Black Myth Wukong

[DaHeckIzDat]

I don't usually buy games at full price anymore, but I've heard so many good things about Black Myth Wukong that I'm thinking about getting it anyway. Based on what I've heard, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it became 2024's GOTY. I usually get a Playstation gift card for Christmas, so I'll probably wait until then to buy it unless it gets a huge discount on Black (Myth?) Friday.

BMW acts as a sequel to the ancient Chinese story, Journey to the West. It's a soulslike (debatedly) where you play as a a descendant of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King in the original story, and for some reason (I've tried to keep from spoiling the story for myself) you're retracing his steps and facing off against his old enemies. It apparently features 107 bosses (!!!!!) and unlike Elden Ring, which recycled the same small handful of bosses multiple times throughout the game, apparently the vast majority of them here are unique.

Has anyone here played it? What did you think of it?

[Billydeethrilliamsss]

Judging by your tastes, I'm leaning towards you liking it. Only similarities to souls games are perspective, checkpoints, talking to npcs multiple times for progression, and (arguably) bosses. I personally think it leans more towards character action games. It's a lot easier than a typical soulslike, barring some of the bosses. And yes, the vast majority of them are unique. You can respec whenever you want with no cost (maybe you have to do it at shrines, can't remember). There's a fair amount of combat depth, but more than half my time in game I used the same moves and abilities. Can't speak to story as I didn't really care about it and I skipped the cutscenes. The game lacks the atmosphere of a soulslike outside of some areas, and has secret side quests that were so impactful on opening up the game that I thought it was strange they were obscured.

But mainly I really enjoyed it- it looks great, it's fun to play, and it has a ton of enemies and bosses. It's one of the better games I've played this year and I'm including new and old.

*played ps5 version as I only have a Steam Deck as a pc for now. Used performance mode, I had no problem with it. Smooth enough for me.

[DrLitch]

It is tempting to read the gushing accolades for this game and believe it could be overrated. I do not think it is, it hits somewhere between that 8 or 9 out of 10 spot for me (closer to 8 than 9). Black Myth Wukong is a very linear action combat centric game that has elements of the soulslikes although mechanically it feels quite different to a From Software title. It is way easier than a From Software title but BMW is more challenging that your typical "modern game". There is no way you will not like this game but I do not think you will love it like you do Bloodborne or Dark Souls. BMW is just not as high quality or as fun or engaging as a From Software title. I would say BMW is better than, say, Nioh or Lies of P if you ever played either of those. Play it, the PS5 disc is getting a low volume print so it will be one of those that will keep value on second hand market.

[Billydeethrilliamsss]

It is tempting to read the gushing accolades for this game and believe it could be overrated. I do not think it is, it hits somewhere between that 8 or 9 out of 10 spot for me (closer to 8 than 9). Black Myth Wukong is a very linear action combat centric game that has elements of the soulslikes although mechanically it feels quite different to a From Software title. It is way easier than a From Software title but BMW is more challenging that your typical "modern game". There is no way you will not like this game but I do not think you will love it like you do Bloodborne or Dark Souls. BMW is just not as high quality or as fun or engaging as a From Software title. I would say BMW is better than, say, Nioh or Lies of P if you ever played either of those. Play it, the PS5 disc is getting a low volume print so it will be one of those that will keep value on second hand market.

Just curious DrLitch, what are some of your favorite souls games/ soukslikes?

[DrLitch]

Just curious DrLitch, what are some of your favorite souls games/ soukslikes?

Focussing on the 3D games. 2D wise, you have to play Hollow Knight, Salt and Sanctuary, Blasphemous 1&2, and The Last Faith. All are remarkable games with Hollow Knight an easy S-tier with Blasphemous not far behind.

3D's Ranked:

1. Dark Souls 3

Probably the greatest game ever made and it is a very fair and rewarding challenge. The Ringed City is my favourite area in all these games.

2. Sekiro

Not technically a soulslike but I will throw it in for free. Another extremely fair game, sort of in the Goldilocks zone of being challenging enough to feel rewarding but never difficult to the point of frustrating.

3. Dark Souls Remastered

This has some cheap challenge but it is mostly fair. Bed of Chaos sucks and Manus might be too much of a boss for Dark Souls mechanics given he moves like a Dark Souls 3 boss and you are a geriatric swinging a cane in comparison. A +20 bonfire kindle probably makes Dark Souls too easy to tank your way through.

4. Elden Ring

Game is probably too big, too much empty space, and extremely cheap in places. Once you mount your horse prepare to be on your back half the game because it cannot handle even mild attacks. Way too many recurring bosses, I think I fought the Deathrite Bird nine times in my last playthrough and it got old by the third encounter. Challenge varies from very mild to aneurism level of annoying, particularly the bosses that can one shot you with an AOE attack. This is somewhat in your control where Dex Arcane builds are crazy overpowered. Not overpowered on Consort Radahn though. He is not only the hardest boss in Souls Gaming, he is the hardest in all gaming. The difficulty is only due to one attack in his second phase when he spams light beams that clip your rolls all the time. It took me over two hours to beat the boss.

5. Bloodborne

This is another fair challenge but, like Sekiro, it took me ages to learn and play the game with aggression and confidence. The Amygdala is one of the worst bosses in Souls gaming in my opinion and I did not enjoy the boss fight where you play hide and seek. My biggest issue was 30fps with this game. With better performance which would assist the controls, I would probably move this into third position behind Sekiro.

6. Black Myth Wukong

As posted earlier, it is Souls'ish rather than Souls'like.

7. Demons Souls

The PS5 remake is awesome but the run backs are way too long and the World Tendency Mechanic is second only to Dark Souls 2's nonsense where you run on half a health bar when you lose humanity.

8. Lies of P

I enjoyed this game but it was cheap in places and there is a strange lag in the controls.

9. Nioh 2

I had a blast with this one. If you like Sekiro, try this one out. It is definitely more fiddly than Sekiro though.

10. Another Crab's Treasure

This game is adorable and a must play. One of those hidden gems.

11. Dark Souls 2

The most difficult and unfair of all the Souls games. You lose your humanity, you reduce your health bar. You get only four ring slots and one has to be taken up by a ring that prevents your health bar from going as low as half. There are ridiculous mobs like the White Knights in Heide's Tower, ridiculously arduous boss runbacks (thinking of the Smelter Demon with blue flames and Sir Alonne), cheap mechanics like the Sinh fight where your sword breaks when you whittle his health down to around a third, and too many mob-boss encounters ranging from four Gargoyles at once, Burnt Ivory King and his mob, Three Ruin Sentinels, the Kings Pets, and those Rat mob boss fights. Also too many easy boss fights, Ornstein was awesome in Dark Souls 1 but a joke fight in Dark Souls 2. The end boss Nashandra was even easier to beat than Gwyn in Dark Souls. On the other hand, Fume Knight is one of the greatest bosses in all Souls Gaming, a beautiful and rewarding challenge, so I will give Dark Souls 2 that. I generally feel the game is too inconsistent and hard to be fun.

12. Code Vein

I did not complete this game, quit around halfway citing boredom. One of those seven out of tens, good enough to play, not good enough to persist when something better comes along. It has a cult following so YMMV with this one.

13. Nioh

This game flat out sucks. I did complete it but not without breaking a controller. Not crazy hard, just annoying.

Rise of the Ronin, Wo Long, Ghosts of Tsushima might be worth checking out. I have not played them but they give me Sekiro vibes.

[Billydeethrilliamsss]

Thank you for that detailed reply. I've played all the 2d ones, I agree with Hollow Knight being the best out of those. I actually 100% Last Faith earlier this year and I'm not an achievements guy usually.

Out of the 3d ones, I'd say my favorites in that list are Bloodborne (favorite world, atmosphere, story, agree a 60fps boost wouldn't hurt), original Demons Souls (remake looks amazing though), and... maybe Elden Ring but I haven't played the dlc yet. Black Myth Wukong would be up there though.

I still want to give Lords of the Fallen (newer one) another chance since they patched it. I also own Hellpoint, Thymesia and The Surge series but haven't played them yet. Still need to give Sekiro a fair shake one day.

Currently playing Remnant 2. Enjoyed the first one and this is a continuation of that style- soulslike shooter mixed with Diablo style dungeon crawling.

[DrLitch]

I actually 100% Last Faith earlier this year and I'm not an achievements guy usually.

Cool that you have played this one. I really enjoyed it.

maybe Elden Ring but I haven't played the dlc yet.

I think the DLC is better than the base game. Better and more unique bosses for sure and not too much in the way of reuse. A bit cheesy occasionally since some bosses spam endless combos. One of them would run a nine hit combo, a Pontiff Sulyvahn on steroids. Difficult to manage stamina in some of those bouts. When you play this one, be sure to keep a few larval tears spare since respeccing is not a bad idea for balancing some of these fights out (and you get plenty of smithing stones to level up gear that you would not use in your current build).

Still need to give Sekiro a fair shake one day.

Well worth it, before you do, stay away from a Souls game for a few months to remove any muscle memory. You do not want to be dodging in this game as a default method to avoid taking damage. It is all about moving, attacking, and parrying in a rhythmic sense.

Hellpoint, Thymesia and The Surge series.... Remnant 2.

Not played these but Remnant 2 is on my radar. Watched a Stream not so long ago and this looks cool.

[DaHeckIzDat]

I've been watching this to get ready to play the game: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDb22nlVXGgdg_NR_-GtTrMnbMVmtSSXa

You guys should check it out even if you're not going to play it. It's really funny.

[DaHeckIzDat]

I thought about buying BMW with the early Christmas money I got, but since it's so expensive I decided to try the demo first. Maybe I just had my expectations set too high, but I was underwhelmed. It's absolutely not a bad game, but it's also not the mind blowing experience I expected from all the hype that's surrounding it. It's just another soulslike. A really well made soulslike, yes, but I've played so many of those I don't know if I can get excited for a new one unless A. it's a new official FromSoft game, or B. it does something vastly different from other soulslikes, and BMW is neither. I'll probably get it eventually when I'm not so tired of every other game trying to ape (lol) Dark Souls, but for now I think it's a safe pass from me.

[DrLitch]

it's a new official FromSoft game, or B

Except Elden Ring Nightreign when it drops next year
Not seen too much Monster Hunter love around here, definitely not my cup of tea. From Software venture into Capcom territory concerns me regarding their future endeavours. If they ever release something like Dark Souls 4 Fortnite edition I might just give up gaming in it's entirety.