There’s a little thought behind the publication date; I set it for September 9th, which is obviously not the day this article was completed.
It has been over a month since the release of Wukong. During this month, at the beginning of the release, I was on a business trip in Lingnan, having to deal with delays and performing remote stick play with 30 frames of animation, which was quite challenging. During the gameplay, there were moments of triumph after defeating a boss with a flurry of strikes, as well as social anxiety brought on by unexpected obstacles; there was the frustration of getting lost despite consulting guides, and the indescribable joy of encountering breathtaking scenery after a winding journey. After enduring many hardships to complete the full collection, there was a sense of loss; if I had started writing at any point during this journey, the final article would have been quite different.
A Toast to Idealism#
I have always admired and respected things that are aesthetically striking, somewhat obsessive, and defy commercial norms, such as Old Luo's Hammer Technology and Mr. Ka's Game Technology. The success or failure of these products is not that important to me; I want to see them inject even a hint of difference into this world. Winners are kings, losers are bandits; the obsession of Hammer Technology with industrial design and the obsession of Game Technology with scene art are remarkably similar, and the differences in their outcomes are worth pondering. There may be an opportunity to analyze this in detail in a future article.
Before watching and listening to the program by Gcores about Black Myth: Wukong, I attributed the emergence of this culturally and emotionally nearly perfect work simply to the four words "idealism." After gathering these fragmented pieces of information, some details hidden beneath the idealism gradually became richer.
A clear goal, a willingness to work hard, and a group of like-minded individuals. It’s a cliché methodology, every step is solid but not easy. Mr. Ka, Yang Qi, and Li Jiaqi are certainly talented, but there are many things that talent alone cannot solve. Upon learning that the wolf scout has over 60 different actions, the hard work of the motion capture and binding team on this pipeline became tangible. Music director Li Jiaqi said: "When you see the art team refining the details to that extent, it becomes impossible for you to produce something rough."
To do something that "breaks the stubborn emptiness," the team must have such cohesion; in the end, I suddenly thought of a "team" from a hundred years ago.
Unfinished, where does the road lead?#
I first heard the song "Unfinished" on a video site. At that time, the plot of this work was still in the stage of gathering opinions before dispersing, and I was somewhat worried about the plot based on a few words from friends: Is it really at the level of second-rate online literature?
After watching the ending animation and the lyrics of this song, my mood suddenly lightened, because everything before, even the gameplay itself, became less important; everyone can choose their own so-called core, and I saw what I wanted to see.
Longevity does not last long.
Even if the heavenly court and the gods of Ling Mountain present themselves in the most beautiful forms, and the incense of the four continents is flourishing, the theories of universal salvation cannot cover up their essence of "devouring people"; this "spiritual resonance" will eventually meet its demise.
Once gone, never to return.
In the last scene of the ending animation, the Great Sage clinks glasses with his now-phantom comrades, and the wine flowing from the corner of his mouth resembles tears. Shaking off his cloak, he reveals the heroic silhouette; the unfinished prelude begins to sound, and I think this time, wielding the Ruyi Jingu Bang, is not just for Flower Fruit Mountain, but to rectify the injustices in this world!
Finally#
With nationwide attention and 20 million sales in a month, I judge that Wukong is destined to be a unique piece, but Game Science has proven that one can stand and eat in the game production industry. The Great Sage has completed his mission, and suitable successors will surely inherit his "intent," which is not limited to video games but extends to other cultural products.