In the opening sequence of Black Myth: Wukong, Sun Wukong (or the Monkey King as he’s popularly called) leaps off the summit of his mountain, landing deftly on a speeding cloud that carries him over to where the Celestial Court’s army awaits him.
It was a moment that brought a wide smile to my face not just because of its visual splendor and cinematic flair but because it reminded me of another favorite character of mine, although his roots are more Japanese than Chinese.
Protagonists Who Pack a Punch
It’s no secret that Dragon Ball was the result of the legendary Akira Toriyama’s love for the 16th-century Chinese philosophical text Journey to the West, which also serves as the inspiration for Black Myth: Wukong.
While the original story was meant to follow the adventures of a Chinese monk traveling to the domain of Buddha in his search for enlightenment, it was the characters he met along the way that made the adventure as popular as it has been over all the years. And Sun Wukong is a major part of that popularity.
Brash, impulsive, cunning, and supremely powerful, the Monkey King’s defiance of the divine and his disrespect for his heritage often landed him in situations that he could have avoided with a little restraint. Despite his arrogance, however, his better traits included a heart of gold and a burning desire to protect those who needed it.
Son Goku from Dragonball shares many of these traits, although he may not have been as intelligent as the Monkey King in his day-to-day life. He does, however, showcase a penchant for thinking out of the box under duress and a determination to do right by those he cares about. Goku’s name is literally the Japanese translation of Wukong!
The similarities don’t end there as both characters share murky origins, with Wukong being born out of a stone while Goku originates from another planet filled with warriors of great power, a rock-like pod bringing him to Earth.
Both of them remain largely disdainful of their heritage, choosing to forge their own path and write their stories on their own terms. However, the similarities between both go deeper than just the names and personalities of their respective heroes.
Black Myth and Dragon Ball’s Own Journies to the West
One of my favorite aspects of the game is the ability to take on the form of enemies that I’d previously defeated, using their power for my own. It is among the game’s many strengths in addition to a gameplay loop that has kept me coming back to it almost constantly.
A power that the Monkey King was known for, it immediately took me back to Dragon Ball, reminding me of Goku’s own destructive transformations into his Great Ape form and his subsequent harnessing of his Saiyan blood into Super Saiyan forms that improved on his already immense power.
Another similarity that immediately stood out for me was the Destined One’s magical prowess, with a variety of spells at his disposal in the heat of battle. Goku also comes with a lot of similar abilities, channeling his Ki in various ways to gain the upper hand against particularly difficult foes.
Early chapters of the game bring the Destined One into contact with two characters who are immediately similar to Master Roshi and Oolong, staunch allies of Goku on his journey. While Game Science’s take on these characters may have been different, their respective roles in the Destined One’s journey are no less significant.
Allies aside, the thing that really clinched the similarities between the game and Dragon Ball was their protagonists’ choice of weapon. Both the Destined One and Goku wield a bo staff with style and substance, able to effectively go toe to toe with even the most formidable foes.
Although Goku would forego his staff as he grew older, relying on his fists and magical powers instead, it was a stark reminder of how a video game and popular manga could inadvertently collide in the mind of a fan who has been having a great time with Game Science’s AAA debut.
With their superhuman strength, agility, and tenacity joining a long list of similarities, the Destined One and Goku are characters that will remain with me for a long time to come. It is a testament to Game Science’s sublime effort that I did not mind Sun Wukong taking a back seat to give the Destined One their time to shine.
Black Myth: Wukong may share a lot with Dragon Ball. But it does more than enough to stand out on its own and will be a video game that I will look back on fondly long after the credits on its well-paced narrative roll.
Are there other similarities between the two IPs that you can think of? We would love to hear about them in the comments!
