Zhong Kui Is Primed To Be The Franchise’s Most Polished Game

Game Science has perfected the art of telling us so much by telling us so very little. When the next chapter in the franchise that brought us the 2024 GOTY nominee, Black Myth: Wukong, was first announced at last year’s Gamescom, we eagerly watched two henchmen scurrying for cover as a pair of demons pass by, shouldering an inconceivably large sword, followed by the titular Zhong Kui sitting astride one of the most visually impressive tigers we’ve seen in a video game.

There were some tidbits to take from the ramblings of the two cronies, but the latest offering in the marketing journey of Black Myth: Zhong Kui didn’t need words to make the message abundantly clear. Game Science is, in almost every sense of the word, absolutely cooking with their next installment, and the gaming community has every reason to believe the franchise’s second game will be its best to date.

Over the last few years, GameScience has released a video to celebrate Chinese New Year, but the studio’s trot to their next project erupted into a gallop to usher in the Year of the Fire Horse. In a stunning 6-minute video, developed within Black Myth: Zhong Kui’s game engine, fans bore witness to a display of culinary precision, which was so graphically sharp that you would often find yourself forgetting it was from a video game.

As a dragon-headed fish is effortlessly sliced in half, and a giant bulb is split open to unearth a creature within, Game Science welcomes viewers into a kitchen as a woman and her somewhat clumsy assistants prepare an incredibly intricate soup. The meal is made up of a variety of unusual ingredients, including the flesh from Yaoguai, creatures etched deep in Chinese folklore. There is purpose in the woman’s every movement and focus on her steely expression, which could very well be representative of the developers themselves as they meticulously craft another game that is certain to turn heads when it drops.

The sneak peek of Black Myth: Zhong Kui was certainly a curveball to those who had been eagerly awaiting an update from Game Science on their progress. On the surface, there was no real substance, nor a preview of combat and gameplay mechanics, and yet none of the fanbase had expressed any disappointment in the studio’s unorthodox approach to marketing. That’s because they understand that, much like the woman slicing vegetables with her well-trained knife, the devs have been purposeful, meticulous, and calculating in how they promote the game.

It’s All In The Execution

Black Myth: Wukong was certainly no slouch when it came to its graphics. In fact, it was one of the standouts in visual presentation for the whole of 2024. And yet, despite its brilliance, despite the accolades it rightfully earned, all it took was six minutes to convince me that Zhong Kui is going to take the franchise to a whole new level. In a game that will draw much of its appeal from its fluid combat, meticulous attention to detail, and strong character design, we got a preview of how each of those components will look when the game makes its way to us.

The first thing that stood out to me was the subtle depiction of physical feedback. Sure, we weren’t treated to Zhong Kui in all his glory, cutting through foes like a hot knife through butter. We did see the knife, however, as it cut along the incredibly detailed grain of various types of flesh, watching just how responsive the various textures were under the light pressure of a sharp blade. Apply this to combat, in what we could assume will be dozens of tough boss fights and countless lesser encounters. How will Zhong Kui’s weapons change the anatomic structure of his adversaries? It’s not unreasonable to assume many will meet the same fate as the Feng, or lump of meat with eyes.

On the other hand, what left a lasting impression wasn’t the hip-to-hip cut on the ogre-like creature, but in the smallest details. I don’t recall a time when I had seen gameplay footage where the tendons in a character’s hand move so accurately. Not a single muscle movement, facial expression, or cloud of steam looked out of place. The minute details made the biggest difference, and, in a manner that only Game Science could execute, the gaming community has been sent into a frenzy over soup.

In what was, on the surface, a simple cooking video (with an ominous conclusion), Game Science has set the tone for Black Myth: Zhong Kui. The benchmark has been set far higher than the game’s predecessor, and yet you get the sense that the devs are as confident in the studio as the trailer’s main character was in the kitchen.