It’s laborious to imagine, however after a shocking debut 4 years in the past, Recreation Science’s Black Delusion: Wukong is almost upon us. Accessible this month for PS5 and PC (with the Xbox Collection X/S model coming later), it’s based mostly on Journey to the West, the legendary Chinese language novel by Wu Cheng’en. Nonetheless, it doesn’t appear to comply with the identical story intently, because the protagonist known as the Destined One, and their actual identification is unknown. They nonetheless encounter quite a few challenges, although, from terrifying monsters to dragons.
With all of the Souls-likes we’ve seen over time, it’s good to see a hack-and-slash title that leans extra into character-driven motion RPG territory (even when there are some Souls-lite components). Not solely does it look beautiful, but it surely could possibly be the perfect title based mostly on the legend of Solar Wukong we’ve seen but. The largest cause I’m so excited for the title is as a result of it’s a boss rush recreation.
The time period could sound acquainted – it’s used for modes in numerous genres the place the participant should battle a recreation’s bosses, one after one other, typically with out therapeutic or replenishing their gadgets. Generally it’s for glory, as you try to clear the fights as rapidly as attainable for a brand new report. On different events, it may be a method to observe towards sure bosses earlier than combating them in the principle story (which is very invaluable in rogue-like titles resembling Lifeless Cells). Both manner, they lower out every thing else from the bottom recreation and get straight to the largest challenges.
Boss rush video games, alternatively, are titles whose major gameplay factor is combating bosses. Whereas Souls-likes have the identical components, they usually flesh out the action-adventure components with extra puzzles, in depth questlines, exploration, and platforming. Based mostly on previews to this point, Black Delusion: Wukong presents comparatively extra simple areas – some paths result in difficult non-compulsory bosses and a cinematic story with its fair proportion of cutscenes. Nonetheless, the majority of the gameplay focuses on the bosses.
Whereas these previews targeted on early ranges within the recreation, with Recreation Science noting the map to be “a lot, a lot greater”, the developer nonetheless categorised it as a “linear recreation propelled by its storyline” to Eurogamer. However, there’s been some concern over how barren the areas can really feel regardless of the presence of smaller enemies and supplies to collect.
It’s a degree of competition that’s steadily grown by means of the years because the gameplay was revealed. On the one hand, some declare that it’s not a boss rush title as a result of, properly, we haven’t seen every thing that it has to supply by way of world design and quests (which is a good evaluation). On the opposite, some are hesitant about selecting up Wukong as a result of – and I’m paraphrasing right here – “A boss rush recreation for $60? No, thanks.”
Each views hinge on expectations, one arguing to see extra earlier than prematurely labeling it. The opposite goes by all of the footage and previews to this point whereas searching for one thing extra, whether or not it’s extra bang for his or her buck or one thing past combating bosses. Nonetheless, is being a boss rush recreation at its core all that dangerous?
It’s simple to see why the style could come throughout as streamlined, particularly when different motion RPG titles like Elden Ring, and extra provide a lot extra along with sturdy boss design. That’s removed from the case, given all of the stellar fights that Black Delusion: Wukong has displayed over time.
We’ve seen Guangzhi, a wolf-like monk with a flaming double-blade, which the Destined One should weave and dodge by means of to nail his counterattacks. There’s one other wolf-like boss, however huge in dimension and completely feral, attacking in a berserker-like trend. Let’s not overlook the tiger boss who, even with a hulking body, reveals sleek martial arts prowess (which you’ll most likely not take into consideration resulting from combating in a pool of shallow blood, probably earlier victims).
You’ve a large serpent floating round, firing off lightning, and the perfect useful resource of motion is to smack it within the face as laborious as attainable together with your employees. I’m unsure what the perfect technique is towards the enormous insect-like creature that slams its physique into the bottom to crush the Destined One, however hearth would most likely be begin. These are simply the tip of the spear, as Recreation Science has showcased dozens of different bosses in that interval, every distinctive, beautiful and imaginative in their very own proper.
In a manner, Black Delusion: Wukong jogs my memory of Furi from The Recreation Bakers. It didn’t provide some other enemies, collectables or upgrades – the exploration consisted of little greater than strolling from one vacation spot to the subsequent as an enigmatic man with a rabbit head spoke to you. In any other case, it was solely boss fights from high to backside, which might have roughly phases relying on the problem.
Even after eight years, these bosses stay filled with character, describing their tales, giving additional context to the protagonist’s journey, and far more. They’re additionally difficult, mixing hack-and-slash components with split-second decision-making and dodging bullet hells. Only a few boss rush titles have captured this identical degree of high quality and problem.
Recreation Science goes for one thing else with its boss designs, however that sheer spectacle – and a number of the extra intriguing components of the story – is difficult to disclaim. Moreover, it might provide much more with its replay worth because of the sheer variety of spells and transformations that the Destined One can study, by no means thoughts the armor set bonuses, weapons, and construct crafting (and we haven’t seen the best rarity loot).
There’s additionally in depth combo potential, given the totally different stances that the participant can make use of. Even when it appears streamlined in comparison with your common triple-A motion RPG made by studios with a whole lot of builders, that doesn’t imply its method is any much less engaging or pleasurable.
It’s additionally value remembering that when Recreation Science began growth on the title again in 2018, it solely had seven workers. When it was introduced in 2020, this had grown to about 30. Present stories put its studio at round 100 or so builders. Whereas that’s not small by any means, it’s spectacular to see it delivering on such an epic premise with such constancy regardless of not possessing the identical sources as some greater builders.
When Black Delusion: Wukong lastly ships, I would like it to have the identical vibe as motion films like Ong Bak 2 or The Raid 2. That feeling of epic battles towards distinctive foes who’re seemingly on the identical degree because the protagonist earlier than getting battered into oblivion (and hopefully with a happier ending than Ong Bak 2). It received’t present struggle after struggle with little time to relaxation as a result of Journey to the West goes for a unique vibe.
Nonetheless, that promise of embarking on this fantastical path and taking down all types of legendary foes is just too laborious to withstand. Whether or not the boss rush label is seen as a degree of competition or not value spending cash on for no matter, the sport’s core identification feels distinctive. If it delivers a enjoyable expertise on the finish of the day, I feel it’s value embracing, even when it doesn’t conform to conventional genres like “Souls-like” and whatnot.
Word: The views expressed on this article are these of the writer and don’t essentially signify the views of, and shouldn’t be attributed to, GamingBolt as a company.
