Black Fantasy: Wukong is an motion RPG that leans a bit into the Souls camp and a bit into the journey camp. And both method, it is a spectacular journey that works for largely everybody: these after difficult fights in opposition to Chinese language mythological creatures, and people after the identical factor, however with rather less problem than your typical Soulslikes. What separates Black Fantasy from the gang, although, is its slick presentation and a way of generosity. You are to witness essentially the most lavish, cinematic worlds and its creatures. And also you’re to take pleasure in battering the whole lot together with your employees as a extremely athletic monkey with copious spells at his furry follicles and fingertips. It has been some time since I’ve performed something fairly as spectacular as this.
The sport’s primarily based on one of many nice classical Chinese language novels Journey To The West, which I’ve not learn. However, from the beginning of the sport I collect that Wukong rebelled in opposition to Heaven and he acquired kicked into the nether. A few years go and also you, an individual sitting behind a display screen, take management of the Destined One: a monkey who’s primarily Wukong reincarnate. What’s your mission? To thwack the shite out of varied Yaoguai (legendary creatures) and remind them that you simply’re again within the sport, child. Again to reclaim… one thing.
Forgive my ignorance, as I discover Black Fantasy’s Soulsy story supply fairly tough to observe. These aware of the supply materials or these with notably discerning ear holes might discover it quite a bit simpler, however I wrestle with rats the dimensions of skyscrapers and headless monks talking in riddles. Factor is, although, I do not thoughts it one bit? With Souls it may frustrate, as a result of their universes exist purely in-game and if I do not perceive one thing, I do know the one solutions lie in a 40-minute, interpretative YouTube video. With Black Fantasy, I am simply lapping up the spectacle, the drama, the boiling spittle ejected from the mouth of a blazing deity because it roars at me. Ignorance right here solely actually means bliss, as irrespective of the place you sit on the understanding scale, you may be including Journey To The West to your cart instantly.
Earlier than cosying up with the novel, although, comes the twiddling of your thumbs on a rotund piece of plastic (or the patter of your fingers, relying on whether or not you utilize the equally good mouse and keyboard). Black Fantasy is of the Souls faculty of motion RPGs, for essentially the most half: you dodge bruising enemy assaults, you wait in your stamina to recuperate, you drink from a Gourd to replenish well being (an Estus), you relaxation at Shrines (Bonfires), you Get The Thought. Besides it is a beneficiant Soulslike, to the purpose the place it straddles – reasonably fantastically – the road between arduous and “let’s crack on with the journey, we could?”, making it a Souls-venture hybrid that pushes you and pushes you onwards.
Onwards by a collection of barely disjointed chapters (may make extra sense within the novel), every whisking you off to realms of swaying groves and golden sands and curved roof tiles dusted with snow. Certain, some chapters have their more durable, extra irritating sections, however the normal rhythm of exploration is spot on. And that is down to every realm’s linear construction, choosing extra compact zones stitched collectively by Shrines, versus, say, Elden Ring’s huge open world.
This does not imply that Black Fantasy’s world is one massive funnel, oh no. As I stated in my preview, I believe its use of house is remarkably genuine, with alternate pathways that do not really feel like they have been laid down by a stage designer’s mouse. Okay sure, there are apparent arenas and routes; it is a online game, in any case. However I do assume they’re all designed thoughtfully, as if the whole lot in Sport Science’s energy has been poured into making this a legendary universe that is not been created only for you and your energy chase.
So no, the world would not interlock and intertwine fairly like a Souls sport. However this does not imply you are not challenged by cautious enemy placement and hidden pathways and well-paced ‘breathers’ between boss battles. There are occasions, although, when issues are specified by such a method that you simply assume you are capable of soar over to a ledge or up a log and you will bonk an invisible wall. Eh, it is a restriction that is rapidly shrugged off given simply how lovely Black Fantasy is.
Like critically, I’m not sure whether or not I’ve ever been wowed fairly like I’ve with Black Fantasy. I am unable to recall the quantity of instances I’ve stopped useless in my tracks and panned the digicam over frescoes on rock, or idols carved into wood panels, or the intricacy of the Chinese language mythological structure. The little particulars, like snow trails left by your physique and your employees and the way in which sakura blooms out of a Shrine you have visited for the primary time? Cease it.
Nonetheless, you’re an indignant monkey and there is solely a lot gawping at glistening turtle incense burners you are able to do earlier than it is time to slaughter. And slaughter is channelled by your hips and your employees, the place lithe actions and stick-twirls make for fights that are not solely fashionable, however punchy too. There isn’t any blocking, moreover spinning your employees to deflect arrows, so fights are a dance of dodges and well-timed strikes on the most simple stage. Defeat an enemy they usually’ll drop Will (Souls), besides you do not lose these on demise! As a substitute, Will sticks with you it doesn’t matter what, and never solely does it act as a forex to buy supplies and craft issues (extra on this in a sec), it is a technique of levelling up. Ding up and you will earn Sparks, which you’ll pop into many a ability tree.
And that is the place extra of Black Fantasy’s generosity lies. You may put money into three totally different employees stances: Smash, Pillar, and Thrust, every switchable on the fly and every with their very own unlockable movesets. They’re all helpful in sure conditions, the place Smash is nice for one-on-one duels and normal fights, Pillar permits you to hop onto your employees to keep away from sweeps and, later, even permits you to sip out of your Gourd atop it such as you’ve gone for a fast quaint on the rooftop bar whereas the rabble nip at your impossibly lengthy stool leg. Thrust is unlocked a little bit later, and acts virtually like a spear, letting you jab from a distance, retreat, then shut the hole. I like switching between all of them, truthfully. Alterations allow you to remodel into much more highly effective creatures for an prolonged time, too, like actually one of many first bosses you face.
There are but extra instruments to navigate fights, which makes tough situations much more manageable for a crowd who aren’t used to Soulslikes. The choices are huge, like collectible Spirits that allow you to remodel briefly into defeated enemies, or summon toxic snakes from the earth. Perhaps you may ship a roar that knocks baddies onto their arses, or perhaps you may slip into the physique of an avian shinobi who slices with twin blades.
The Spells, although! It is the Spells that basically complement the fights, particularly as a result of they ooze type and there is little in the way in which of constraint. 4 slots (you may steadily unlock all 4 as you progress) are residence to those talents, every utilizing various slices of mana. Immobilize is without doubt one of the first spells you earn and it permits you to freeze enemies in place for a short while, casting them in a golden glaze irrespective of the place they’re of their animation. It is unbelievable for catching a breather; a fast swig of the Gourd. But additionally for extending a combo or closing a niche. As soon as your foe is freed and goes for a swipe? Bam, merely flip to stone and parry it, then perhaps hit ’em with the equal of Naruto’s shadow clone jutsu and let your doppelgangers do the work. God, it is refreshing to have the ability to use these talents so freely and seamlessly.
There’s much less emphasis on gear although. Say you have felled some hulking golem together with your conniving spells, they usually drop some crafting supplies. You may mix these with Will and different supplies you nab from chests, to whip up new staves and horny armour units. It is a bit God Of Battle, within the sense that they’ve the rarity banners and can confer bonuses for those who equip a number of items of the identical set. There is not an excessive amount of depth right here, as you may shift between the strongest units as the sport’s personal intervals dictate. Then once more, its relative simplicity would not distract or overwhelm from the journey at hand.
This implies much less time in menus analysing stats such as you do in another Soulslikes and extra time basking within the cinema of the beasties you may face. All the boss fights, whether or not they’re mini or not, are well-balanced, and so lavishly designed that you will usually be floored by their presentation. The gyrating, glowing dragons that spiral by the air. The mountains within the distance, ice crackling underfoot as you slow-mo dodge pillars of electrical energy. A corrupted buddha putting his palm on tiles and the earth splintering, pulsing, then erupting. And each boss backs up their spectacle with cleverly designed assault patterns and behaviours, some flaunting gimmicks like laser turbines to tumble over, or reanimated monks to cleave by, all measures that hold your mind as lithe as your twiddling thumbs.
Black Fantasy is residence to surprises, too, plenty of them. A little bit element I beloved was one boss remarking on a spell I would used, baffled by how I would realized it. Then as if to spite me, he used the identical method on me two seconds later. And in a barely less-convoluted-than-Souls type (nonetheless fairly convoluted), you may stumble upon NPCs who’ll ask you for issues, that means you may have to revisit them as they whizz about. I am unable to say a lot, however for those who take the time to discover absolutely and heed their phrases, you may unlock some spectacular secret areas, with secret bosses that really feel virtually such as you’re stumbling into some misplaced pages.
Black Fantasy: Wukong is a triumph. A stunning triumph within the sense that I am unable to fairly imagine it is pretty much as good as its drip feed of screens and trailers regarded over the previous couple of years. It is a beneficiant Soulsy journey hybrid that works inside its limitations and delivers an attractive problem to be unpicked with a magical toolbox. Arguably, I would say Black Fantasy’s world sucked me in additional than Elden Ring and Lies Of P, in all probability extra so than something I’ve performed in ages! That is Sport Science bursting onto the scene and saying: “You have acquired competitors”. And hey, I am listening. Try to be, too.
This overview relies on a overview construct of the sport supplied by the developer.