Developer Game Science has released a 15-minute gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Zhong Kui, offering a detailed look at the player character's combat abilities and the mythological creatures that will populate its world. This showcase arrives less than a year after the game's initial reveal at Gamescom Opening Night Live.
The trailer follows a dishevelled swordsman who forms a temporary partnership with an old man. Their journey includes various environmental interactions, from navigating challenging terrain to surviving a massive tidal wave. Upon reaching a beach, the gameplay shifts to a pseudo-Soulslike combat system. The player character exhibits deliberate attack animations, parries, and deflections, with a noticeable economy of motion and confident movement.
Combat options extend beyond basic swordplay. The trailer demonstrates the use of a firebomb to ignite enemies in an oily swamp, allowing the player to magically channel the fire into their sword for temporary elemental damage. A similar mechanic imbues the sword with lightning in a later encounter. The player can also summon a spirit companion, a large warrior wielding a massive curved sword, which can be controlled directly.
One notable encounter featured in the trailer is a boss fight against an "oyster man," where the player utilizes the enhanced sword abilities to overcome the foe. The trailer also offers glimpses of other fantastical scenes, including encounters with glowing mushroom men, a burial ritual, and the protagonist playing music with a trio of skeletons.
It remains unclear whether the player character is indeed Zhong Kui, the Taoist deity known for slaying ghosts, who was seen riding his tiger mount at the trailer's conclusion. Game Science has stated that Black Myth: Zhong Kui is "still in early development," indicating that further details, including the protagonist's identity and a release window, will likely be revealed at a later date. The studio has ample time to refine the game, following a four-year development cycle between the first gameplay footage and the eventual launch of its predecessor, Black Myth: Wukong.