Record-Breaking 'Black Myth: Wukong': Between A Chinese Mythology, Virality, And A Bad Faith

Sun Wukong, the Monkey King of the Journey to the West, is a character introduced in the 16th century by writer Wu Cheng'en.

Known for his incredible strength, magical powers, and mischievous personality, the character is the protagonist in Black Myth: Wukong.

And after six years under development by independent studio Game Science, the video game is finally released on August 20 on PC and Sony PlayStation 5, causing a sheer number of players amassed in just a few days.

Black Myth: Wukong, the single-player action RPG inspired by Chinese mythology, helped Steam to achieve more than 37 million concurrent players, effectively breaking all previous records.

On top of that, the hype also sparked hundreds of thousands of viewers watching dozens of streamers playing it.

And that is only part of the story.

Expectations for Black Myth: Wukong have been sky-high since its initial reveal in 2020.

When the game was first announced, the developer teased an action RPG with stunning graphics, set in a world inspired by the classic Chinese novel, but with a blend of Dark Souls-style mechanics, as well as influences from games like Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarök.

The popularity of Black Myth: Wukong is undeniable.

It was the most-viewed game on Chinese game streaming platforms on its first day, breaking records for single-player titles. Reportedly, several Chinese companies even gave their employees time off to play the game and reimbursed the cost for those who purchased it.

Black Myth: Wukong follows in the footsteps of 2020’s Genshin Impact, another hugely popular title from China.

However, unlike Genshin Impact and many other games developed by Chinese studios, Black Myth: Wukong has deep roots in Chinese literature.

The story behind Black Myth: Wukong comes from Journey to the West, a tale that has also inspired many other works in popular culture, including Dragon Ball.

In short, Black Myth: Wukong is yet another example of a Chinese creation with AAA-caliber ambitions, poised to make a significant impact on the global market.

The game is one of the fastest-selling of all time.

Based on the numbers alone, Black Myth: Wukong is undeniably a massive success.

However, the game has also received mixed reviews.

The story acts as a sort of follow-up to the events of the original novel, where Wukong, the "Destined One," must retrieve six Relics of Wukong with the help of familiar characters from the classic tale.

In terms of gameplay, Black Myth: Wukong follows a familiar formula: the main character faces enemies with large health bars, dramatic attacks, and complex patterns that need to be memorized to defeat them. There are checkpoints for players to save their progress and places to upgrade characters and craft items.

But beyond that, some find the game lacking.

Players report little penalty for dying, and the checkpoints are often just a few steps away from boss battles. Speaking of boss fights, they come in quick succession, with only a few smaller enemies in between, leading to a sense that the game rushes through these encounters.

While players can earn unique rewards by venturing off the main path, the overall gameplay is quite linear. The levels lack complexity and depth, making exploration feel limited.

The difficulty curve can also feel uneven, and the story may be difficult to follow unless players are already familiar with Journey to the West.

Additionally, many players have reported technical issues, which has further dampened the experience for some.

These issues ranged from multiple crashes on PC to instances where the player character would fall through the game world, forcing a restart during boss fights.

The game also suffers from glitches, and maintaining steady performance isn't always possible. Some gamers reported that even with high-end PCs, they struggled to run the game smoothly. Additionally, audio issues have been flagged, with the language sometimes switching unexpectedly between English and Chinese, or vice versa.

Beyond technical problems, Black Myth: Wukong has also faced controversies surrounding its development.

Allegations of a toxic work culture within the company surfaced, reportedly based on comments made by members of the development team and its founders, casting a shadow over the game's highly anticipated launch.

Despite its flaws and the allegations surrounding its development, Black Myth: Wukong redeems itself through its impressive gameplay and creative design.

The core experience revolves around stunning set pieces and a dynamic combat system.

One of the standout features is the ability to transform into spirits or shapeshift into previously defeated bosses, allowing players to use their signature moves.

These transformations range from slow-moving characters with massive stones on their heads that can stomp the ground and charge forward, to anthropomorphic tigers wielding greatswords.

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Several outlets have praised the way Sun Wukong's abilities have been adapted from the novel to the game's combat, highlighting the unique combo system that rewards fast-paced and reactive gameplay.

Wukong's staff, for example, is based on the Ruyi Jingu Bang from the novel, and that it can extend and shrink in size during combat.

While the game offers a wide variety of items for players to use, Black Myth: Wukong is a lengthy and challenging game that demands skill and persistence.

Given the depth of the gameplay and its adherence to the original novel, many of the community's negative responses seem to have been made in bad faith.

For fans of the genre, Black Myth: Wukong has the potential to be one of the best games of 2024.

Of August 23, Game Science announced that Black Myth: Wukong had sold 10 million units.