Every so usually, a recreation comes alongside that stays with you for a very long time, even after you’ve rolled its credit and moved on to different titles. There’s simply one thing about it that pulls you again and has you diving into its world and gameplay loop virtually with out desirous about it.
Whereas I’m certain 2025 has given a lot of you greater than a few such titles, I’m taken again to this time final 12 months. I used to be in all probability effectively on my strategy to wrapping up Black Delusion: Wukong after a totally fulfilling journey that retraced the journey of the protagonist. And as soon as I did, life felt a little bit empty. Different video games simply didn’t minimize it for me for some time after.
However what made Recreation Science’s wonderful tackle Wukong so particular? Why did I leap on the likelihood to replay the sport earlier this 12 months when it lastly made its strategy to the Xbox? What’s it concerning the protagonist’s journey that makes me wish to relive it the second I get a block of time to take action?
Be part of me as I dive into why this can be a recreation that merely stands out among the many crowd.
A Fascinating World To Discover
From the very first second of the sport, it was clear that this was a world that I’d discover each inch of. The battle between Wukong and Erlang Shen, offered with a charming cinematic aptitude, had me very invested in why the 2 warriors have been so disdainful of one another. I knew I used to be going to be going deep into each little bit of element I may uncover throughout my playthrough.
It isn’t simply the visuals which might be spellbinding however the method by which the world is offered to you, each side of the journey being dropped at your consideration in refined methods. It’s laborious to overlook a headless musician showing at random to drop a number of catchy bars on what you’re at present experiencing, as an example.
The distinct themes that accompanied every stage, and the refined methods by which they have been included into the world and stage design, have been merely superb. They permeated the enemies, bosses, characters, and even the gear and loot you might uncover as you explored the respective stage.
The secrets and techniques I uncovered the primary time I performed the sport deserve a particular point out right here. They have been so subtly included into the extent design that I virtually missed out on a significant chunk of the sport’s very first stage, writing off a random bell as only a enjoyable occasion of the protagonist imitating Wukong’s irreverence. That would definitely have been a mistake, contemplating that the merchandise on the finish of that questline was one which I used proper as much as the tip of the sport.
Each armor set that I unlocked was distinctive in its personal approach, a far cry from loot-heavy titles that encourage mixing and matching as a substitute of targeted builds. I’m going to dive into the sport’s construct potential and replayability a little bit later down the road however every armor set’s distinctive visible look and perks have been a vital a part of why Black Delusion: Wukong immediately clicked for me and why I proceed to come back again to it at any time when I can.
In fact, each enemy I fought within the recreation can be an essential a part of that. The boss’s designs on this one have been merely excellent, appearing as very memorable bookmarks inside the identical stage and between them too. The Loongs, for istance, have been an ideal stability of creativity and problem that had me fairly invested in that secret quest, and the rewards defeating every one granted have been to not be scoffed at both.
In fact, the Yellow Wind Sage goes to get a shout-out from me due to the context behind that battle and the boss himself. This was amongst my favourite characters within the recreation, dripping with sheer conceitedness and menace in his quest to carry on to the relic of Wukong that I used to be attempting to take from him. His reference to the headless musician I beforehand talked about is a element I’d encourage you to discover when you’re but to play the sport. It’s a chapter that different video games are but to beat in my guide.
Exploring the sport’s breathtaking environments and uncovering recent surprises hidden inside every stage are key the explanation why this expertise continues to face out as certainly one of my favorites, even a 12 months after its launch. However that’s not the one motive.
There’s a particular argument to be made in favor of one other essential a part of Black Delusion’s gameplay loop: its fight.
Motion Journey Finished Proper
Regardless of Recreation Science’s insistence that Black Delusion: Wukong was not a Soulslike title, it’s clear that my favourite style of video games served as an inspiration for the studio. Each enemy within the recreation had the potential to ship me packing to my loss of life if I wasn’t methodical and cautious in my method. Studying their movesets and timing my actions to take advantage of weaknesses was very a lot part of the fight loop on provide, as was discovering a mix of armor and charms that match my playstyle.
That’s fairly darn near what I’ve skilled with one of the best Soulslikes. However what Wulong does otherwise is that it removes the frustration that’s turn into a trademark of the style. Levelling up your protagonist isn’t as risk-based because you don’t lose any of your hard-earned Will for a tiny mistake that resulted in your loss of life.
Furthermore, regardless of my preliminary annoyance at solely gaining access to a quarterstaff and no different weapon sorts for the whole lot of the sport, I quickly got here to understand that there have been different choices at my disposal. Every of the particular abilities I unlocked over the course of my journey was so effectively carried out that I usually discovered myself switching issues up simply to get the fun of pulling them out at exactly the best second.
As an illustration, the power to show to stone and “parry” an incoming assault was what lastly allowed me to wreck the Dragon Loong after a number of makes an attempt to get a grip on the boss’s moveset had me scrambling to maintain up. The depth that Black Delusion’s fight system brings to the desk is doled out step by step and in a approach that doesn’t allow you to really feel overpowered towards any of its bosses the primary time you’re taking them on.
However then New Recreation Plus comes alongside, and now issues get very attention-grabbing. It’s the place the sport’s construct selection comes into play, permitting you to check out quite a lot of methods. It’s at all times nice to see a recreation have you ever inflict a debuff on your self simply to tease out extra energy out of your construct. And for me, the Centipede Armor is among the many most interesting additions to the sport in that regard.
I discovered the harm buff it offers you to be so potent when it’s paired with the best charms, drinks, and different gear. It let me tear via grunt enemies, whereas the primary few bosses I encountered in my first playthrough have been merely unable to resist the onslaught of assaults I unleashed upon them. While you get going with it, Wukong’s fight is an influence journey that solely Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, one other title from a Chinese language studio, has come near replicating.
However regardless of how highly effective your construct is, all it takes is a number of errors on your enemies to show the tables. That’s very true in areas the place there is no such thing as a clipping on ledges and the like, that means {that a} badly positioned dodge can ship you crashing to your loss of life simply as simply because the foe you have been dealing with may.
Black Delusion: Wukong’s fight system brings unbelievable depth and unpredictability to the desk, and it’s among the many most interesting fight programs I’ve seen outdoors of the style that impressed it.
A Nicely-Rounded Expertise
With grand set items punctuating action-packed fight in an in depth, well-executed world, Black Delusion’s largest energy is the style by which its many parts seamlessly mix to create a recreation that can at all times have me smiling fondly once I take into consideration my first time peeling again its many layers.
It’s a uncommon recreation that makes you are feeling such as you have been truly part of Wukong’s journey, studying every little thing the protagonist needed to provide forward of a closing confrontation that has one of the iconic moments involving a therapeutic flask that I’ve seen! If you realize, you realize.
I’m but to find one other motion recreation that has managed to get me so invested within the expertise that I’d surrender on sleep simply to play one other hour or two of it. It’s undoubtedly proper up there with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice so far as its execution and presentation are involved. And that’s fairly the praise contemplating my love for that title.
However so far as action-adventure titles go, the protagonist’s trek via Wukong’s life is the one to beat.
Notice: The views expressed on this article are these of the creator and don’t essentially symbolize the views of, and shouldn’t be attributed to, GamingBolt as a corporation.
