MONKEY KING: HERO IS BACK
- October 16, 2019
- HEXADRIVE Inc.
- 10h median play time
The legend of the Monkey King doesn't live up to its promise.
Get on Steam"Monkey King: Hero Is Back" is an action-adventure game based on the Chinese legend of Journey to the West and the 2015 animated film of the same name. The deluxe edition includes the main game, a season pass, and additional content like extra skins and in-game items. The first DLC episode is set to release in November 2019, with the second following in December 2019. In the game, players control the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, as he embarks on a new journey with a young boy named Liuer.
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game features a colorful and vibrant world with enjoyable combat mechanics that can be fun for casual players.
- The story is engaging and closely follows the movie, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the Monkey King mythos.
- The game has a charming art style and humorous character interactions, making it suitable for younger audiences and those looking for a light-hearted adventure.
- The gameplay is repetitive, with limited enemy types and a lack of variety in combat, leading to a monotonous experience.
- Technical issues such as a 30fps cap on PC, long loading screens, and bugs detract from the overall experience.
- The game is relatively short, with some players reporting less than 10 hours of gameplay, which may not justify the price.
- story31 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story, based on the popular movie about Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, is criticized for its lack of coherence and depth, with many reviewers noting that it relies heavily on repetitive cutscenes and simplistic plot devices, such as color changes for enemies. While some players appreciate the cultural elements and find the narrative engaging, others feel it falls short compared to the film, resulting in a mixed reception overall. The pacing is often described as slow, with significant portions of gameplay dedicated to cutscenes rather than action, leading to a perception of a lack of substantial content.
“The story of the game is based on the hit movie of the same name, the story of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King who was captured by Buddha after trying to battle against him by being imprisoned for 500 years. After being awakened by a child, he starts on a journey to help them.”
“The story, the characters, the setting, all work in unison together to paint a world for you to wonder about as you learn more and more about the Monkey King universe.”
“Great storyline if you have never watched the movie; fun bosses and great attacks, recommended to all.”
“Why stop there though when you can, after a 45-minute long fight with a boss, leave the game after watching 5 cutscenes that are just JPGs and be in a completely new map area but not have it auto-save, nor the option to manually save because there are save screens instead of proper save buttons. This game's idea of a new enemy is to change the color, this game's idea of a boss is to change the color, and this game's idea of an interesting story is to just kidnap everyone possible for the plot, which makes literally 0 sense. Why would I even care about this little kid who just won't shut up during the entire game? F-, -35$/10, ★☆☆☆☆. Monkey King? More like Monkey Annoyance that should have stayed asleep in the first place. The first cutscene should have had this kid die and the end credits roll; at least that would be worth more than $5 compared to the entire game.”
“A big part of the game consists of rather slow cutscenes for simple actions like using a ladder or even narrative fragments where you have to walk while a dialogue takes place. At least later on, the storytelling relies more on cutscenes showing some backstory, which is a big improvement over the few weird initial scenes. Excluding such elements, I'm not even sure if there will be 6 hours of actual gameplay.”
“I finished the game in about 7 hours, so excluding 1 hour+ cutscenes and the slow storytelling parts, it truly is below 6 hours of actual gameplay.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the fast-paced combat and engaging mechanics, while others criticize the heavy reliance on slow cutscenes and dated mechanics reminiscent of early 2000s titles. Many players noted that the actual gameplay time is significantly less than the total game length due to lengthy cutscenes, leading to a feeling of underwhelming content for the price. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable moments and beautiful environments, it suffers from repetitive mechanics and a lack of depth in gameplay variety.
“The gameplay of the game is really fun, smooth, and fast. When I bought it, I was considering a refund due to many negative reviews, but after 30 minutes in the game, it caught me, and I couldn't stop playing it.”
“The truth is that this game is entertaining, but it lacks some things to improve. On the other hand, the gameplay that it has is very good. The battle system is enjoyable, and the fights with the final bosses are challenging, which is great. The whole environment is beautiful, and from my point of view, the general system of the game is very good.”
“The gameplay can be a mash of button presses, like many hack and slash games, but it has oddly satisfying parts like purging and countering attacks. The animations and effects are flashy, and you feel good about defeating the enemies. The music is average overall, but there are two great pieces of soundtrack during boss fights. A smaller detail is that the NPCs are not very annoying; they stay out of the way during fights, which is a nice touch.”
“A big part of the game consists of rather slow cutscenes for simple actions like using a ladder or narrative fragments where you have to walk while a dialogue takes place. Excluding such elements, I'm not even sure if there will be 6 hours of actual gameplay.”
“Mechanics-wise, it's a title you would expect to see in the early 2000s, and the graphics aren't enough to compensate for the dated gameplay.”
“The gameplay feels like playing an old PlayStation One game, with some fights, 3D cutscenes, storyboard cutscenes, and at times it is only about walking and talking, along with loading screens to go in and out of buildings.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a lighthearted and humorous tone, evident in its dialogue, character interactions, and cartoonish art style, making it enjoyable for players of all ages. The one-on-one gameplay and creative attack combos add to the comedic experience, although some players find the voice acting, particularly the British accents, to be a bit odd. Overall, it is recommended for those with a good sense of humor looking for a relaxing gaming experience.
“There is a bit of humor in the dialog and character interaction.”
“Hilarious cartoonish style is a big plus, too; I will recommend it to my kid.”
“Sometimes it's nice to play a game that's relaxing and just trying to be funny.”
- music6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the level soundtracks and character voiceovers, while others find the overall soundtrack repetitive or even headache-inducing. Notably, two boss fight tracks stand out as exceptional, but the general consensus leans towards the music being average at best, with some criticism aimed at the voice acting and its impact on the overall experience.
“The soundtrack in each level, as well as the voiceovers for the characters, are nice.”
“I like the music, but it gets repetitive after a while.”
“Soundtrack is bad, voice acting is annoying, animation combat loops can't be broken, very limited enemy types and attacks.”
“Horrible soundtrack (gives you a headache)”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the decent visuals and art style for the price, while others find them reminiscent of early 2000s titles, lacking modern options and polish. Although the graphics are considered adequate by some, they do not fully compensate for the dated gameplay mechanics. Overall, the visuals are seen as a highlight for some, but a limitation for others.
“The game has a good plot, the graphics are pretty decent for the price at which it is published. I totally recommend it.”
“It's pretty fun and the art style of the game is amazing.”
“I finished the game minutes ago and I love it; the graphics and gameplay are good and the story follows the movie very closely.”
“Mechanics-wise, it's a title you would expect to see in the early 2000s, and the graphics aren't enough to compensate for the dated gameplay.”
“It's like something you'd find on the PS2, but with slightly better graphics.”
“There are zero graphics options whatsoever besides resolution and brightness/gamma, and while there is forced temporal anti-aliasing, it could have done better in that department.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers a fun experience with some replayable elements, although it diverges slightly from the movie's plot, such as character changes. This variation in storylines contributes to its replayability, encouraging players to explore different outcomes.
“Good game, plot points differ from the movie slightly, such as both the boy and girl being taken and the lack of the Sufu character. Overall, it's a fun experience with some replayable elements.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its authentic representation of traditional Chinese culture, enhanced by the incorporation of various Southern Shaolin martial arts moves, such as Hung Kuen and Choy Lay Fut. This blend of cultural elements creates an immersive experience that resonates well with players.
“The traditional Chinese atmosphere really immerses you in the world, making every moment feel authentic and engaging.”
“I love how the game captures the essence of the environment, creating a rich and vibrant atmosphere that draws you in.”
“The attention to detail in the surroundings enhances the overall experience, making the atmosphere feel alive and dynamic.”
“The traditional Chinese atmosphere is well-represented, but it feels overshadowed by the gameplay mechanics.”
“While the martial arts moves are impressive, the overall atmosphere lacks depth and immersion.”
“The game attempts to create a rich atmosphere, but it ultimately falls flat and feels generic.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, particularly noting frequent freezes that can severely disrupt gameplay.
“The lesser but almost game-breaking issue was the freezes.”
“I experienced frequent crashes that made it impossible to enjoy the game.”
“The game is plagued by stability issues, with constant lag and unexpected shutdowns.”
