It’s onerous to consider, however after a surprising debut 4 years in the past, Sport Science’s Black Fantasy: Wukong is almost upon us. Accessible this month for PS5 and PC (with the Xbox Collection X/S model coming later), it’s primarily based on Journey to the West, the legendary Chinese language novel by Wu Cheng’en. Nevertheless, it doesn’t appear to observe the identical story carefully, because the protagonist is named the Destined One, and their precise identification is unknown. They nonetheless encounter quite a few challenges, although, from terrifying monsters to dragons.
With all of the Souls-likes we’ve seen over time, it’s good to see a hack-and-slash title that leans extra into character-driven motion RPG territory (even when there are some Souls-lite parts). Not solely does it look attractive, nevertheless it may very well be the perfect title primarily based on the legend of Solar Wukong we’ve seen but. The most important cause I’m so excited for the title is as a result of it’s a boss rush recreation.
The time period might sound acquainted – it’s used for modes in varied genres the place the participant should battle a recreation’s bosses, one after one other, typically with out therapeutic or replenishing their objects. Generally it’s for glory, as you try to clear the fights as rapidly as doable for a brand new file. On different events, it may be a way to apply towards sure bosses earlier than preventing them in the primary story (which is particularly precious in rogue-like titles reminiscent of Lifeless Cells). Both approach, they minimize out every part else from the bottom recreation and get straight to the most important challenges.
Boss rush video games, however, are titles whose most important gameplay ingredient is preventing bosses. Whereas Souls-likes have the identical parts, they typically flesh out the action-adventure parts with extra puzzles, intensive questlines, exploration, and platforming. Primarily based on previews up to now, Black Fantasy: Wukong gives comparatively extra simple areas – some paths result in difficult optionally available bosses and a cinematic story with its justifiable share of cutscenes. Nevertheless, the majority of the gameplay focuses on the bosses.
Whereas these previews centered on early ranges within the recreation, with Sport Science noting the map to be “a lot, a lot larger”, the developer nonetheless categorised it as a “linear recreation propelled by its storyline” to Eurogamer. However, there’s been some concern over how barren the areas can really feel regardless of the presence of smaller enemies and supplies to collect.
It’s some extent of rivalry that’s steadily grown by the years because the gameplay was revealed. On the one hand, some declare that it’s not a boss rush title as a result of, nicely, we haven’t seen every part that it has to supply when it comes to world design and quests (which is a good evaluation). On the opposite, some are hesitant about choosing up Wukong as a result of – and I’m paraphrasing right here – “A boss rush recreation for $60? No, thanks.”
Each views hinge on expectations, one arguing to see extra earlier than prematurely labeling it. The opposite goes by all of the footage and previews up to now whereas in search of one thing extra, whether or not it’s extra bang for his or her buck or one thing past preventing bosses. Nevertheless, is being a boss rush recreation at its core all that dangerous?
It’s simple to see why the style might come throughout as streamlined, particularly when different motion RPG titles like Elden Ring, and extra supply a lot extra along with sturdy boss design. That’s removed from the case, given all of the stellar fights that Black Fantasy: Wukong has displayed over time.
We’ve seen Guangzhi, a wolf-like monk with a flaming double-blade, which the Destined One should weave and dodge by to nail his counterattacks. There’s one other wolf-like boss, however huge in measurement and completely feral, attacking in a berserker-like trend. Let’s not neglect the tiger boss who, even with a hulking body, reveals sleek martial arts prowess (which you’ll in all probability not take into consideration as a consequence of preventing in a pool of shallow blood, doubtless earlier victims).
You could have an enormous serpent floating round, firing off lightning, and the perfect useful resource of motion is to smack it within the face as onerous as doable along with your workers. I’m undecided what the perfect technique is towards the large insect-like creature that slams its physique into the bottom to crush the Destined One, however fireplace would in all probability be a superb begin. These are simply the tip of the spear, as Sport Science has showcased dozens of different bosses in that interval, every distinctive, attractive and imaginative in their very own proper.
In a approach, Black Fantasy: Wukong jogs my memory of Furi from The Sport Bakers. It didn’t supply every other enemies, collectables or upgrades – the exploration consisted of little greater than strolling from one vacation spot to the following as an enigmatic man with a rabbit head spoke to you. In any other case, it was solely boss fights from prime to backside, which may have roughly phases relying on the problem.
Even after eight years, these bosses stay filled with character, describing their tales, giving additional context to the protagonist’s journey, and way more. They’re additionally difficult, mixing hack-and-slash parts with split-second decision-making and dodging bullet hells. Only a few boss rush titles have captured this identical degree of high quality and problem.
Sport Science goes for one thing else with its boss designs, however that sheer spectacle – and a number of the extra intriguing parts of the story – is tough to disclaim. Moreover, it could supply much more with its replay worth as a result of sheer variety of spells and transformations that the Destined One can study, by no means thoughts the armor set bonuses, weapons, and construct crafting (and we haven’t seen the very best rarity loot).
There’s additionally intensive combo potential, given the completely different stances that the participant can make use of. Even when it appears streamlined in comparison with your common triple-A motion RPG made by studios with lots of of builders, that doesn’t imply its strategy is any much less attractive or pleasant.
It’s additionally value remembering that when Sport Science began improvement on the title again in 2018, it solely had seven workers. When it was introduced in 2020, this had grown to about 30. Present stories put its studio at round 100 or so builders. Whereas that’s not small by any means, it’s spectacular to see it delivering on such an epic premise with such constancy regardless of not possessing the identical sources as some larger builders.
When Black Fantasy: Wukong lastly ships, I need it to have the identical vibe as motion motion pictures like Ong Bak 2 or The Raid 2. That feeling of epic battles towards distinctive foes who’re seemingly on the identical degree because the protagonist earlier than getting battered into oblivion (and hopefully with a happier ending than Ong Bak 2). It gained’t present combat after combat with little time to relaxation as a result of Journey to the West goes for a special vibe.
Nevertheless, that promise of embarking on this fantastical path and taking down every kind of legendary foes is simply too onerous to withstand. Whether or not the boss rush label is seen as some extent of rivalry or not value spending cash on for no matter, the sport’s core identification feels distinctive. If it delivers a enjoyable expertise on the finish of the day, I believe it’s value embracing, even when it doesn’t conform to conventional genres like “Souls-like” and whatnot.
Word: The views expressed on this article are these of the writer and don’t essentially symbolize the views of, and shouldn’t be attributed to, GamingBolt as a corporation.
