Black Myth: Wukong was my favorite game of 2024, a confident blend of incredible graphics with precise, challenging character action combat. It enthralled me from start to finish with its beautiful world, incredible music and precise but challenging series of bosses. I consumed as much as I could Black Myth: Wukongconfronted all the bosses and hunted down all the collectibles, and when I finally rolled the credits I was sad that the experience had to end.
It's rare that when you've finished a memorable game that Black Myth: Wukong you get to do something more than reflect back on its experience. However, developer Game Science has noticed the impact its game has had on the gaming population as well as the Chinese gaming industry and tried to ride that wave of popularity long after the game's release date.
Perhaps the greatest significance of Black Myth: Wukongs lifetime is Black Myth: Wukong Concert, which first started in China in 2024 and 2025 and in July will make its US debut before heading worldwide. I was able to attend the first stop at Black Myth: Wukong Global Concert Tour in Los Angeles, California at the Peacock Theatre. It was an unforgettable evening that was as much a celebration of Black Myth: Wukong as an opportunity to remember what made Game Science's 2024 release so special. Seeing talented Asian artists who made the long journey to the US to showcase their culture through music is an experience I won't soon forget, not unlike how I felt when I first played Black Myth: Wukong.
The structure of Black Myth: Wukong concert is similar to the game. It's divided into chapters where musical highlights are plucked from the game's beautiful soundtrack. With a traditional orchestra mixed with Chinese folk instruments and singers Black Myth: Wukong Global Concert is a chance to see how diverse the musical arrangements in the game are. Only when you see how these different instruments come together can you really appreciate what a feat the music in the game is. The concert also does well to call out specific artists who made it to Los Angeles to perform for the Peacock Theater crowd.
Unfortunately, one artist unable to make the trip was Xiong Zhuying, who Black Myth: Wukong fans will feel like the headless monk. His shanbei shuoshu is easily distinguished from the game for bringing Chinese culture in a way that both blends into the world of the game and shines a spotlight on what makes the instrument's sound so original. The good news is that Xiong Zhuying's son was able to make it to the US leg of the tour and he is doing an equally amazing job honoring his father's work. It was a genuinely heartwarming moment and you could tell that the son was moved by the response from the audience.
In addition to the instrumental work shown below Black Myth: Wukong concert, the game's singers Gao Tianhe, Zhang Xinxin, Liu Wei and Zhang Yi bring to life the performances that take place throughout the game. If you have played Black Myth: Wukongyou know that each chapter is marked by an artistic sequence that dives deep into the background of many of its bosses and NPCs. These episodes are visually stunning and versatile in their artistic mediums, so it was a real treat to see them with their live vocalists.
It's not often that a game has so many songs and arrangements, and it was clear that GameScience wanted to do all parts of the soundtrack justice, not just the instrumental work. Obviously, these characters aren't, but each artist brought genuine emotion to their singing and made it a performance that was just as captivating as what was on the screen behind them.
Video games are a visual medium and thus you cannot have a concert series without highlighting key moments from the game supported by the music. That's what makes these types of experiences special, and that Black Myth: Wukong The Global Concert is no different. Each song tapped into the emotion of key parts of the game, reminding me of the immense journey that the Destined is on. There's nothing quite like hearing the music from a game performed live and when it's a game that I appreciated as much as Black Myth: Wukongit makes the experience all the more memorable.
And it wouldn't be one Black myth concert, if Game Science didn't acknowledge what was next for the franchise. It was a little short but we got to hear the main theme too Black Myth Zhong Kuithe next game that was revealed last year. Zhong Kui is still early in development so there were no reveals, but it was still nice to get a little taste of what's coming next.
More than anything else, it Black Myth: Wukong Global Concert reminded me how special the game is, how much it challenged me as a player, and how much visual splendor there is in every frame. The live music enhances the action on screen and recalls important moments that you may remember for different reasons. I'll admit there were more than a few times when I saw a challenging boss (I'm looking at you Erlang Shen) or enemy and was reminded of my struggles to beat them and the elation that followed when I eventually did.
Perhaps the best compliment I can give Black Myth: Wukong Global Concert is that it made me want to come home right away and start a new save of the game and experience it all over again. It was a joy to bring Chinese culture to California through music – something you don't get a lot of, but which I hope will become more common as games like grow in popularity.
GameRant received travel and accommodations to participate in this event.
- Released
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August 20, 2024
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Violence
