologies from the traditional motion video games.
“Black Fantasy: Wukong’s martial arts-based fight takes inspiration from a variety 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 favor my video games to be simple when it comes to storytelling, and Black Fantasy: Wukong delivers on that entrance. I’m not at liberty to speak concerning the finer factors concerning 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 straightforward for me to get invested within the story.
Black Fantasy: Wukong’s martial arts-based fight takes inspiration from a variety 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 instances closely, and a whole lot of that may be seen in Black Fantasy: Wukong. The issue will rise as you progress additional into the story, with every enemy sort requiring completely different techniques to defeat then.
The core sample stays the identical; assault, dodge, handle stamina, after which assault. Similar to Sekiro, which has just one main weapon, Black Fantasy: Wukong gamers may even solely have entry to their trusted employees, which may be upgraded as they progress by means of the sport. All of this will really feel abnormal, however the recreation manages to make fight extra intriguing because of its huge set of abilities, 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, particularly 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 fashion you need to go for.
“The sport additionally options a variety of magical spells that can be utilized, like freezing an enemy, summoning a variety 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 tug off, however I’m positive that the extra bold participant wish to spend money on different stances, as there are some actually cool strikes that they provide entry to. Factors will also be utilized to enhance your total Stamina, Martial Arts, and Survival parameters.
As every location brings alongside its personal set of challenges, the sport lets you reset all of the factors and set them in response to enemy weak spot. This flexibility is appreciated as I discovered myself constantly invested within the ability tree, working extra time to get the precise steadiness. The sport additionally options a variety of magical spells that can be utilized, like freezing an enemy, summoning a variety 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’ve gotten invested in them, you’ll be able to mess around with their longevity or affect. Total, the abilities system is a whole lot of enjoyable and tinkerers may have a discipline day with it, offered they handle to progress deep sufficient into the sport’s methods.
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 even procure Will, the in-game forex, which can be utilized to purchase an entire lot of things like medicines and buffs. There may be additionally a crafting system in place that permits gamers to construct new armor components. Nonetheless, you don’t have to seek for them as these components unlock mechanically as you progress by means of the sport. Total, I discovered the development system to be simplistic and it doesn’t actually have the depth of, say, a FromSoftware recreation. This will not essentially be a foul thing- it wasn’t for me, personally talking. However for gamers who need finer management over their weapons and armor, they is likely to be disillusioned.
“The open areas are fairly massive and are an ideal playground to combat off towards optionally available boss encounters and farming objects.”
Once I first started the sport, Black Fantasy: Wukong acquired 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 changing into linear once more. The open areas are fairly massive and are an ideal playground to combat off towards optionally available boss encounters and farming objects. What’s surprising, nevertheless, is that the sport doesn’t characteristic any form 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 places which have optionally available areas to go to. It’s by far among the many solely noticeable points I’ve with the sport, and it’s on no account 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 crammed landscapes, and extra. Black Fantasy: Wukong completely excels in its world selection and regardless that the expertise varies between being linear and open, it’s a deal with to discover each nook and cranny.
Nonetheless, the actual stars of the present are the boss fights. Black Fantasy: Wukong incorporates a ton of bosses, and sure, you can be combating them very often, each straightforward and tough. As famous earlier, the sport urges the participant to tinker with its abilities system and the boss fights are the place it will occur loads. 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 may very well 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. Happily, most of them aren’t 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 recreation.”
Visually, Black Fantasy: Wukong seems to be completely beautiful, because of Unreal Engine 5. Be it the character fashions or the intricately designed bosses, this recreation oozes confidence within the visuals division. I performed the sport on a PC and though I wasn’t capable of obtain a stable 60 frames per second, efficiency for probably the most half was okay, with the sport hovering at round 30 to 45 FPS. Backing up the visuals is the superb soundtrack, distinguished largely throughout boss fights, reminding the participant of the stakes concerned.
To place it merely, Black Fantasy: Wukong is a improbable recreation. It options partaking fight, rewarding abilities system, and glorious manufacturing values. Sure, it falters in a number of departments, however that by no means deterred me from enjoying this recreation continuous each time potential. Black Fantasy: Wukong is by far probably the greatest motion video games you’ll be able to expertise in 2024.
This recreation was reviewed on PC.
