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Many players are disappointed that Sư Đà Lĩnh doesn't appear in the game. Photo: Game Science . |
This is an area that was originally planned but was later removed from the final version of the game. Art director Yang Qi posted a high-resolution version of these images on ArtStation .
Based on initial images and descriptions, Sư Đà Lĩnh was envisioned as an impressive "monster city," with a complex structure and large scale. However, Game Science decided not to include this area in the game to optimize the player experience and focus on the main storyline.
Shiduling Mountain is considered one of the most famous trials on the journey of Tang Sanzang and his disciples to obtain the scriptures. According to the original Journey to the West, this is the land where the four disciples had to face the three great demon kings: the Lion, the Elephant, and the Eagle, spanning from chapters 74 to 77. Of all the trials, Shiduling Mountain is described in the darkest and most terrifying light, becoming a symbolic and most frightening challenge in the journey.
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Sư Đà Lĩnh was unable to appear in the game due to various technical factors. Photo: Game Science. |
"Although Sun Wukong was bold, upon seeing the fortress, he suddenly fell to the ground, sensing the place reeking of evil. According to Xiao Quanfeng, a mountain-patrolling demon, the Great King Qing Shi could swallow 100,000 heavenly soldiers in one gulp. The Second King Bai Xiang could sweep away a thousand troops with a single trunk. The Third King Da Peng possessed the Yin-Yang Two-Qi Bottle; being trapped inside for just one hour and three quarters of an hour would turn one into water," quoted from Journey to the West, Chapter 75, by Wu Cheng'en.
The initial concept envisioned a "city of monsters" with streets piled high with bones, eerie illuminated signs, and corners that were both prosperous and decaying. Here, monster rituals and power were "industrialized," creating an ambitious setting.
However, this ambition did not materialize. The decision to remove Sư Đà Lĩnh was reportedly due to technical challenges, including visibility, optimizing the highly detailed landscapes, and the pressure to complete the product on schedule. These factors could have affected the progress and quality of a large-scale project.
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Sketches of Sư Đà Lĩnh. Photo: Game Science. |
Instead of keeping them hidden, Game Science decided to release these sketches as a way to share with the community the ideas they had been nurturing, even if they couldn't yet incorporate them into the final version. This move demonstrates the developer's transparency and respect for the community.
Game Science's release of the sketches of Sư Đà Lĩnh has evoked mixed feelings among fans. They were excited to witness the ambitious artistic vision, but also disappointed that such a potentially rich "gloomy land" remained only on the drawing board.
However, fans still hope that this "land of monsters" might return in the future, either in the form of an update or an expansion developed from the recently released sketches.
Source: https://znews.vn/vi-sao-phan-kinh-di-nhat-tay-du-ky-khong-co-trong-black-myth-wukong-post1583694.html
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