Early Impressions of Black Myth: Wukong Amid Review Controversy

After four long years of anticipation since its initial announcement in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has finally been reviewed! Dive into the details and discover what other reviewers have to say about the game.

Black Myth: Wukong Is Almost Here

But Only On PC

Since its first trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has garnered significant hype, and it appears that critics largely approve of the game. It currently holds an impressive 82 Metascore on Metacritic, based on 54 critic reviews.

The general consensus is that Black Myth: Wukong excels as an action game, with a strong focus on precise and engaging combat that enhances its well-crafted boss fights. The game also boasts stunning visuals and a world rich with secrets waiting to be discovered.

Rooted in Chinese mythology, specifically the epic tale of Journey to the West, the game introduces players to the adventures of Sun Wukong. Reviews, such as GamesRadar+'s, have praised it as "a fun action RPG that feels like the modern God of War games viewed through the lens of Chinese mythology."

PCGamesN’s review suggests that Black Myth: Wukong is a potential Game of the Year (GOTY) contender, though it notes some drawbacks that might deter certain players. Common criticisms across reviews include subpar level design, sudden difficulty spikes, and occasional technical issues. Additionally, the narrative has been described as disjointed, similar to older FromSoftware titles, requiring players to delve into item descriptions for a fuller understanding.

So far, all review copies have been for the PC version, with no early access provided for console versions. This means there are no confirmed reviews yet on how the game performs on the PS5.

Streamers and Reviewers Reportedly Received Controversial Guidelines

Image taken from SteamDB Over the weekend, reports emerged that one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers distributed a document with guidelines for streamers and reviewers. This document reportedly listed "Do's and Don'ts," instructing recipients to avoid discussing sensitive topics such as "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."

This has sparked a heated debate within the player community. A user on Twitter (X) expressed their disbelief, stating, "It is WILD to me that this actually made it out the door. These guidelines had to have gone past multiple people/departments. Also, creators casually signing this and not speaking up is just as wild, unfortunately just less surprising." Conversely, some community members see no issue with these guidelines.

Despite the recent controversy surrounding the early access review guidelines, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong remains high. According to Steam sales statistics, the game is currently the best-selling and most wishlisted title on the platform before its release. While there are concerns about the lack of console reviews, it's clear that Black Myth: Wukong is poised for a significant launch.