Can Black Myth Wukong be the next big Souls game after Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree?

Black Myth Wukong is an upcoming Action RPG set in a universe inspired by the Chinese epic, Journey to the West. Currently in pre-order, the game is planned for release on August 20, 2024. However, it has already garnered significant hype and anticipation among fans of the Souls-like genre.

The excitement primarily stems from its promising gameplay and innovative features that might revolutionize the genre. This raises the question: Will it be as big as, or perhaps even bigger than, Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree in the genre? The answer, for now, is yes, it has the potential to become a big hit like the FromSoftware game if the execution is on point.

Disclaimer: The article reflects the writer's personal opinions.

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How can Black Myth Wukong become as big as Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree?

A whole new world (Image via Game Science)

The main selling points of Black Myth Wukong for me are its setting and combat. While Sekiro demonstrated how a Souls-like game set in an Eastern setting can thrive in the genre, not many titles have followed its example. Most entities in Souls-like games are inspired by Western folklore and themes.

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Even Elden Ring was themed after medieval Europe and featured the world-renowned writer, George R. R. Martin, for its story. Martin is famous for his legendary medieval fantasy drama book, A Song of Ice and Fire, which was adapted into Game of Thrones. This is the reason why Elden Ring's story featured many aspects similar to the book series.

However, Wukong is taking a completely different route than most Souls-like games. Black Myth Wukong will be set in prehistoric China, and according to speculations, it may take place right after the end of Journey to the West. The main character of the game is the protagonist of this epic, Sun Wukong, aka the Monkey King.

Journey to the West is uncharted territory for the genre, which is why the potential for this title is enormous. It has a blank canvas that can be molded into something that could echo for decades in the Souls-like genre. Besides the setting, another intriguing aspect of Black Myth Wukong is its combat.

A combat system like no other (Image via Game Science)

This title features amazingly fluid, fast-paced, and adaptive combat. Wukong primarily attacks with his staff, but this isn't an ordinary weapon. He can engulf it in flames, stretch it to knock enemies from a distance, and even use it as a ladder to dodge attacks from enemies. The Monkey King can also transform into various creatures and previously defeated bosses.

Each new transformation comes with different movesets and a completely separate health bar. This versatile, fast, and adaptive combat mechanic is very rare in the genre and could well redefine combat in future Souls-like video games. If Game Science can deliver on all that it has promised so far, Black Myth Wukong has the potential to become the next big thing in the Souls-like genre.

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