Black Myth: Wukong's Lunar New Year Tease: Shape-Shifting and Sekiro-Style Combat

Long before the world finally got its hands on one of the most anticipated action games of the decade, developer Game Science Studio dropped a special surprise to ring in the Chinese New Year. It was February 2021, the farewell hour for the Year of the Rat and the grand entrance of the Year of the Ox. What better way to celebrate than with a fresh, albeit brief, look at the mythical martial arts epic that had already set the internet on fire six months prior with its show-stopping debut trailer?

Looking back from 2026, that two-minute burst of pre-alpha footage still feels like pure adrenaline. It didn’t outline the game’s actual plot—Game Science was crystal clear about that in the video description. Instead, it served as a glorious, combat-heavy homage to the zodiac shift. And oh, what a homage it was. Players were treated to a flurry of quick cuts showing the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, doing what he does best: dismantling nightmare fuel–style creatures with an intoxicating blend of graceful footwork and brutal efficiency.

For those who needed a refresher, Black Myth: Wukong draws its lifeblood from Journey to the West, the 16th-century Chinese literary classic that has spawned countless adaptations across every conceivable medium. But Game Science’s take was shaping up to be something fiercely distinct. From day one, the game positioned itself as a third-person action experience dripping with atmosphere, where you step into the fuzzy paws of Sun Wukong and navigate a world that feels equal parts sacred and desolate. The 2021 New Year trailer reinforced just how heavily the project leaned into that FromSoftware-tinged sense of haunting beauty and punishing, rhythmic combat.

What made this particular slice of gameplay so memorable wasn’t just the Sekiro-like parrying and lightning-fast exchanges—it was the shapeshifting. Wukong, ever the trickster, transforms on the fly in ways that tease incredible tactical depth. One moment he’s a bulbous stone golem, slow but devastating. The next, he splits into three spark-spitting rats that zip across the battlefield. Veteran players might recall an earlier glimpse where he buzzed through the forest disguised as a gross, tiny insect. Each form suggests a tool for a different problem, hinting at a combat system that rewards creativity just as much as reflexes.

The star of this New Year’s reel, however, was the boss roster. True to the holiday spirit, the trailer opened with a hideous two-headed rodent getting absolutely pummeled by Wukong—an obvious stand-in for the departing Rat. Just when the victory lap seems within reach, the ground trembles, and a colossal minotaur, a walking mountain built to welcome the Ox, emerges from the shadows. The sheer scale of the creature was staggering, a promise that Black Myth wouldn’t shy away from larger-than-life encounters.

Even as pre-alpha footage, the trailer dripped with confidence. Environments shifted from misty bamboo groves to crumbling temple ruins, each frame bursting with the kind of painterly detail that makes you want to pause and gawk. The combat audio crackled with impact—every staff strike, every transformation, every guttural roar landing with a satisfying weight that action junkies crave. It was the perfect appetizer, reminding everyone why the original 13-minute reveal had racked up millions of views in record time.

Of course, at the end of that 2021 video, reality hit: the studio was still hiring. No release date loomed on the horizon, and the closing call for developers was both a thrilling invitation and a sobering reminder that the journey was far from over. Fast forward to 2026, and it’s almost nostalgic to revisit that uncertainty. The game would go on to launch in 2024, shattering records and cementing itself as a landmark achievement for Chinese game development. The transformation system teased in that Ox-themed spectacle? It evolved into one of the most celebrated mechanics in the final release, offering an insane variety of forms, each tied to different bosses and strategies.

But back in February of 2021, none of that was guaranteed. All fans had was a pair of trailers—one epic, one festive—and a burning hope that Game Science could deliver on the impossible-looking promise. That New Year’s greet may have been short, but it packed enough myth, mystery, and minotaur-mauling to keep the hype train rolling for years.

For players revisiting the title today, or for those jumping in for the first time, watching that old footage is like peering through a window into the soul of a game that always knew exactly what it wanted to be: a love letter to Chinese mythology, forged in the fires of hardcore action gaming, and delivered with the audacity of a monkey king who bows to no one.