After a four-year wait since its 2020 debut, Black Myth: Wukong is finally here, and initial reactions are largely positive! Read on for a summary of early reviews and the recent controversy surrounding review guidelines.
Black Myth: Wukong's Arrival
PC Launch Only (For Now)
Since its initial trailer, Black Myth: Wukong has generated immense excitement. Early critical reception is overwhelmingly favorable, with a Metascore of 82 on Metacritic based on 54 reviews.
Reviewers praise the game's exceptional action gameplay, emphasizing precise and engaging combat complemented by brilliantly designed boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its captivating world are also frequently highlighted.
Drawing inspiration from Chinese mythology's Journey to the West, the game's interpretation of Sun Wukong's adventures has resonated strongly. GamesRadar+, for instance, described it as "a fun action RPG that feels like a modern God of War game, reimagined through the lens of Chinese mythology."
While PCGamesN considers it a potential Game of the Year contender, some drawbacks have emerged. Common criticisms include subpar level design, uneven difficulty, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative, similar to older FromSoftware titles, has been noted as somewhat fragmented, requiring players to delve into item descriptions for a complete understanding.
Importantly, all early access reviews are based solely on the PC version; console reviews (specifically PS5) are yet to be released.
Controversial Review Guidelines Surface
Image from SteamDB. Reports emerged of review guidelines issued by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to streamers and reviewers. These guidelines reportedly 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 express concern, others see no issue with such guidelines.
Despite this controversy, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong remains high. Steam sales data show it currently holds the top spot as both the best-selling and most wishlisted game before its official release. The lack of console reviews remains a minor reservation, but the game is poised for a significant launch.
