Relic: The First Guardian vs Black Myth: Wukong

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Dark Fantasy (Inspired by Korean Folklore)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
• Release Window: Early 2026
• Unique Feature: A unique, level-less progression system where character strength is determined by finding runes and gear, combined with a fast-paced, stamina-breaking combat system inspired by Sekiro.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-player Only
• Setting: Ancient China, Journey to the West Mythology
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows (PC - Steam, Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X/S (TBA), GeForce Now
• Initial Release (PS5, PC): 2024-08-20
• Unique Feature: Based on 'Journey to the West', stunning UE5 visuals, deep combat with staff stances, spells, and transformations, challenging Soulslike boss battles.

• None (Primarily Solo): The game focuses on the Destined One's solo journey. While you might interact with NPCs or summon temporary allies through spells (like 'A Pluck of Many'), there are no persistent, controllable companions in the traditional RPG sense.

• Fragments: Found by exploring the vast environments. These are essential for unlocking new skills, armor, and weapons.
• Runes: Found through exploration and by defeating enemies. Runes are the primary method of enhancing and customizing the player's abilities.

• Meditation Spots: Specific locations in the game world where the Destined One can meditate to gain skill points, used for unlocking or upgrading abilities in the skill trees.
• Curios: Equippable accessory items found throughout the world or as rewards. They provide passive buffs, resistances, or unique gameplay effects. Example: Wind Chimes (Deluxe Edition).
• Gourd Upgrades / Ingredients: Items related to customizing and enhancing the healing gourd, allowing players to choose different types of concoctions for health recovery or other temporary buffs. Ingredients for crafting these are likely found via exploration and defeating enemies.
• Celestial Medicines / Attribute Enhancers: Rare consumables or items that permanently increase the Destined One's core attributes like health, mana (for spells), or stamina (Focus Points for staff techniques).
• Relics: Key story items or powerful artifacts collected after major boss fights or chapter completions, potentially granting significant passive bonuses or unlocking new progression paths. The main quest involves collecting relics tied to Sun Wukong.
• Lore Items / Story Fragments: Objects, scrolls, or environmental details that provide deeper insights into the game's narrative, the mythology of the world, and the backstories of characters and enemies.

• Dark Fantasy
• Soulslike
• Korean Folklore
• Action RPG
• Mythology
• Post-Apocalyptic

• Chinese Mythology
• Journey to the West
• Martial Arts
• Transformation
• Buddhism
• Taoism
• Moral Ambiguity
• Nature & Mysticism
• Fate vs. Free Will
• Illusion vs. Reality
• Folklore

• Weapon Options (5 Types): Varies (Swords, Axes, etc.)
  Players can choose from 5 different weapon types that radically change the combat style, from heavy, armor-crushing swings to high-mobility jumping attacks. Each weapon has unique, alterable skills.
• Shield: Defensive
  One of the weapon options includes a shield, allowing for a more defensive playstyle centered on blocking and bashing to disrupt opponents.

• The Staff (As-You-Will Cudgel / Ruyi Jingu Bang inspired): Primary Melee (Versatile Staff)
  The main weapon of the Destined One, a magical staff that can extend, shrink, and is used in conjunction with various combat stances (Smash, Pillar, Thrust). Its mastery is central to combat, allowing for a wide range of attacks, parries, and special moves.
• Bronzecloud Staff: Weapon (Staff Variant)
  An exclusive staff weapon included in the Digital Deluxe Edition. Likely offers a unique appearance and potentially different starting stats or properties.
• Transformed Abilities (as weapons): Situational Melee/Ranged/Special
  When transformed into various creatures or powerful beings, the Destined One gains access to their unique attacks and abilities, which serve as temporary 'weapons' or combat styles (e.g., a large demon's claws, a fire-breathing creature's breath).

• Folk Opera Armor Set: A cosmetic armor set included in the Digital Deluxe Edition, consisting of the Folk Opera Mask, Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor, Folk Opera Leather Bracers, and Folk Opera Buskins. Provides a distinct visual style.
• Various Equipment Pieces: Players can equip different pieces of gear that likely influence stats such as defense, resistances, or provide passive bonuses. The game features distinct slots for equipment like masks, armor, bracers, and buskins.

• Folk Opera Outfit: A full cosmetic outfit included in the Digital Deluxe Edition, comprising a Mask, Almsgiving Armor, Leather Bracers, and Buskins. Offers a unique traditional opera-inspired aesthetic.
• Default Attire (The Destined One): The primary appearance of the player character. It's likely that other armor pieces or outfits can be found or crafted in the game, affecting both appearance and stats, though extensive cosmetic customization beyond distinct sets isn't confirmed as a major feature.

Progression is a significant departure from traditional RPGs, as there are no character levels. Instead, players strengthen their character by finding and upgrading runes, items, and crafting new gear. Each of the 5 weapon types has unique skills that can be altered to fit a player's playstyle. Progression is intrinsically tied to exploration and completing dungeons.

The game features a semi-open world structure that encourages free exploration of the collapsed world of Arsiltus. The environment is dynamic, with random enemy encounters and interactive terrain that can be used strategically in combat, such as breakable cliffs and flammable surfaces.

Black Myth: Wukong is not an open-world game but features large, distinct levels divided into chapters, each with its own environmental theme (e.g., forests, deserts, snowy mountains). While levels offer branching paths and exploration, the overall progression is more linear, comparable in structure to games like Sekiro. The game does not provide a traditional player map, encouraging environmental observation. Fast travel is available via 'Keeper's Shrines' (checkpoints).

• The Last Guardian: Playable Protagonist
  The hero of the story, tasked with a mission to find the pieces of a broken great relic to save the continent of Arsiltus.
• The Brutals: Bosses
  70 formidable and massive bosses that the player must defeat. Each Brutal has a personal tale of sorrow that the player inherits.

• The Destined One: Protagonist / Monkey Warrior
  The main playable character, a skilled monkey warrior on a quest to uncover the truth behind the legend of Sun Wukong and the events of 'Journey to the West'. Wields a magical staff and can master various spells and transformations.
• Sun Wukong (The Monkey King / Great Sage Equal to Heaven): Central Lore Figure / Legendary Hero
  The iconic protagonist of 'Journey to the West'. In Black Myth: Wukong, his legend is central to the plot, and the Destined One's journey is deeply intertwined with Wukong's past and fate.
• Erlang Shen (Yang Jian): Antagonist / Major Boss / Celestial General
  A powerful deity from Chinese mythology, known for his third eye and formidable combat prowess. Appears as a major antagonist and challenging boss fight in the game.
• Bull Demon King (Niu Mowang): Antagonist / Major Boss / Demon Lord
  A powerful demon lord from 'Journey to the West', an old acquaintance turned adversary of Sun Wukong. Features as a significant boss with his own domain and storyline.
• Red Boy (Hong Hai'er): Antagonist / Major Boss / Fire-wielding Demon
  The son of the Bull Demon King and Princess Iron Fan, known for his mastery of Samadhi Fire. Appears as a challenging boss with a storyline connected to his parents.
• Various Yaoguai (Demons & Monsters): Enemies / Bosses
  A diverse bestiary of demons, monsters, and spirits (Yaoguai) drawn from Chinese folklore and 'Journey to the West', each with unique designs, abilities, and backstories. They serve as common enemies and challenging boss encounters.
• Zhu Bajie (Pigsy - Mentioned/Implied): Supporting Character (from lore)
  One of Sun Wukong's companions in 'Journey to the West'. While his direct prominent role in the game's plot for the 'Destined One' is less clear than Wukong's, he is a key figure from the source material.

• Main Story Quests
  A cinematic campaign that follows the Last Guardian's quest to find the pieces of the broken great relic and close the void that has consumed the continent of Arsiltus.
• Dungeons
  Optional and mandatory dungeons that must be completed to expand the world and acquire essential items and upgrades for character growth.
• Brutal Hunts
  Targeting and defeating the 70 formidable 'Brutal' bosses scattered throughout the world to progress the story and gain powerful special items.

• The Destined One's Journey (Main Campaign)
  A chapter-based main storyline where the player, as the Destined One, ventures through various mythical locations to uncover the truth behind Sun Wukong's legend and collect powerful relics. This involves navigating challenging environments, solving light puzzles, and defeating numerous enemies and powerful bosses inspired by 'Journey to the West'.
• Yaoguai Hunts / Boss Battles
  Confronting and defeating a wide array of Yaoguai (demons/monsters), including over 70-80 distinct boss encounters. Each boss typically has multiple phases and unique attack patterns, requiring strategic use of stances, spells, and transformations. Defeating them often yields new abilities (Spirit Skills) or key items.
• Exploration and Secret Finding
  Traversing large, detailed levels to discover hidden paths, optional boss fights, collectibles (like Meditation Spots, Curios, Gourds), lore entries, and upgrade materials. The game encourages thorough exploration of its distinct environments.
• Mastering Abilities and Transformations
  Acquiring and upgrading a variety of spells, staff stances, and transformation abilities. Certain encounters or environmental challenges may require specific abilities or transformations to overcome, encouraging experimentation and mastery of the available toolkit.

Available editions include: Digital Standard Edition ($59.99 USD), Digital Deluxe Edition ($69.99 USD - includes base game, Bronzecloud Staff weapon, Folk Opera Mask, Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor, Folk Opera Leather Bracers, Folk Opera Buskins, Wind Chimes curio, and selected digital soundtrack). Physical Deluxe Edition (PC, $169 USD) and Collector's Edition (PC, $399 USD - includes a 40cm Wukong figurine) have also been available, though primarily for PC and potentially with regional limitations. Pre-order bonus was the Trailblazer's Scarlet Gourd.

• Q: What is Relic: The First Guardian?
  A: It is a single-player, dark fantasy action RPG with Soulslike elements. It features a semi-open world, fast-paced combat, and a unique progression system without character levels.
• Q: How does progression work without levels?
  A: Instead of gaining XP, you strengthen your character by exploring the world to find and upgrade runes, items, and crafted gear. Defeating the game's 70 bosses is also essential for acquiring powerful upgrades.
• Q: What is the combat like?
  A: The combat is fast-paced and skill-based, often compared to Sekiro. The core mechanic is parrying enemy attacks to break their stamina gauge, which staggers them and allows for massive damage.
• Q: Is it an open-world game?
  A: It is described as a semi-open world. Players can adventure freely and explore, but the experience is still guided by an exciting main story.

• Q: What is Black Myth: Wukong?
  A: Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG based on the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West'. Players control the 'Destined One,' a monkey warrior, and embark on a quest to uncover hidden truths, battling formidable foes using staff combat, spells, and transformations.
• Q: When was Black Myth: Wukong released?
  A: Black Myth: Wukong was released on August 20, 2024, for PlayStation 5 and Windows (PC). The Xbox Series X/S version is planned for a later date.
• Q: What platforms is Black Myth: Wukong available on?
  A: Currently, it's available on PlayStation 5 and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store). An Xbox Series X/S version is expected later. It's also playable via GeForce Now.
• Q: What is the gameplay like in Black Myth: Wukong?
  A: It's a challenging Soulslike action RPG with a focus on third-person melee combat using a staff. Gameplay involves mastering different stances, utilizing a variety of spells, and transforming into powerful creatures or defeated enemies. It requires precise timing for attacks, dodges, and parries ('Rock Solid' spell).
• Q: Is Black Myth: Wukong an open-world game?
  A: No, it is not a fully open-world game. It features large, distinct levels organized into chapters. While these levels offer exploration and branching paths, the overall structure is more linear. There is no traditional in-game map provided to the player.
• Q: Is Black Myth: Wukong single-player or multiplayer?
  A: Black Myth: Wukong is a single-player only experience for the base game. There are no official multiplayer modes.
• Q: What is the story based on?
  A: The story is deeply rooted in the 16th-century Chinese novel 'Journey to the West,' one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It draws heavily from its characters, mythology, and themes.

Developed using Unreal Engine 5, Black Myth: Wukong is acclaimed for its stunning visual fidelity, highly detailed character models (especially fur rendering), breathtaking environments inspired by Chinese landscapes and art, realistic particle effects, and advanced lighting. It supports modern graphical technologies like NVIDIA DLSS and ray tracing (though ray tracing might be more optimized in post-launch patches).

The game features a rich soundtrack that blends traditional Chinese instrumentation with epic orchestral scores to create an atmospheric and immersive audio experience complementing the mythology and intense combat. Voice acting is available in Chinese (Mandarin) and English.

Features a clean and immersive UI typical of Soulslike action RPGs, focusing on combat information such as health, stamina (Focus), mana, equipped spells/abilities, and enemy status. Contextual prompts appear for interactions and special moves. No persistent mini-map is provided.

Specific accessibility options include customizable controls and support for various upscaling technologies (DLSS, FSR, XeSS) which can help players with performance. Further details on comprehensive accessibility features (e.g., advanced subtitle options, colorblind modes, gameplay modifiers) would require in-game review.

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs are To Be Confirmed (TBC), these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation Soulslike built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. The fast-paced, reaction-based combat requires a high and stable framerate.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates during boss fights.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based combat.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a game reliant on precise timing.
• Game Name: Relic: The First Guardian

• Official PC system requirements for 'Black Myth: Wukong'. Performance can vary depending on specific hardware, driver versions, and in-game settings. An SSD is strongly recommended for optimal performance. DLSS/FSR/XeSS are supported and recommended for higher settings or resolutions.
• Laptop Performance Note: Black Myth: Wukong is a graphically demanding title. Achieving a smooth and visually appealing experience on a laptop requires a powerful, modern gaming laptop. Laptop GPUs, even those sharing a model name with desktop counterparts (e.g., 'RTX 4070'), typically operate at lower power levels (TGP - Total Graphics Power) and are subject to chassis thermal constraints, resulting in different performance. The details below provide estimated laptop component tiers, but **actual performance can vary significantly based on the specific laptop model's TGP, cooling solution, CPU, RAM, and even software configuration (e.g., performance modes, drivers).** It is crucial to research reviews of specific laptop models if you are targeting optimal performance in this game.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P Impact: The Total Graphics Power (TGP) allocated to a laptop GPU is a primary determinant of its performance. For example, an RTX 3060 Laptop GPU can range from 60W to 115W+, with higher wattages delivering substantially more power. Always aim for laptops specifying higher TGP values for their GPUs if Black Myth: Wukong is a priority. Check manufacturer specifications and reviews.
• Laptop Consideration: Advanced Cooling Thermals: Sustained high performance generates significant heat. Laptops with advanced cooling systems (e.g., vapor chambers, multiple heat pipes, high-airflow fans, liquid metal anointment) are better equipped to prevent thermal throttling, which can severely reduce framerates during long gaming sessions. Ensure good airflow around the laptop and consider a cooling pad.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Performance Sustain: While the GPU is often the main bottleneck, a capable CPU (e.g., Intel Core H/HX series, AMD Ryzen HS/HX series from recent generations) that can maintain its boost clocks without significant power or thermal throttling is essential to feed the GPU frames efficiently, especially in a game with complex AI and potentially CPU-intensive physics or world streaming.
• Laptop Consideration: R A M Configuration Speed: Beyond capacity (16GB minimum, 32GB recommended for higher settings), ensure the RAM is running in a dual-channel configuration. RAM speed (e.g., DDR4-3200MHz vs DDR5-4800MHz+ or higher) can also provide noticeable performance benefits in CPU-bound scenarios or for overall system responsiveness and reduced stuttering.
• Laptop Consideration: Display Panel G P U Pairing: Consider the laptop's display resolution (1080p, 1440p, 4K) and refresh rate (e.g., 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz+). A high-refresh-rate panel is desirable for smoother motion, but the GPU must be powerful enough to drive frames at that rate at your desired settings. A GPU suitable for 1080p might struggle significantly at 1440p native resolution on a laptop without aggressive upscaling.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: Laptops equipped with a MUX switch or supporting NVIDIA Advanced Optimus allow the dedicated GPU to connect directly to the internal display, bypassing the integrated graphics. This can provide a significant performance uplift (typically 5-15%, sometimes more in certain titles) by reducing latency and ensuring the dGPU's full potential is utilized.
• Laptop Consideration: Driver Updates O S Optimization: Always use the latest official GPU drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel for optimal performance, bug fixes, and game-specific profiles. Ensure Windows is updated and configured for gaming performance (e.g., Game Mode enabled, appropriate power plans selected, background applications minimized).
• Optimization Detail: Upscaling Tech: Supports NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS. Utilizing these upscaling technologies is highly recommended across all tiers, especially on laptops, to achieve target framerates while maintaining good visual quality, particularly at resolutions above 1080p or when enabling demanding features like Ray Tracing.
• Optimization Detail: Key Settings Impact: Resolution, Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, Effects Quality, Anti-Aliasing, Ray Tracing settings (if applicable), and Foliage/View Distance significantly impact performance. Fine-tuning these settings in conjunction with upscaling is key to a good experience.
• Game Name: Black Myth: Wukong

• Upscaling Tech: Supports NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS. Utilizing these upscaling technologies is highly recommended across all tiers, especially on laptops, to achieve target framerates while maintaining good visual quality, particularly at resolutions above 1080p or when enabling demanding features like Ray Tracing.
• Key Settings Impact: Resolution, Texture Quality, Shadow Quality, Effects Quality, Anti-Aliasing, Ray Tracing settings (if applicable), and Foliage/View Distance significantly impact performance. Fine-tuning these settings in conjunction with upscaling is key to a good experience.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain high framerates during boss fights.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based combat.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a game reliant on precise timing.

• G P U T G P Impact: The Total Graphics Power (TGP) allocated to a laptop GPU is a primary determinant of its performance. For example, an RTX 3060 Laptop GPU can range from 60W to 115W+, with higher wattages delivering substantially more power. Always aim for laptops specifying higher TGP values for their GPUs if Black Myth: Wukong is a priority. Check manufacturer specifications and reviews.
• Advanced Cooling Thermals: Sustained high performance generates significant heat. Laptops with advanced cooling systems (e.g., vapor chambers, multiple heat pipes, high-airflow fans, liquid metal anointment) are better equipped to prevent thermal throttling, which can severely reduce framerates during long gaming sessions. Ensure good airflow around the laptop and consider a cooling pad.
• C P U Performance Sustain: While the GPU is often the main bottleneck, a capable CPU (e.g., Intel Core H/HX series, AMD Ryzen HS/HX series from recent generations) that can maintain its boost clocks without significant power or thermal throttling is essential to feed the GPU frames efficiently, especially in a game with complex AI and potentially CPU-intensive physics or world streaming.
• R A M Configuration Speed: Beyond capacity (16GB minimum, 32GB recommended for higher settings), ensure the RAM is running in a dual-channel configuration. RAM speed (e.g., DDR4-3200MHz vs DDR5-4800MHz+ or higher) can also provide noticeable performance benefits in CPU-bound scenarios or for overall system responsiveness and reduced stuttering.
• Display Panel G P U Pairing: Consider the laptop's display resolution (1080p, 1440p, 4K) and refresh rate (e.g., 120Hz, 144Hz, 165Hz+). A high-refresh-rate panel is desirable for smoother motion, but the GPU must be powerful enough to drive frames at that rate at your desired settings. A GPU suitable for 1080p might struggle significantly at 1440p native resolution on a laptop without aggressive upscaling.
• M U X Switch N V I D I A Advanced Optimus: Laptops equipped with a MUX switch or supporting NVIDIA Advanced Optimus allow the dedicated GPU to connect directly to the internal display, bypassing the integrated graphics. This can provide a significant performance uplift (typically 5-15%, sometimes more in certain titles) by reducing latency and ensuring the dGPU's full potential is utilized.
• Driver Updates O S Optimization: Always use the latest official GPU drivers from NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel for optimal performance, bug fixes, and game-specific profiles. Ensure Windows is updated and configured for gaming performance (e.g., Game Mode enabled, appropriate power plans selected, background applications minimized).