Black Myth: Wukong

The following contains spoilers for
Black Myth: Wukong
.

As it is based on the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, Game Science’s action RPG Black Myth: Wukong is filled to the brim with Eastern mythology. At the heart of its mythological world are the yaoguai, a class of creatures known for their supernatural abilities and often bizarre, otherworldly appearances. As players make their way through the elaborate world of Black Myth: Wukong, they will encounter dozens of yaoguais, some of whom will help the game’s protagonist, the Destined One, but many of whom will be his enemies. There are yaoguais around every corner of different sizes, forms, and strengths, and they all find their origins and inspiration in the soil of Chinese mythology, folk tales, and literature.

Yaoguai is more of a concept than anything else, with its origins tracing back to ancient China where belief in supernatural beings was a significant part of religion and culture. For thousands of years, yaoguais have infiltrated various Eastern mythology-inspired media, with Black Myth: Wukong being the most recent. As the yaoguais play such an important role in the story and world of Black Myth: Wukong, it’s worth diving into what they truly are and how Game Science has realized the concept in its highly anticipated game based on the journey of the Monkey King.

Black Myth: Wukong Review

Black Myth: Wukong from Game Science is a mixed bag action-RPG that shines just as much as it aggravates.

What the Yaoguai Are and Where They Come From

The term “yaoguai” is actually two separate words, “yao” and “guai.” The word “yao” is commonly used in association with the supernatural — taking on English meanings such as “demon,” “monster,” and “witch” — but it is often simply more of a general description of their preternatural abilities. “Guai,” on the other hand, means “strange,” which is ultimately what classifies a yaoguai as a monster. This is also why some monsters are only called “guai,” as they may not always possess supernatural powers.

Yaoguais toe the line between being human and non-human in their appearance and stature. Generally written into stories as antagonists, their existence is largely inspired by the fear of the unknown. Every enemy and boss in Black Myth: Wukong is a yaoguai that possesses supernatural abilities like shapeshifting, creating illusions, and causing disease or poisoning, and each of them takes on a form that is a blend of both the natural and the unnatural. Very infrequently are they the protagonists of a story, except characters like Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from Journey to the West who Black Myth: Wukong‘s Destined One is based on and who is also technically a yaoguai himself — though he is known to use the term in a derogatory manner to insult his foes.

Where the Yaoguai Fit Into the World of Black Myth: Wukong

While yaoguais have been written into many stories throughout the lifespan of Eastern mythology, their most notable appearance is perhaps in Journey to the West. However, this also means that they take on a prominent role in Black Myth: Wukong, since the game is based on the events, characters, and locations found in the novel. As players go on this familiar yet fresh journey with the Destined One to discover his true purpose and identity, they will come face-to-face with countless fearsome yaoguais, many of whom fill the role of Black Myth: Wukong‘s challenging bosses.

Not every yaoguai in Black Myth: Wukong is pulled straight from Journey to the West, as some were simply inspired by the rich tapestry of Eastern mythology that the game relies on to fill in the holes left by the 500-year time gap between it and the novel. However, almost every major boss in the game is one of the yaoguais that Sun Wukong originally encountered in Journey to the West, and Black Myth: Wukong‘s artistic recreation of those yaoguais realizes them in a way that has never been done before. In their appearances, personalities, and skills, each yaoguai boss in Black Myth: Wukong gives players a firsthand look at what it might have been like for Sun Wukong in Journey to the West.

As players go on this familiar yet fresh journey with the Destined One to discover his true purpose and identity, they will come face-to-face with countless fearsome yaoguais, many of whom fill the role of
Black Myth: Wukong
‘s challenging bosses.

For example, Black Myth: Wukong‘s first major boss is the Black Wind King yaoguai, whose features, weapon, and skillset are all inspired by the Black Wind Demon that Sun Wukong battles in Journey to the West. The battle with the Black Wind King in Black Myth: Wukong takes place in two parts — one against his human form and the next against his bear form. In his human form, the fierce foe wields a large Black Tassel Spear and can summon and control powerful winds that can briefly stun players who get caught in them. He is incredibly fast, and the first boss players may have an unexpectedly difficult time fighting. All of this is reminiscent of the same character from Journey to the West, but never has he been shown in this light.

This is largely the story for the major yaoguais in Black Myth: Wukong, as each one has been adapted from the novel to become a highly formidable foe and give players a brief and often frustrating glimpse into what the legendary Sun Wukong’s legendary battles might have been like. Many of Black Myth: Wukong‘s lesser yaoguais have also been inspired by the whole of Eastern mythology, although some are direct references to those Sun Wukong encounters in Journey to the West. Each of these yaoguais is modeled after their descriptions that have been passed down for thousands of years, and now Game Science has brought them to life in a video game unlike many others available.

Black Myth: Wukong’s Lesser Yaoguais

Lesser Yaoguais in Black Myth: Wukong make up the enemies that players will encounter regularly throughout its world between bosses. These are not to be underestimated as simple rank-and-file foes, however, as they can still be devastating in large groups. The following comprise the bulk of the 90 Lesser Yaoguais to be encountered in Black Myth: Wukong:

Wolf yaoguais (eight variants)
Croaky
Crow Diviner
Bandit Chief
Snake yaoguais (four variants)
Plant yaoguais (three variants)
Rat yaoguais (five variants)
Stone yaoguais (three variants)
Bone yaoguais (two variants)
Bat yaoguais (three variants)
Corpse yaoguais (two variants)
Weasel Captain
Civet Sergeant
Monk yaoguais (four variants)
Censor Holder
Circus Monkey
Yaksha yaoguais (four variants)
Starved Abomination
Lantern Warden
Lantern Holder
Falcon Fan-Maker
Turtle Treasure
Rhino Master yaoguais (two variants)
Dark-faced Overlord
Clay Vajra
Golden Lotus Guai
Wushan Lesser Guai
Insect yaoguais (eleven variants)
Daoist yaoguais (three variants)
Revenant yaoguais (five variants)
Bull yaoguais (four variants)
Searing-Fire
Scorching-Fire
Flamling
Tenner
Rakshasa yaoguais (two variants)
Soldier yaoguais (three variants)
Captain of the Court

Black Myth: Wukong’s Yaoguai Chiefs

Many of Black Myth: Wukong‘s Yaoguai Chiefs are the game’s mini-bosses, so they put up much more of a fight than Lesser Yaoguais. Others may appear in the game but don’t technically serve as a boss fight, like the Feng-Tail General. Furthermore, not all of Black Myth: Wukong‘s Yaoguai Chiefs are mentioned in Journey to the West, like the Flint Chief and Commander Beetle, and are instead products of Game Science’s approach to Eastern mythology. The following make up the majority of Black Myth: Wukong‘s 55 Yaoguai Chiefs:

Bullguard
Guangzhi
Guangmou
Baw-Li-Guhh-Lang
Lang-Li-Guhh-Baw
The Royal Family of Flowing Sands
First Prince of the Flowing Sands
Mother of Stones
Tiger’s Acolyte
Gore-Eye Daoist
“Tiger Vanguard”
Captain Lotus-Vision
Captain Kalpa-Wave
Apramana Bat
Lang-Li-Guhh-Lang
Old Ginseng Guai
Non-White
Non-Pure
Non-Able
Non-Void
Monk from the Sea
Macaque Chief
Spider Sisters (six variants)
Elder Armourworm
Centipede Guai
Buddha’s Right Hand
Baw-Li-Guhh-Baw
Commander Beetle
Five Elemental Carts
Father of Stones
Quick as Fire, Fast as Wind
Cloudy Mist, Misty Cloud
Flint Chief
Son of Stones
Poison Chief
Water-Wood Beast
Lang-Baw-Baw
Gold Armored Rhino
Cloudtreading Deer
Feng-Tail General
Emerald-Armed Mantis

Black Myth: Wukong’s Yaoguai Kings

Black Myth: Wukong‘s Yaoguai Kings make up the game’s most challenging boss fights, although very few are friendly like the Bull King. They are also unique in that almost every one of them is mentioned at some point in Journey to the West. While there are a total of 26 Yaoguai Kings in Black Myth: Wukong, the following comprise the best part:

Lingxuzi
Elder Jinchi
Black Wind King
Black Bear Guai
Tiger Vanguard
Stone Vanguard
Shigandang
Fuban
Yellow Wind Sage
Kang-Jin-Loong
Kang-Jin-Star
Captain Wise-Voice
Yellowbrow
Violet Spider
Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master
Yin-Yang Fish
Red Boy
Yaksha King

Black Myth: Wukong is packed full of over 170 interesting yaoguais for players to encounter, many of which have been adapted from Journey to the West while others are inspired by Eastern mythology. Exploring every nook and cranny in Black Myth: Wukong can lead to the discovery of each of these fascinating yaoguais, where players can get a firsthand look at Game Science’s representation of ancient Chinese culture.