Wukong Feels Like The Subsequent Killer Soulslike

My Summer time Sport Fest preview for Black Delusion: Wukong was an attention-grabbing one. Having missed out on the restricted slots throughout the principle occasion, I used to be invited to take a look at the sport the next Wednesday. Nevertheless, there was an issue. I flew again to the UK at 4:30 pm that afternoon. With Wukong, one among my most-anticipated video games from the previous couple of years, there was no likelihood I used to be lacking the appointment, so Sport Science accommodated me with a slot between 11 am and 1 pm that day. I spent two hours with the sport earlier than swiftly leaping in an Uber to LAX.

It was a nerve-racking expertise however one nicely price having, particularly as I missed out on the chance at Gamescom final yr, with its four-hour-long queues. My time with it could have been temporary, but it surely finally cemented my anticipation for the sport. It is good—it is actually good.

A Vibrant Japanese Delusion Impressed World

My demo of Black Delusion: Wukong concerned the opening part of the sport. Upon sitting down, I used to be thrust into Wukong’s vibrant, semi-linear world and confronted with my first set of enemies. Already, there’s heaps to unpack.

As I used to be let out on Black Wind Mountain, I used to be struck by simply how fairly the sport was. Souls video games at all times look good and have an air of foreboding about them, and Wukong felt the identical, besides the gloomy tones I used to be used to in my Bloodbornes and Elden Rings have been changed with a a lot brighter colour palate, extra akin to that of Sekiro.

Alongside its visuals, I immediately fell in love with Wukong’s enemy design. I wasn’t confronted with eldrich horrors, as an alternative, I went toe to toe with a bunch of Yaoguai, a Chinese language time period for unusual and legendary beings. The “grunts” of Black Wind Mountain usually consisted of anthropomorphic characters, like myself, every wielding a weapon of their very own. I confronted swarms of fox-, wolf- and snake-headed creatures of differing problem ranges, all of which had completely different movesets for me to deal with. The Yaoguai alone immediately helped Wukong’s story and world take form.

Following a brief trek, it was time for me to face my first boss.

The Oxguard, Guangzhi And The Splashtoad

Arguably, the crux of each good Soulslike boils all the way down to how good its boss battles are—Black Delusion: Wukong’s are nice. Throughout my brief time with the sport, I encountered 5 or 6 completely different bosses, every utterly completely different from the final, however every more and more tough the additional I bought.

The primary take a look at of my fight expertise got here in opposition to the Oxguard, an ox-like creature who serves because the gatekeeper of Black Wind Mountain. Your major weapon in Black Delusion: Wukong is a workers, which I discovered refreshing. The pace during which the workers swung made fight really feel tremendous fluid, and enforced and inspired an aggressive fashion of play. This was additional emphasised by the truth that, in contrast to many different video games within the style, and far to my delight, Wukong would not depend on parrying. As an alternative, completely timed dodges are key to victory.

However, Black Delusion: Wukong’s fight goes far deeper than attacking and dodging. Early on, I realized the primary of the sport’s spells, Immobilize. Because the identify suggests, Immobilize allowed me to quickly freeze enemies on the spot, which added a deeper, extra considerate strategy to fight. Spells are on a cooldown timer, so I needed to resolve on when precisely was the very best time to freeze my adversary. I may head into battle and use the spell immediately, permitting me to deal severe harm earlier than the battle had really begun, or reserve it for a later time to cease brutal enemy combos. Every boss required a distinct strategy, and there was no one-size-fits-all timing for the spell.

As I progressed additional, beating the large wolf boss, Guangzhi, I unlocked a second, extra spectacular spell – the Purple Tides transformation. After defeating sure bosses, the “Destined One” will purchase the flexibility to quickly remodel into that boss, using their expertise, skills and weapons. The Purple Tides transformation allowed me to make use of a weapon of the identical identify, an extended, flame-tipped spear, which dealt fireplace harm to my foes and helped me exploit sure weaknesses.

The Sekiro-like System

Black Delusion: Wukong is extra Sekiro than it’s Darkish Souls or Elden Ring.

Fairly than being able to degree up sure features of my character, the sport has a Expertise Tree, which allowed me to extend my well being and stamina and unlock completely different expertise and talents. Delightfully, these might be respec’d at any level when resting at one of many recreation’s shrines, that are akin to bonfires, that means if I used to be caught on a boss, I may reallocate my ability factors to higher go well with the problem.

I discussed earlier that the sport’s environment carefully resembled that of Sekiro, and the exploration felt the identical. The sport, at the very least from what I bought to play, is fairly linear. There is a clear order of operations, and your subsequent vacation spot is well-telegraphed. Nevertheless, exploration was positively inspired. By heading off the overwhelmed path, I found a bunch of various gadgets, and an optionally available boss, the Wandering Wight, which kicked my ass time and time once more. Fortunately, I used to be assured that I may quick journey from shrine to shrine, so coming again to this boss at a later date would not be a problem.

Whereas in all probability a lesser level for a lot of, I additionally liked the truth that I may pause Black Delusion: Wukong with out concern of enemies discovering me hiding behind a tree and swiftly destroying me, which is likely one of the main points I’ve with the Souls collection.

Black Delusion: Wukong has a posh historical past, nevertheless, it really feels prefer it might be ushering within the subsequent period of non-Fromsoft Soulslikes. A vibrant, Japanese mythology-inspired world, fascinating enemy design and totally participating fight have me excited that it may surpass one among my favourite video games from final yr, Lies of P.

You may try all of our protection from this yr’s Summer time Sport Fest proper right here.

Black Delusion: Wukong

Launched August 20, 2024

Developer(s) Sport Science