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 surrounding controversy.
Black Myth: Wukong's Arrival
PC Exclusive (For Now)
Since its debut trailer in 2020, Black Myth: Wukong has generated considerable hype. Initial critical reception has been largely positive, with 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 beautiful world also receive high marks. The game's adaptation of the Chinese mythological tale, Journey to the West, is lauded, with GamesRadar+ describing 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 Game of the Year potential, points out potential drawbacks shared by other reviews: subpar level design, difficulty spikes, and occasional technical glitches. The narrative structure, similar to older FromSoftware titles, is also criticized for its disjointed nature, requiring players to delve into item descriptions for a complete understanding.
Importantly, all early access review copies were for PC. Console performance, particularly on PS5, remains unreviewed.
Controversial Review Guidelines Surface
(Image source: SteamDB)
Reports emerged of a controversial document distributed by one of Black Myth: Wukong's co-publishers to streamers and reviewers. This document allegedly contained "Do's and Don'ts," restricting discussion of "violence, nudity, feminist propaganda, fetishization, and other content that instigates negative discourse."
This has sparked heated debate. While some social media users express concern about the guidelines' implications, others see no issue.
Despite this controversy, anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong remains high. Its Steam sales figures currently place it as both the best-selling and most wishlisted game prior to release. While the lack of console reviews presents a caveat, the game's launch appears poised for significant success.
