Black Myth: Wukong Early Impressions Are Out Amid Review Guidelines Controversy

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 Only (For Now)

Since its debut trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated considerable excitement, and early critical reception has been largely positive. The game currently 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, complemented by well-crafted boss battles. The stunning visuals and hidden secrets within its beautiful world are also frequently highlighted.

Drawing inspiration from the Chinese classic Journey to the West, the game's portrayal of Sun Wukong's adventures has been well-received. GamesRadar+, for example, described it as "a fun action RPG that feels like a modern God of War game filtered through the lens of Chinese mythology."

However, PCGamesN's review, while noting its GOTY potential, points out potential drawbacks shared by other reviews: subpar level design, difficulty spikes, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative, similar to older FromSoftware titles, is also criticized for being fragmented, requiring players to piece together the story through item descriptions.

Importantly, all initial review copies were for PC; console versions were not provided for early access. Therefore, PS5 performance reviews are still pending.

Controversy Surrounding Review Guidelines

(Image from SteamDB)

Over the weekend, reports emerged of a co-publisher issuing guidelines 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," sparking heated debate within the community. While some users expressed concern, others saw no issue with the guidelines.

Despite this controversy, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong remains high. Steam sales data shows it currently holds the top spot for both best-selling and most wishlisted games before its release. While the lack of console reviews remains a reservation for some, the game is poised for a significant launch.