Black Myth: Wukong – it’s won some and lost some (Game Science)
A reader is concerned at the rivalry between Astro Bot and Black Myth: Wukong fans and worries there’s a lack of respect between them, over the qualities of both games.
Game awards can represent both the best and the worst the video games industry has to offer. It’s great to celebrate all the amazing video games that come out within a calendar year, as well as the personalities and developers who are striving to push the industry up into new unforeseen heights. However, game awards can divide fans and cause many internet arguments all over the place. This year specifically has been all about Black Myth: Wukong vs. Astro Bot (sorry Metaphor: ReFantazio!) and it has appeared to me that there’s a significant dichotomy between them.
I’ll start by saying that in my opinion Astro Bot is far and away the 2024 Game of the Year. This is because the ingenuity of its design, the numerous ways it surprises, delights, and bring joy to PlayStation gaming. Most impactfully of all, it has reminded us of not only what lies at the core of PlayStation’s very soul, but it has brought with it a blazing uninhibited sunshine to PlayStation 5’s often dingy and overly-serious planet.
Astro Bot is not only my game of 2024, it’s my favourite PlayStation 5 game overall, and is the best PlayStation game since The Last of Us came out on PlayStation 3 in 2013 – and even then, I think Astro Bot is far better than The Last Of Us.
Now, on the other side is Black Myth: Wukong, a game which has absolutely bolted with an exceptional fanbase that arose very quickly, refusing to slow down even despite the less enthusiastic reviews from critics. I admire that Wukong has garnered such a scintillating fanfare and I am truly glad gamers love it.
However, from what I’ve seen in the lead up to and after The Game Awards, Wukong fans have been disgustingly dismissive of Astro Bot. I understand that Astro Bot will be seen as a kiddie game meant for children, but this massively reductive stance ignores everything Team Asobi has worked extremely hard on to craft what is a truly unforgettable game.
Many Wukong fans can’t handle it when another game wins game awards over it, despite Wukong winning Golden Joystick’s Game of the Year and various other awards, including The Game Awards’ Player’s Voice Award.
Meanwhile, Astro Bot fans have soaked in their love of the game, and I reckon many of the, are wholly respectful to Wukong for all of its success too. Above all, the brilliance in design Astro Bot boasts I believe creates a community of positivity and cheeriness, which is something that very much deserves to be rewarded given all the negativity we have to ingest in today’s world.
I theorise that the reason why many Wukong fans are upset is because Wukong is a challenging game in the vain of a Soulslike. They get frustrated and angry because they keep on falling in battle during the various leviathan-sized encounters within it. They’ll see Astro Bot as a child’s paradise holiday and will think Wukong is a game for adults, or something to that effect.
Again, I wholly respect and congratulate Wukong for all its success. It’s a game that deserves to be celebrated for accruing such a strong and faithful fanbase, but I just feel they should also be respectful and courteous of Astro Bot’s success as well.
We have to remember too, that no matter how prestigious award shows are, they’re made up, and although they’re designed for celebration. They’re also going to carry with them a lethal surge of disdainful fanboyism/fangirlism.
We’re responsible for how much stock we put into The Game Awards, like with any video games media publication, so if we don’t like The Game Awards, we don’t have to sit and watch it because all of the trailers will be on YouTube anyway.
By reader James Davie
Astro Bot – The Game Awards 2024 Game of the Year winner (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
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