Black Myth: Wukong is a recent action game developed and published by Game Science in 2024. The game is heavily inspired by the Chinese classical novel “Journey to the West,” which tells the story of the anthropomorphic monkey, Sun Wukong, or the Monkey King.
The story of “Journey to the West” dates all the way back to the 16th century and is one of the most famous fairy tales in Chinese history. There have also been various adaptations that re-tell different versions of the story, not just in Chinese, but in other languages such as Japanese and Korean. For instance, the animated character Son Goku from popular Japanese anime “Dragon Ball Z” was inspired by Sun Wukong.
First and foremost, who is Sun Wukong? Sun Wukong is the main protagonist of “Journey to the West” published in the 16th century. As mentioned before, he is an anthropomorphic monkey who consumed a large amount of magic peaches that granted him immortality and other special abilities. He has supernatural strength, a body hard as stone, he can duplicate himself, transform into 72 animals and objects and much more. He even has an unbreakable staff as his weapon that weighs 17,550 kilograms that can both shrink and grow to any size. Despite his power, Sun Wukong nonetheless carries flaws in his personality — such as a mischievous nature — that often lend his power to counterproductive ends.
As a child, I was captivated by the story of Sun Wukong and constantly rewatched the 1985 animated film “Monkey King Conquers the Demon,” but I eventually outgrew the film and hadn’t thought about Sun Wukong for a very long time. That is until Black Myth: Wukong released Aug. 20.
To be frank, I’m not a very involved video game player — however Black Myth: Wukong caught my eye as it released and I saw many people enjoying the game. The game quickly gained massive global recognition and outsold other concurrently released games, such as the first-person shooter Concord. On Metacritic, Black Myth: Wukong has a metascore of 81 percent from 91 critic reviews and a user score of 8.3 out of 10 based on thousands of user ratings. Clearly, Black Myth: Wukong has done something right in its ability to adapt a centuries-old story to the modern day.
One of the main attributes that makes a video game successful is its story. Sun Wukong already has around 500 years worth of being told over and over again to many generations. The video game itself even dives into the story through beautiful animations.
Many players express how they admire the game showcasing and bringing Chinese mythology to life.
“The story is rich, immersive and filled with layers of cultural significance that draw you in, making you feel like you’re part of a grand, mythological tale,” one Google review said.
Another review expressed how much they were captivated by the visuals and graphics of the game, underscoring the importance of another feature — art.
The second biggest component to drawing players in is the presentation of the game. This includes character designs and backgrounds crafted to make the players feel as if they are within the game’s atmosphere. According to MetaEngine, a website devoted to helping developers create engaging video games, immersion into a game doesn’t just involve the visuals alone, but also sound effects and music. Sound effects help build tension or ambience while music sets the mood of the game and provides “emotional cues” for the player.
Another key factor is giving characters diverse movements, providing challenging levels and delivering satisfactory awards as a result. In general, people typically crave progress and achievements. In video games, developers want their players to have the freedom to explore their surroundings and perform impressive feats, especially in combat games like Black Myth: Wukong. Additionally, having more freedom to move around in a video game gives players the chance to explore and admire their surroundings. It allows players to feel more in control of their characters instead of the game controlling them. This sense of freedom is bolstered by creative in-game opponents that test the player’s limits.
For instance, the Scorpionlord is one of the hardest bosses to beat in the game, according to IGN. The Scorpionlord is — as the name suggests — a massive scorpion man who carries a tail full of venom and one pincer strong enough to pop your character’s head. In addition to the Scorpionlord, there are various other bosses that not only make the game more entertaining, but also encourage players to engage in strategic thinking and quick reflexes to avoid a terrible fate.
While the cost of Black Myth: Wukong can range anywhere from $30 to $60, I encourage anyone to take the time to try it out, or at least watch a few videos that explain the concept of the game and how to play it. The game is a great way for people to not only learn about famous Chinese mythology that has been retold for centuries, but also observe the qualities of what makes such a story so popular. Black Myth: Wukong is a great resource for anyone looking for inspiration on how to create a successful video game, or simply write a good story.
Contact Weiran Li at vli2@oxy.edu
