The horizon for 2026 is thick with promising soulslike contenders, from the stylish Phantom Blade Zero to the gunpowder-infused Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn. Yet, amidst this impressive crowd, one game has consistently radiated a uniquely potent magic: Black Myth: Wukong. It’s not just the jaw-dropping visuals, the silky-smooth animations, or the deep well of Chinese mythology it draws from. No, the real magic is in the sheer, unadulterated fantasy of being the legendary Monkey King, wielding a giant extendable staff to pummel deities and demons alike. After spending a couple of hours with the game's opening chapter, the anticipation for its legacy—now cemented since its 2024 release—feels more justified than ever. Isn't it fascinating how a game can make you feel like a god while simultaneously reminding you that you are, in fact, deliciously mortal?

The Dance of the Monkey King: Combat That Defies Soulslike Convention

Forget everything you think you know about the deliberate, weighty pace of a typical soulslike. From the moment you take control, Wukong feels like a bolt of lightning. He’s quick, agile, and responds with a fluidity that is downright exhilarating. The first major curveball? There is no block button. Let that sink in. You can twirl your staff to deflect projectiles, but when it comes to melee, your only defense is a well-timed dodge. And what a dodge it is! Wukong employs a system reminiscent of character-action games like Bayonetta, allowing for a rapid chain of three evasive maneuvers. But beware, overindulgence has a price; a fourth dodge in quick succession leaves you vulnerable with a lengthy recovery animation. The game cleverly trains you not to button-mash but to time your evasions with precision.

Why would you want to perfect that dodge timing, you ask? Because perfection is rewarded. A perfectly executed dodge fills your Focus meter. Fill that meter, and you earn a Focus Point—a precious resource that lets you weave a devastating heavy attack into your light combos for massive damage. Later, these points become the currency for powerful special moves unlocked in the skill tree. It’s a brilliant loop: avoid danger skillfully to earn the power to unleash greater violence.

More Than Just a Stick: Spells, Stances, and Spectacular Transformations

Wukong’s arsenal extends far beyond his trusty staff. He commands a suite of spells, though early on, players mainly get acquainted with the Immobilize spell. Picture this: freezing a lesser foe in its tracks to land a few free hits. It’s a handy tool, but the game quickly teaches you that bosses and stronger enemies are far less susceptible, sometimes shrugging it off entirely. This forces you to think strategically about resource management, balancing your mana for spells while keeping an eye on your Focus and stamina.

The combat truly begins to sing when you start unlocking Wukong’s deeper mechanics. Early on, you gain your first Transformation. This isn't a minor stat boost; it's a total power trip. You become an absolute beast, with stronger attacks and a screen-shaking super move that can be unleashed from a dodge if you have a Focus Point ready. One particular dash attack in this form is so blisteringly fast, it makes you feel like you have become the terrifying boss you defeated to earn it. Talk about poetic justice!

Then came the Tower Stance. This ability replaces your chargeable overhead smash with something far more inventive: the power to pole-vault onto your staff, balancing above the fray. As long as your stamina holds, you’re immune to ground-based attacks. Manage to stay aloft long enough to generate a Focus Point? You can spend it to leap off, flip the staff, and come crashing down in an impact that feels as cool as it looks. It’s moments like these that elevate Wukong from a great action game to a memorable power fantasy.

Progression, Punishment, and Hidden Dragons

Your journey to become the ultimate Monkey King is fueled by a progression system familiar to fans of Sekiro. Defeating enemies grants Will, which fills a bar in the top-right corner. Fill the bar, and you earn a Spark—a permanent skill point to spend on upgrades across various skill trees. The brilliant part? You can bank these points and spend them whenever you wish, not just at a checkpoint shrine (Wukong’s version of a bonfire). However, die before filling that Will bar, and you’ll lose a chunk of progress in classic soulslike fashion. It’s a constant, tantalizing risk-reward scenario.

Don’t let the flashy moves fool you, though. Black Myth: Wukong is not an easy game. Enemies are aggressive, bosses are relentless (often unleashing even deadlier second phases), and your healing resources are severely limited. The game humbled this player quickly, especially when a hidden path behind a waterfall led to a secret dragon boss that delivered a spectacular beatdown. The lesson was clear: some challenges are best saved for later, after you’ve leveled up and found better gear. Thankfully, fast travel between shrines makes backtracking feasible.

Speaking of gear, while the early hours only offer a taste, it’s clear that armor sets exist, providing bonus effects for wearing multiple pieces—a tantalizing hint at the deep build-crafting potential awaiting in the full journey.

The Real Stars: A Parade of Breathtaking Bosses

The level design in the opening chapter is fairly linear, with occasional branches leading to treasure, but the undisputed highlights are the boss encounters. In just two hours, the game presents a stunning variety:

• The Speedy Wolf: The source of your first transformation, a duel of agility.

• The Mule-Kicking Frog in Human Clothes: Yes, you read that right. Bizarre and brilliant.

• The Two-Phase Snake Man: An extremely demanding test of everything you’ve learned.

Each fight feels like a unique spectacle, a dramatic set piece that tests your mastery of Wukong’s growing toolkit.

Conclusion: A Myth Forged in Action

Even a brief foray into the world of Black Myth: Wukong reveals a game of exceptional craft and vision. It takes the foundational challenge of the soulslike genre and injects it with the speed, style, and transformative power fantasy of its legendary protagonist. It’s a game where you don’t just fight bosses—you become them. The dance of combat, the thrill of unlocking new stances and spells, and the sheer spectacle of its boss battles create an experience that is as demanding as it is empowering. For action game enthusiasts and mythology fans alike, the legacy of Sun Wukong’s digital adventure continues to be a towering achievement, proving that sometimes, the oldest stories can be told in the most thrilling new ways.