Black Myth: Wukong Impresses; Review Guidelines Debate Sparks

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 initial trailer, Black Myth: Wukong has generated significant buzz, and early critical reception is largely positive. The game boasts 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 in its well-crafted boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its richly detailed world also receive high marks.

Drawing inspiration from the Chinese classic Journey to the West, the game's interpretation of Sun Wukong's adventures is widely lauded. GamesRadar+, for instance, describes it as "a fun action RPG that feels like the modern God of War games viewed through the lens of Chinese mythology."

However, PCGamesN's review, while acknowledging its GOTY potential, points out potential drawbacks shared by other reviews: subpar level design, uneven difficulty, 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 noted.

Importantly, all early access reviews are based on the PC version; console versions (PS5) have yet to be reviewed.

Controversial Review Guidelines Surface

(Image from SteamDB)

Reports emerged of a co-publisher issuing guidelines to streamers and reviewers, outlining "Do's and Don'ts," and prohibiting discussion of "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse." This has sparked considerable debate, with some criticizing the guidelines as overly restrictive, while others express no concern.

Despite this controversy, Black Myth: Wukong remains highly anticipated, currently topping Steam's best-selling and most wishlisted games charts. While the lack of console reviews creates some uncertainty, the game is poised for a significant launch.