《黑神话：悟空》火爆全球，外国网友：悟空不是日本的？

今天距离《黑神话：悟空》正式发售已经有一周多了，但是它的热度依然不减。这期节目我们就聊一聊中国首个国产3A游戏大作——Black Myth: Wukong。

This is actually the first 3A game in China. 其实，3A游戏是类似于影视作品中的大片的概念。It’s a 3A title, which means it’s a super high-budget (高预算的) game with top-tier production values (有着顶级的制作价值). Some people say "3A" stands for (代表): a lot of time, a lot of money, a lot of resources. 同时，它创下了中国single-player game（单机游戏）的新纪录。

• tier /tɪr/ n. 一层

Also, it is particularly hot in the US (在美国也很火). Within an hour of its release (上线不到1小时), it topped the Steam charts (登上了Steam榜首) , 同时在线玩家当天晚些时候数量突破了150万。

Flora has found people discussing whether this is a Souls-like game (魂系游戏) or not on the internet. So what exactly is a souls-like game？

这种Souls-like games一般难度比较高，而且通常是in a dark fantasy setting（有暗黑、奇幻的背景设定）。Such as Dark Souls (《黑暗之魂》) and Elden Ring (《艾尔登法环》)。And it really tests your skills (非常考验你的操作).

So is Black Myth: Wukong a Souls-like game or not？Some say yes, because of its tough combat (艰苦的战斗) and intricate gameplay (复杂的游戏玩法). But others argue it stands out with (以......而突出) its unique storytelling (独特的故事情节) and rich Chinese cultural elements (丰富的中国文化元素).

• combat /ˈkɑ:mbæt/ n. 战斗

• intricate /ˈɪntrɪkət/ adj. 错综复杂的

• stand out v. 突出

So there's a diversity of views (人们观点不一). 这样看的话，Souls-like game好像也没有一个fixed criteria（固定的标准）。Everyone has a different Souls-like game in mind.

• criteria /kraɪˈtɪriə/ n.（评判或做决定的）标准

Erin believes Game Science has really hit it out of the park (一鸣惊人) with this one.

Flora and Erin both agree it’s a game that deserves the hype (这个游戏值得大肆宣传). 不过，在一片赞美声中也有一些声音表示困惑。

• hit it out of the park 大获成功

• hype /haɪp/ n. 大肆的宣传广告

Erin asked: “Did you know that some people are mixing up (混淆) China’s legendary Sun Wukong (中国神话中的孙悟空) with Japan’s Goku from Dragon Ball (日本《七龙珠》中的Goku)?” 

Flora answered : “They are definitely not the same.” 只不过悟空是七龙珠中Goku的原型。

• legendary /ˈledʒənderi/ adj. 传说（中）的

孙悟空是中国经典小说Journey to the West（《西游记》）的中心人物，也是中国真正的cultural icon（文化偶像）。Meanwhile, Goku, or “Son Goku,” is a Japanese character created by Akira Toriyama (鸟山明——日本漫画家). 其灵感来自孙悟空，但故事情节和背景都截然不同。

孙悟空来自于Chinese mythology（中国神话），而七龙珠中的Goku是诞生于modern Japanese pop culture（日本的流行文化）。We need to know that.

People may have been more familiar with Goku before (人们可能之前对Goku更加熟悉). But Black Myth: Wukong is reintroducing the world (向世界重新介绍) to the original Chinese Wukong and making waves (掀起波澜) in the correct format (以一种正确的形式). 

As many of us know, Erin plays a lot of video games in her free time. She has seen many of her favorite gaming streamers in the West (西方的游戏博主) be blown away (被震惊) by the stunning visuals (让人惊叹的视觉效果) and the deep dive into Chinese mythology (对中国神话的深入挖掘).

• stunning /ˈstʌnɪŋ/ adj. 令人震惊的

有些人甚至承认，他们必须重温《西游记》，才能充分理解故事。Many overseas gamers (海外玩家) are already reading Journey to the West. 有英文版、西班牙语版、双语版等等，就跟我们当时看英文原著的时候一样。

It’s not every day that a game prompts (促使) people to learn about another culture. 让世界各地的人能以一种极具吸引力的方式了解一种文化，这种机会真的非常宝贵。Erin also felt so happy to see so many people appreciate her culture.

Erin认为the graphics are top-notch（一流的）。The design and visual effects (设计和视觉效果) are groundbreaking (有开创性的), especially when you consider how they’ve captured the essence of Chinese mythology (抓住中国神话的精髓) in such a detailed and immersive way (以一种细节且让人身临其境的方式).

• immersive /ɪˈmɜ:rsɪv/ adj. 沉浸式虚拟现实的

下面，我们来看一下一些游戏评论网站是怎么评价的？

IGN给出的评分是8分（满分10分）。MC（Metacritic），给出了84分（满分100分）。原因是一些海外玩家觉得这个西游记的故事比较obscure（难懂）。

• obscure /əbˈskjʊr/ adj. 难以说清楚的

Flora doesn't think there's anything wrong with that because not everyone is knowledgeable about different cultures (因为不是每个人都了解不同的文化). But Erin is different. She watched the TV series-Journey to the West since she lived in China for many years.

Erin said that she hasn’t finished the game yet. She wants to save a point (保留一分) to see if the game will hold up as she progress further (看她继续玩下去这个游戏是否还是能符合她的预期)!

While it’s important to strive for diversity (争取多样性), it’s also crucial to respect the source material (尊重原始资料). 尊重原著也是非常重要的。

If we look at the game through the lens of Chinese mythology and the era it represents (从中国神话和它所代表的时代的角度来看这个游戏), it makes more sense (它会更有意义). 如何平衡representation（代表性）和cultural authenticity（文化真实性）之间的关系，也许是游戏产业所面临的一大问题和挑战。

• lens n. 镜片

但是不管怎么说，《黑神话：悟空》这款游戏不管从制作还是文化传播方面都非常成功。Black Myth: Wukong is more than just a game (不仅仅是一个游戏)—it’s a cultural phenomenon (文化现象). It’s introducing millions of people to Chinese mythology and sparking global interest (激发全球的兴趣) in Journey to the West.

• phenomenon /fəˈnɑ:mɪnən/ n. 现象

Erin thinks this game will inspire many games (激发许多游戏的灵感) in the future as well, so she is really excited to see those as well.

我们相信《黑神话：悟空》只是中国3A游戏大作的开始，而《西游记》也正是世界了解中国文化的一个新的方式。

See you next time！