After a four-year wait since its 2020 announcement, reviews for Black Myth: Wukong are finally here! This article summarizes early impressions and a recent controversy surrounding review guidelines.
Black Myth: Wukong – A PC Launch
Since its debut trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated considerable hype. Initial critical reception is largely positive, with an 82 Metascore on Metacritic (based on 54 reviews).
Reviewers praise the game's engaging combat system, emphasizing precise controls and well-crafted boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its richly detailed world also receive high marks. The game's interpretation of the Journey to the West mythology has been lauded, with GamesRadar+ describing it as "a fun action RPG that feels like a modern God of War game through a Chinese mythological lens."
However, criticisms exist. PCGamesN, among others, notes potential dealbreakers for some players, including inconsistent level design, difficulty spikes, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative structure, similar to older FromSoftware titles, requires players to piece together the story through item descriptions. Importantly, all early access reviews are based on the PC version; console performance (specifically on PS5) remains unreviewed.
Review Guideline Controversy
Reports emerged of a controversial document distributed by a co-publisher to streamers and reviewers, outlining "Do's and Don'ts." These guidelines reportedly restricted discussion of "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse." This sparked heated debate, with some criticizing the guidelines as overly restrictive while others expressed no concern.
Despite this controversy, Black Myth: Wukong remains highly anticipated. Steam sales data shows it's currently the best-selling and most wishlisted game on the platform prior to release. While the lack of console reviews remains a caveat, the game is poised for a significant launch.
