The following contains spoilers forBlack Myth: Wukong.
Game Science’s action RPGBlack Myth: Wukongis a game that is steeped in the rich tapestry of Eastern mythology, with its primary influence being the 16th-century Chinese novel by Wu Cheng’en,Journey to the West. As such, just as is the case withJourney to the West,Black Myth: Wukonghas strong roots in Chinese Buddhism and Buddhist folklore, with a significant emphasis placed on the six senses of Buddhism — sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and mind.
As the story inBlack Myth: Wukongrevolves around the Destined One’s journey to retrieve all six of Sun Wukong’s Relics, this is where the six senses of Buddhism are realized in gameplay form. With the completion of each chapter, players acquire a Relic with various gameplay benefits inspired by these six senses that can be a tremendous help inBlack Myth: Wukong’s unforgiving boss fights. This is just one of the many ways Game Science has brought the spiritual elements ofJourney to the Westand Chinese Buddhism to life in the world ofBlack Myth: Wukong.
How Black Myth: Wukong’s Relics Realize the Six Senses of Buddhism
The Sight Relic — Craving Eyes
The first Relic players acquire inBlack Myth: Wukong, Craving Eyes, represents the sight sense of Buddhism in that it allows players to see things they couldn’t see before. Specifically, the Craving Eyes Relic grants players the passive ability to see which yaoguais bearBlack Myth: Wukong’s Spirits. In terms of gameplay, this means that any yaoguais that contain an absorbable Spirit will emit a blue flame-like wisp from their body. These foes are generally heartier versions ofBlack Myth: Wukong’s rank-and-file enemies, but the reward for defeating them is worth the hassle.
Black Myth: Wukong’s Craving Eyes Relic also grants players the choice between one of three additional passive Great Sage Talents, with the freedom to change them at any time at a Keeper’s Shrine. These abilities are as follows:
The Hearing Relic — Fuming Ears
Fuming Ears is the Relic players obtain after defeating the finalboss in Yellow Wind Ridgein the second chapter ofBlack Myth: Wukong. This Relic represents the hearing sense of Buddhism, but how that translates intoBlack Myth: Wukong’s gameplay is unclear. The description of the Relic reads, “Echoes of the past can be found where karma lingers.” It could be that, like Craving Eyes, Fuming Ears allows players to hear things they might not have been able to hear otherwise. However, it’s difficult to tell. At the very least, Fuming Ears offers three unique and worthwhile Great Sage Talents, of which players can choose one. They are the following:
The Smell Relic — Hubris Noise
The third Relic players can acquire inBlack Myth: Wukongis obtainable after defeating Yellowbrow in Chapter 3. The Relic in question, Hubris Noise, represents the smell sense of Buddhism by allowing players to “smell” hidden ingredients in the wild. More specifically, this Relic enhances players' ability to spot plants from greater distances inBlack Myth: Wukong. AsBlack Myth: Wukong’s medicinesplay a huge part in its combat, finding the ingredients to craft them is especially important. In addition to this passive ability, players can choose one of Hubris Noise’s following three Great Sage Talents:
The Taste Relic — Envious Tongue
Following their completion of the fourth chapter inBlack Myth: Wukong, players will obtain the Envious Tongue Relic. As it symbolizes the taste sense of Buddhism, Envious Tongue naturally extends the duration of all medicine effects, so having it in tandem with Hubris Noise is a match made in heaven. However, one of the Envious TongueRelic’s Great Sage Talentsbuffs an incredibly useful spell inBlack Myth: Wukong, Immobilize, which just so happens to also be the first spell players learn in the game. They are as follows:
The Touch Relic — Grieved Body
The Relic symbolizing the touch sense ofBuddhism inBlack Myth: Wukongis the Grieved Body Relic, which players can acquire once they’ve defeated the final boss at the end of Chapter 5. The Grieved Body Relic encapsulates the touch sense of Buddhism by massively reducing the damage players might take from falling too far inBlack Myth: Wukong, which might not happen often but can be fatal when it does. As the “touch” Relic inBlack Myth: Wukong, Grieved Body comes with some of the best passive defense upgrades in the game, including:
The Mind Relic — The Destined One
The final Relic players can acquire inBlack Myth: Wukongrepresents the mind sense of Buddhism. However, this Relic is vastly unlike the others. Whereas every other Relic inBlack Myth: Wukongis an obtainable item, it is eventually revealed that the Destined One is the sixth Relic — specifically, that he is the mind of Sun Wukong. After Wukong’s passing, five of his six senses were taken bythe Yaoguai Kingswho players battle at the end of each of the game’s chapters. His mind, on the other hand, was lost, due to the mind being the sense that is unique to every life and therefore passing away when a life ends. This is ultimately why the Destined One has such a name, as he is destined to carry on the name and nature of Sun Wukong.
Game Science has clearly done its due diligence to ensure that the depths of Eastern mythology and Buddhism are brought to life, not just in the world andstory ofBlack Myth: Wukong, but also in its gameplay. As players progress through each chapter, they will acquire one of the six senses of Sun Wukong, each of which represents a sense of Buddhism and offers unique gameplay benefits that will help players throughout the remainder of their journey.
