After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here! Read on for a summary of early reviews and the controversy surrounding review guidelines.
Black Myth: Wukong's Arrival
PC Exclusive (For Now)
Since its debut trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated immense anticipation. Initial critical reception has been largely positive, with the game boasting an 82 Metascore on Metacritic based on 54 reviews.
Reviewers praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing its precise and engaging combat system, particularly its well-crafted boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its beautiful world are also highlighted.
Drawing inspiration from the Chinese mythological epic, Journey to the West, the game's interpretation of Sun Wukong's adventures has received positive feedback. GamesRadar+, for instance, described it as "a fun action RPG reminiscent of modern God of War, but filtered through the lens of Chinese mythology."
However, PCGamesN, while considering it a potential Game of the Year contender, notes some potential drawbacks shared by other reviews: inconsistent level design, difficulty spikes, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative's fragmented nature, similar to older FromSoftware titles, requiring players to piece together the story through item descriptions, is also mentioned.
Importantly, all early access reviews are based on the PC version; console reviews (specifically PS5) are pending.
Controversial Review Guidelines Surface
Image from SteamDB. Reports emerged over the weekend detailing review guidelines issued by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to streamers and reviewers. These guidelines allegedly included a list of prohibited topics, such as "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."
This has sparked considerable debate within the gaming community. While some criticize the guidelines as overly restrictive, others express no concern.
Despite this controversy, the game remains highly anticipated. Steam sales data shows it's currently both the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform before its official release. While the lack of console reviews creates some uncertainty, Black Myth: Wukong is poised for a significant launch.
